Laroussie The Saddlemaker (1981)

for [Music] my name is laru simin and I am 12 years old I live in Morocco an Arab country and work with my father as a metal Craftsman but my true love is horses and the great fantasy riding [Music] celebrations Morocco is a small country of beautiful mountains and deserts located in the northwest corner of Africa and My Town f is in central Morocco in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains fa was founded almost 12200 years ago and is our oldest city it was Morocco's first trading center and later became a religious center today there are more than 350 mosques here the center of Fe is a fascinating Maze of narrow winding streets called the Medina it is also the town's main Bazar lined with hundreds of shops where skilled Craftsmen produce beautiful handmade [Music] Goods my father mahid owns a brass and copper shop in the Medina as his father did before him he is 39 years old and is a master metal Craftsman my uncle Ain is one of Morocco's greatest Horsemen and says he would like my father to repair and polish his best stups for the big Fantasia in maresh early next month he says he's going to order a new saddle for the C celebration and asks if I'd like to come along father says I have work to do but I can meet aine later [Music] [Music] my father says at this rate I'll never get anything done and that I'd better see my uncle now and work twice as hard after [Music] lunch Uncle aine works as a tour guide in F and says he's excited about taking his team of 10 Horsemen to the Fantasia in maresh the Fantasia is a traditional Warrior exercise with teams of armed Horsemen firing off old flint lock rifles in unison while charging at full Gallop with a prize to the best team traditionally it was to practice Marksmanship but today it's a celebration to our past [Music] done Uncle says Abdul and his father say cat are the best saddle makers in Fe Uncle azadine says he wants the gold background but with a traditional purple embroidered trim like this the Fantasia Saddles are very expensive from 300 to $11,000 and Abdul says aadin will be $800 but people in our country always bargain and azadine says he won't pay more than $500 zat says 650 is the best they can do aadin agrees but only if the saddle is ready in 10 days Abdul says no problem my uncle says if I'd like to stay and watch he's sure Abdul and seat wouldn't mine of course I'd love [Music] to zat's very nice he says a Craftsman must first learn to recognize good leather Abdul says he's picking up new letter at the tenary and if I have time I'm welcome to come along I'm sure father wouldn't [Music] [Applause] [Music] mind Abdul says he and seat use cheep leather here at the Tanner the hides are shaved and trimmed first then after drying they are soaked and dipped in different bats until soft and just the color ordered by the Craftsman then they are ready to be worked [Music] [Music] he [Music] [Music] father put Special Care into repairing Uncle aine's turrets and wants me to deliver them to the saddle makers but he says I should not be late like I was yesterday [Music] speee for foree [Music] spee flow [Music] [Music] says he learned s making when he was about my age and that it's fascinating work because every saddle is [Music] different he says if I really wanted to learn they would teach me if my father gave his permission I love horses and saddle making would be wonderful but I don't think my father would agree fore [Music] [Music] what [Music] [Music] today we only work half a day and this afternoon our family is having a picnic I've decided to talk to my father about my feelings [Music] that's lest are [Music] my father says he's noticed my mind hasn't been on my work lately I never could keep secrets from my [Music] father he knows I love horses and now he knows I'm interested in Saddle making but that I would never do this without his permission he says he's happy I feel this way he says his father became a metal worker for the same reasons and that a person should always follow the sound of their heart about he says I have his permission and he will talk to cat but that if if I ever change my mind he wants me to come back and work with [Music] him father says the most important thing now is to do well and honor the family grandfather says I've made a good decision and mother is very happy that father and I agree and I won't let them down [Applause] [Music] [Applause] h [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] Al I'm very happy sikat says they would be very pleased to accept me as their [Music] Apprentice Abdul says we always measure by hand and as Craftsman we should never lose touch with the leather this piece will form the back support for Uncle as saddle and Abdul says we must work quickly to finish it on [Music] [Music] [Applause] time sh [Music] [Music] Uncle aine says he's heard the good news and Wishes the best for me and that God willing I will be become the best saddle maker in all of Mor aine is very upset zat says the saddle won't be ready today but Uncle says if he doesn't leave for maresh in the morning as planned his entire team could be disqualified from the Fantasia seat suggests that aine go on ahead and that I bring the s later on the bus Uncle says that's up to us but his saddle better get there on time brother says I can not only go to mares but he wants to come with me and see the Fantasia he [Music] [Music] [ __ ] [Music] for that's [Music] Abdul says we have more Saddles to make and I should hurry back [Music] how wonderful my father says he is very proud of me and that I have brought honor to our family [Music] we [Music] [Music] you [Music] [Music] [Music] awesome [Music] should be work [Music] [Music] come [Music] over come over come over [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] go [Music] can [Music] I [Music]