A beautiful ending

About

About

A spirited and tragic testimony about losing one's mother.

The mother of the French Moroccan writer and director Mohamed El Khatib suddenly passed away on February 20, 2012. This event serves as the starting point for A beautiful ending (Finir en beauté). In this performance, which is based on his mother’s final years, the legacy of those who have left us is explored. 

Alone on stage with a notebook in hand, El Khatib tells the story of his mother. On a black screen, extracts from an interview he conducted with her are displayed, while El Khatib adds what was not said. 

Using elements such as emails, text messages, and audio and video recordings, the piece portrays both El Khatib’s final moments with his mother and continues to imagine her life after death. The medical language blends with French and Arabic as El Khatib speaks of his travels between Morocco and France, his cultural heritage, and his personal history. 

El Khatib is also the director behind The secret lives of old people (La vie secrète des vieux), which will be performed at Det Vestnorske Teateret during this year’s Festival.