El Houb - The Love

When Karim, a Moroccan-Dutch businessman, is caught in bed with his new Ghanaian boyfriend during an unexpected visit from his father, he realizes that the moment he has dreaded has finally arrived. A frantic Karim races over to his parent’s apartment where he musters the courage to come out to his ultra-conservative Muslim parents. Their horrified reaction emboldens him into a metaphoric and heroic act – literally barricading himself in the closet. Karim declares that he is not leaving until they – and his homophobic brother – accept his truth with love and understanding. Over the ensuing hours, Karim ruminates on his childhood, revisits the passionate memory of meeting his boyfriend in a gay nightclub and attempts to break through to his family – especially to his rigid mother who threatens to disown him even as she leaves Moroccan treats for him outside the door. This poignant melodrama is loosely based on the real-life experience of Fahd Larhzaoui who plays Karim.