Name: Everybody Loves Touda Review: A Celebration of Finding Strength in Self-Expression and Community
Item: Everybody Loves Touda
Author: Shahrbanoo Golmohamadi

Nisrin Erradi stars as Touda, a mother determined to follow her dreams, in director Nabil Ayouch’s newest film. Living in a small Moroccan town, Touda has a gift for music and nurtures ambitions of becoming a sheikha, a traditional singer who performs a style of folk song known as aita. However, supporting her young, deaf son Yassine on her own presents daily challenges. Touda longs for a better life where she can develop her talents and Yassine can get an education tailored to his needs.

Though she devotes herself to caring for Yassine, Touda possesses an independent spirit. She sees a future beyond the expectations placed on women in her community and believes opportunity lies in the vibrant city of Casablanca.

Touda resolves to temporarily leave Yassine in the care of her family so she can pursue fame and success in the place where dreams are said to come true. But journeying to Casablanca proves just the beginning of Touda’s journey. Pursuing her art means asserting her identity in a world where her gender and background count against her.

Through Touda’s story, director Nabil Ayouch explores themes of resilience, artistic expression, and fighting against imposed limits. Erradi brings Touda vividly to life, imbuing her role with passion and determination.

Her magnetic performances carry many scenes and show why Touda refuses to be held back from chasing her dreams. Though challenges await in Casablanca, Touda faces each step with grit and belief in herself. Her journey is one of self-discovery as she perseveres along the path to becoming an accomplished sheikha on her own terms.

The Dreaming Mother

Touda’s story begins in a small Moroccan village, where she works hard as a single mother caring for her young son Yassine. Though just a child, Yassine faces his own challenges; he was born deaf and unable to speak. But Touda is fiercely devoted to providing the best life she can for her boy. We see her teaching Yassine sign language so they can communicate and bravely standing up to bullies at his school. Through it all, her love for Yassine shines through.

While motherhood is Touda’s priority, she also pursues her gift for singing. Traditional Aita folk songs are her passion. In her village performances, Touda displays breathtaking vocal talent. But life there offers few opportunities. As a woman raising a son alone, Touda faces skeptics who think her place is only in the home. She knows Yassine deserves more support than their town can offer.

It’s here that Touda’s dreams begin taking shape. She wants to develop her singing skills fully as a sheikha performer. And she believes the bustling city of Casablanca holds answers for both her career and Yassine’s education. In the rural countryside, Touda teaches herself new songs just by listening. Her spirit longs to experience music’s highest stages. With school options limited for Yassine, Touda is certain the big city can provide a program to nurture his bright mind.

If she can reach Casablanca, Touda is confident all will fall into place. But the journey will not be easy. Uprooting her life brings challenges as Touda learns to stand on her own amid skeptics trying to hold her back. And she must find the means to support herself and Yassine along the way. With her son as both inspiration and anchor, Touda embarks on a journey of resilience as she fights to make her dreams, and those of her beloved boy, reality.

Overcoming Objectification

Touda faces immense challenges in pursuing her dreams. Living in a patriarchal society, she constantly battles narrow attitudes that seek to limit her potential. As a woman raising a son alone and one who performs music in public, the uphill climb is made all the steeper.

Within the male-dominated culture of Touda’s small town, traditional views of femininity conflict sharply with her fervent artistic spirit. Many feel a woman’s place is only in the home, yet Touda refuses to be contained. Her passion inspires her to share songs of independence, even as such expressions provoke disapproval from those clinging to outdated norms.

Even greater obstacles arise from how men respond to Touda’s performances. While her talent electrifies audiences, most viewers fail to see the artist within. For them, she exists only for pleasure and consumption, an object to be possessed rather than a subject deserving respect. Touda endures lecherous behavior night after night, her dignity diminishing each time hands seek to claim what is not theirs.

The disrespect culminates in a horrific gang assault, laying bare the threat beneath which Touda constantly operates. Though she retains her indomitable will, the trauma underscores how her femininity is weaponized against her. Safety remains a distant privilege in a world that sees her body as public property.

Still, amid the objectification, a new challenge emerges: being taken seriously as a true musician. Nightclub owners dismiss her skills, interested only in the profits she can generate. Fellow performers brandish contempt for her aspirations of mastery. Even those acknowledging her gift doubt that she can fulfill its promise.

Through it all, Touda never wavers in her resolve to be recognized as an artist, not a plaything or commodity. With resilience greater than any barrier facing her, she fights to reclaim her dignity and make her voice heard on its own merit. In doing so, Touda aims to overcome the objectification that limits all women in her world.

Finding Opportunity in the City

Life has never been easy for Touda in her small village. Between struggling to support her gifted yet disabled son Yassine alone and facing discrimination as a single mother pursuing her passion, she’s determined to find a place with more chances. Touda sets her sights on Casablanca, believing the bustling metropolis holds opportunities she and Yassine simply won’t find anywhere else.

For the time being, Touda makes ends meet by singing at local festivals, weddings, and rowdy bars. While her raw talent keeps audiences enthralled, most only see her as entertainment rather than the skilled artist she aims to become. Earnings come more from unwanted male attention than from her actual performances. Touda knows she must leave to develop her gifts and provide properly for Yassine.

After making arrangements for Yassine to stay with her loving family temporarily, Touda embarks on her journey. She treasures quiet moments, signing with her son before setting off, recognizing this is for his future, even if it pains them both to be apart. Upon arrival in Casablanca, Touda is struck by its scale—this is a whole other world. Among the crowds and commotion, she feels alive with potential.

Touda hopes big city stages will showcase her talent as a sheikha, the traditional folk singer she was born to be. Most of all, she’s on a mission to secure Yassine’s enrollment in a school with resources for deaf children missing in their rural community. With skill and determination, Touda is convinced she can make a coveted new beginning for herself and her son in Casablanca. Her journey has only just begun.

Fighting for Her Voice

What comes through so clearly about Touda is her immense strength of character. From the very start, her life presented plenty of difficulties, yet she remained determined. Raising her gifted son alone in a world not always kind to those different would be tough for anyone. But Touda refuses to let anything hold her back.

Even in the face of abuse, her resilience is breathtaking. After that terrible attack in the opening scene, most would understand staying hidden. Not Touda; she’s back performing again soon, as if nothing happened. While singing brings her joy, in those seedy bars, men clearly see her as something for their entertainment alone. Touda makes it plain she’s no one’s plaything, boldly stating, “I’m not a whore, I’m a singer.”

As a mother, her devotion to giving Yassine every opportunity is written across her face. When teachers doubt his potential, Touda’s faith in her son’s intelligence shines through. She teaches him sign language with tender patience. Unaccepting of restrictions on what either of them can achieve, Touda pursues the better schooling Yassine deserves.

Most remarkable is Touda’s unwillingness to compromise her artistic identity. Where others want upbeat pop songs, she sings from her soul through traditional Aita. Touda acknowledges room for growth but refuses to change this core part of herself, even when facing disapproval. Her navigation of restrictive societal expectations shows quiet rebellion.

Through it all, Touda’s singing acts as catharsis and anchor. Despite challenges, her voice communicates joy, pain, and independence in ways no words ever could. In Touda, director Ayouch has crafted an extraordinary heroine who never stops fighting for her own dreams and those of her son. Hers is a journey of immense courage that leaves you hoping that this time her talent is finally recognized for what it truly is.

Dreaming of Larger Stages

Leaving her village behind, Touda arrives in Casablanca filled with hope. The bustling city seems full of opportunity for an artist of her talents to be discovered. Yet her journey is not easy. At first, the gritty bars she sings in are much like those at home. Once more, Touda pours her soul into song, only to have lustful men misunderstand her passion.

Persisting, Touda’s voice soon catches the ear of one particularly discerning listener—an elderly violinist. He sees beyond her troubles to her gift, taking Touda under his wing. “To be a true Sheikha, you must master rhythm,” he instructs. With patience, the musician guides Touda to strengthen her craft, challenging her in ways that ultimately refine her skill. As her control and dynamics improve, Touda’s singing embraces new depths.

Heartened yet determined to prove herself, Touda seeks grander stages. While success does not come quickly, her resilience is rewarded. Gradually, Touda wins spots performing for larger crowds, where her talents shine unrestrained. Here, she feels truly seen as the artist she endeavors to be. As Touda gains these opportunities, her belief in herself deepens in turn.

Where once outsiders’ judgments left deep marks, now Touda stands firmer in her own abilities. She recognizes how far she has come under the tutelage of her supporter. Although obstacles do not vanish, their power to diminish Touda weakens. With experience, she has grown in confidence, carrying herself as a proud Sheikha.

Through it all, Touda’s love for her craft and vision for her son drive her to keep striving. Her journey in Casablanca shows that with dedication, even dreams as lofty as the stars can be within reach.

Room for Growth amid Raising Themes

While Touda’s story enthralled, some supporting parts could have been clearer. The budding friendship with her violinist teacher felt undercooked. Their lessons together formed key scenes, yet his role seemed more functional than fully formed.

Even the family back home left questions. Touda’s choice to leave felt sudden, given her lack of insight into her ties with kin. Flashes of their lives would have deepened why she yearned for bigger stages.

Potential also existed to probe the nuances of Morocco’s social fabric. The film struck apt notes, depicting the oppression women face. However, some challenges seemed to be reduced to basic beats rather than layered exploration.

Not that every film can do all things. Ayouch kept the narrative moving at a nice clip, even when shortcuts were taken. Overall, the message came through strongly: that society tries to block dreams, yet strength and talent can prevail.

Erradi captured this spirit beautifully. Her Touda never faltered in her fervor for her craft, despite facing resistance. The final scene, hinting that brighter days may be ahead, felt fitting.

While room for richer contexts was there, this film told an impactful story on its own terms. Ayouch shined light on women’s carving agency and how music can both mirror and help overcome life’s hardest parts. For simply but effectively communicating such themes, Everybody Loves Touda deserves praise.

Finding Strength in Song

Throughout her journey, Touda has proven to be a resilient woman. After facing assault and disrespect, she refuses to let anything steal her spirit. Singing gives purpose during struggles, and she clings to musical dreams no matter the challenges ahead.

Touda’s story reminds us how adversity often surrounds those pursuing their passions. For her, many doubt or discount her talents. Even those meant to support her question her goals. Yet she believes in herself when few others do. Her strength comes from within, not outside approval.

Against the hardest of times, Touda’s love for her craft and her son keep pushing her beyond what seems possible. Though the path is heavy, her voice grows louder the farther she travels. Step by step, her skills and fame spread until recognition was undeniable.

In the end, it’s impossible not to cheer for Touda. Through it all, Erradi brilliantly captures her unyielding soul. With each powerful performance, we feel Touda’s resilience, hopes, and defenses melting audiences as completely as her own. All it takes is witnessing this dynamic woman lose herself in song to understand what drives her unstoppable march ahead.

Thanks to Erradi’s compelling lead work, Touda teaches how deep art can run through even the toughest of the toughest of lives.. Her talent was there all along, just waiting for a way to shine its light on the world. In following her dreams, she brings hers and proves that through pursuing our gifts, the impossible becomes possible.

The Review