Hideous Kinky (1998)

Director:

Gillies MacKinnon

Writers:

Esther Freud (novel)
Billy MacKinnon (writer)

Release Date:

26 April 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It's not just an adventure... It's a love affair.

Plot:

Hideous Kinky is the story of two sisters (seven and five years old) traveling with their hippie mother from London to Morocco in the late 60's...

Plot Keywords:

Sister | Hippie | Morocco | Male Nudity | Bare Butt

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kate Winslet	...	Julia
Saïd Taghmaoui	...	Bilal
Bella Riza	...	Bea
Carrie Mullan	...	Lucy
Pierre Clémenti	...	Santoni
Abigail Cruttenden	...	Charlotte
Ahmed Boulane	...	Ben Said
Sira Stampe	...	Eva
Amidou	...	Sufi Sheikh
Michelle Fairley	...	Patricia
Kevin McKidd	...	Henning
Peter Youngblood Hills	...	Hippy
Mohcine Barmouni	...	Aziz
Annouar Zrika	...	Hicham
Mohamed Cherkaoui	...	Hadaoui

Also Known As:

Marrakech express (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | French | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | France:U | Germany:6 | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Marrakech, Morocco

Company:

AMLF

Trivia:

The title of the film and book comes from the only two words the two girls remember their mum's friend saying "Hideous" and "Kinky". Bea in particular uses the words in a game that the girls play which is similar to "tag" but if she shouts "Hideous Kinky" before her sister tags her she is free.

Quotes:

Lucy: Mom, when can we have rice pudding again?
Julia: As soon as the check comes from your father.
Bea: Sure, father Christmas!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Here Comes the Sun

An Honest Movie

A young English mother, Julia (Kate Winslet), packs up her two daughters, aged 5 and 7, moves to Morocco and embarks on a voyage of self discovery. Set in 1972, the film catches up with Julia and kids nine months into their trip. We're never told why she left London, but her artist-husband back home has just stopped providing the rent checks. This is putting a crimp in the self-awareness game. In the process of surviving and searching for Sufic fulfillment, Julia must also deal with her children's growing disenchantment with life in Morocco, and their desire to return to a stable, normal (and English) childhood. Family friction increases when she takes a young Moroccan lover, and a group of wealthy English ex-pats start second guessing Julia's childrearing abilities.

There is no big story here, no buildup of drama, and no real endgame. "Hideous Kinky" is a study of the family dynamics amongst this odd troupe. The acting is very good, especially the two children, and the on-location filming in Morocco is a treat. This film is definitely not for everyone, but if you are in to this type of movie, you should enjoy it. The single word that I would use to describe "Hideous Kinky" is 'honest'.