The Blue Caftan (Le bleu du caftan)

Halim!

Can you do the randa too?

Yes, very well.

And the braid?

Also.

Are you quick?

I work fast.

You'll see.

THE BLUE CAFTAN

This pink satin is beautiful, too.

And lightweight.

We can make something modern out of it.

- Look. Do you like this? - No, I don't.

Really?

The color is soft, the fabric fluid.

It suits you.

Otherwise, Bachir has some new fabrics.

If you find something you like,

we can sew it for you.

Okay, we'll go see.

Has Halim started work on my caftan?

Not yet, he was very busy. But he'll begin soon.

Are you okay, Mina?

Yes, thanks.

Alright, we'll come back. See you soon.

I'm going home.

- I'll go with you. - No, you work.

We're behind, customers are complaining.

Youssef, put away the fabrics, please.

- Fold them so they don't wrinkle. - Of course.

See you tonight.

We're low on gold thread. Is it sold around here?

Yes, not far.

I'll go buy some tomorrow, if you want.

Okay.

Who taught you the trade?

My father.

He was a maalem .

This store belonged to him.

He must have been proud of you.

Mina?

Mina!

I’m here.

Are you alright?

Yes, better. Thanks.

You don’t want to get some rest?

No, I'm fine.

You can weigh them.

One or two more.

No.

These.

One kilo.

Six dirhams.

- Here you are. - Thank you.

I'll pay tomorrow.

- If they are good! - Sure.

- Been waiting long? - About an hour.

But it's fine.

- Can I change up here? - Yes, over there.

Can you get me thread to go with this fabric?

The customer will stop by to choose.

Sure.

Next time, change at home.

- Sorry, I thought... - Come on!

We’ve no time to waste.

Halim!

It’s beautiful.

Thank you.

- Hello. - Hello.

Here, this is the work I want done.

I'm sorry, Fatna.

But this work is no longer done.

What do you mean?

You've had this a long time, no?

Yes, fifty years. I got it as a gift at the birth of my eldest.

I knew a maalem who learned with the Jews.

He knew how to do this work.

But he died. May he rest in peace.

But there must be others?

No, unfortunately.

There are none left.

Will you let me keep it until tomorrow?

- No, no need... - You’ll get it back well-ironed.

And I'll fix this hem so it won't get more damaged.

- Well, all right. - All right.

Fig-shaped buttons...

No one knows how to make these anymore.

Look at the detail of the stitches,

the perfection of the bows.

Fifty years, it's still the same. Still as beautiful...

as the first day.

It is gorgeous.

Can I have a look?

If you’d like.

What about this one?

This one will never go out of style.

You can have it made with silk thread in these two colors.

It will look great.

Do you have anything else? Let me see...

Here you are.

It's beautiful.

Yes, it’s stunning.

But it must take time to make.

- A bit. - How long, more or less?

About six weeks.

Two months, if you want it all the way down.

Two months is too long.

And with a sewing machine?

- Halim doesn't use sewing machines. - Oh, well.

No one can tell the difference between hand-made and machine-made.

Now it's the same thing.

We can give you a good price.

Youssef.

Come.

When cutting,

align the fabric and hold it tight.

It must not move.

See?

Come over here.

For the collar,

you always have to make a smaller pattern.

Go ahead.

You do the collar.

- I've never done it before. - Go ahead.

When you cut the fabric, leave yourself some leeway.

If you cut too much, there's no going back.

And always leave yourself an extra centimeter.

That's your margin.

The maalem ’s centimeter.

Next time, you'll do the pattern too.

Prepare the gold thread, I'll need it.

Meftal or tersan ?

Tersan , with three threads.

Balance the tersan with the meftal .

Otherwise it will deform the outfit.

Iron all you like, it won't fall right.

And like this?

No, there's a direction you must sew in.

Sorry. I lost track of the time.

That's okay.

You had work to do.

Come, I'll heat up the dinner.

You don’t want to eat?

I ate some tangerines. I'm not hungry.

Making progress?

Is he good?

Yeah.

Quite good.

He seems to like the craft. He wants to learn.

No one wants to learn the craft anymore, Halim.

It’s all over.

You’ll see.

Soon, he’ll tell you he’s found another job.

He’ll become a deliveryman

or a vegetable seller at the market.

I don't know.

He seems different.

No, he’s not.

He’s just like the previous ones.

In that case, we'll find someone else.

It's fine.

As if apprentices grew on trees.

I can manage on my own.

I don't need anyone.

You know that's impossible. We're too far behind.

Here.

Thanks.

Did you lock the front door?

Yes.

I'd like to work more on this caftan tonight.

It's missing some grommets.

Let me see.

You didn't tell me anything.

- You could've worked the thread later. - It's all right.

Rub them with almond oil.

They’ll get better.

And leave the caftan.

You'll work on it tomorrow.

Youssef!

Come.

Youssef!

Yes?

Where is the pink satin?

Over there.

No, it's not.

- I haven’t seen it. - Over there or you haven't see it?

Make up your mind.

I didn’t touch it.

You put the fabrics away.

- Yes, but I... - Yes, but nothing!

Find it or I’ll deduct it from your salary.

You may as well deduct it then.

You don’t care?

Strange, if you did nothing wrong.

You know, Ma’am,

I've gotten by on my own since I was 8.

Money comes and goes. It doesn't matter.

I don't care.

I'm not a thief.

I know.