La Isla

La Isla is a comedy based on true events, about the Moroccan “invasion” of Spain - or more correctly, a little island right outside the Moroccan coastline. In 2002 a small group of Moroccan soldiers raised the Moroccan flag on the island to provoke the Spanish government. This unimportant geopolitical act is a pretty amusing basis for a film.

The film revolves around Ibrahim, a Moroccan officer close to retirement age. He is in charge of monitoring smugglers and illegal immigrants on the tiny island. One day, when he raises the flag, the Spanish are provoked yet again, but Ibrahim doesn’t even notice. With a rooster as his only friend on the island, his biggest struggle is with loneliness. But one day, an «illegal immigrant» washes up on the beach and suddenly Ibrahim has his hands full. At the same time, things are happening in Madrid…

Ahmed Boulane (b. 1956) has been working in the film industry for over 35 years, and has over 50 movies and documentaries on his résumé. He has worked for the Moroccan National Theater Company and created his own producing company in 1996 in Ireland, where he is currently livin