The Bitter Orange
# The Bitter Orange

The Bitter Orange (Arabic: البرتقالة المرة) is a 2007 Moroccan film directed by Bouchra Ijork starring Houda Rihani and Youssef Joundy set in Asilah in the 1980s. The film was first aired on television during Ramadan of 2007 on 2M.

## Plot

The story of the film revolves around a girl who falls in love with a police officer who catches her picking bitter oranges. The officer's marriage to someone else causes her much suffering.

## Cast

* Houda Rihani
* Youssef Joundy
* Abdellah Lamrani
* Fadila Benmoussa
* Rim Chemaou
* Nouria Benbrahim
* Souad Saber
* Soumaya Amghar
* Farida Bouaazaoui
* Kenza Fridou

## Production

Bouchra Ijork cites the support she received from Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi as vital. Ijork sought to present authentic Moroccanness in all details of the film: clothing, decoration, makeup, and music. She also cited criticisms of Moroccan love stories as lacking emotional expression as a driving source of inspiration to prove the opposite.

## Influence

The film The Bitter Orange made of its stars Houda Rihani and Youssef Joundy an in-demand on-screen couple.

## Soundtrack

K'lma, a duet with Sakina Lafdaili and Fayçal Azizi, performed the song "Warda 'Ala Warda" (وردة على وردة "Rose Upon Rose").

