Though on the surface it may seem so, Adam is not a film about the taboos of society, or the struggles of being a woman. Rather, I see it is a story of female friendship, motherhood and girlhood, portrayed with deep tenderness, both relatable and refreshing. Being set in an old Medina, it does not feature the Moroccan middle class we can often find in cinema. Although some have claimed this to be a somewhat orientalist gaze, for many, this is a reality. There is a familiarity in the setting of Adam; I can see my hometown, my own family. We watch as the relationship between two women, and one little girl, builds over visceral imagery of hands kneading bread, of hips swaying to Warda. Maryam Touzani created strong, well rounded characters, who look after one another but also challenge each other, bringing us into a world with intoxicating symmetry and ambiguity. — JESSICA EL-MAL