Moroccan cinema has been steadily carving a space in the international scene with stories that combine realism, social critique, and intimate human struggles. Hounds (Morocco, 2023), directed by Kamal Lazraq and Jury Prize Winner at Cannes FIlm Festival, is one of those rare films that blends the raw textures of daily survival with a noir-like descent into the shadows of Casablanca.

The film follows a father and son entangled in the gritty underworld, where chance encounters and desperate choices push them into a spiral of violence. At first glance, the narrative seems like a crime thriller, but Lazraq shifts the focus toward the emotional disconnection and generational tensions that define the characters. The dog—central to the title—is both a literal presence and a metaphor for loyalty, survival, and the instinct to endure in hostile surroundings.

What makes Hounds particularly striking is its cinematography, which captures Casablanca not as a postcard city but as a landscape of dimly lit streets, claustrophobic interiors, and uneasy silences. The use of natural light and handheld cameras creates an atmosphere of constant unease, where violence could erupt at any moment.

The performances are understated yet powerful. The actors embody the suffocating weight of lives where choices are limited and dignity is fragile. Their silences, glances, and restrained gestures speak louder than words, building a story that feels at once deeply local and universally resonant.

At its core, Hounds is a story about urban alienation and fractured bonds. It avoids melodrama, opting instead for a tone of quiet tragedy, where each step forward feels like sinking deeper into inevitability. Through this bleakness, the film points toward broader questions about power, poverty, and the crushing cycles that define marginalized lives.

By the time the credits roll, Hounds leaves us with the bitter aftertaste of a society where love and survival constantly clash, where every act of loyalty carries the shadow of betrayal. It is a film that demands attention—not through spectacle, but through its raw honesty.