‘Strawberries’ Director on Calling Out Modern-Day Slavery, Prostitution in Her Cannes Homage to Moroccan Fruit Pickers in Spain

Moroccan filmmaker Laïla Marrakchi’s new film, *Strawberries* (original title *La más dulce*), shines a spotlight on the harsh realities faced by Moroccan women who travel to Spain for seasonal fruit-picking work. Premiering in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, the film exposes the exploitation, poor living conditions, underpayment, and instances of sexual harassment and prostitution endured by these migrant workers. Marrakchi, known for previous works such as *Marock* and *Rock the Casbah*, co-wrote the script with Delphine Agut and collaborated with a diverse cast including Nisrin Erradi and Hajar Graigaa. Produced through her Lumen banner alongside Moroccan, Spanish, and Belgian partners, the film draws attention to the invisible struggles of these women. Marrakchi was inspired to create *Strawberries* after accompanying a journalist friend to Andalusia, where she met Moroccan women working in the fields. The director describes their situation as a “sad form of new colonialism,” highlighting the intersection of socio-economic exploitation and gender-based violence. The film aims to give visibility to women who are often marginalized and overlooked, emphasizing their resilience amid adversity. While many of the women encountered faced abuse and exploitation, Marrakchi also acknowledges that some had positive experiences, underscoring the complexity of migrant labor conditions. The film’s themes resonate with broader social movements such as #MeToo, addressing systemic abuses of power and the commodification of vulnerable populations. By focusing on the lived experiences of these women, *Strawberries* challenges audiences to confront the realities behind the agricultural supply chains that sustain European markets. Marrakchi’s work contributes to ongoing conversations about migration, labor rights, and gender violence, offering a poignant critique of modern-day neocolonial dynamics in Europe’s agricultural sectors.