Story perspectives

Morocco hosts Nolan film, ignites Sahrawi rights, legal controversy

7/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Morocco let Christopher Nolan film “The Odyssey” in Dakhla, Western Sahara, with subsidies.
Javier Bardem and Pedro Almodóvar said the shoot lacked Sahrawi consent and had Morocco’s approval.
The UN calls Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory.
The EU’s top court ruled that exploiting its resources without Sahrawi consent breaches international law.
Sahrawi filmmaker Brahim Chagaf and activist Ghalia Djimi reported detentions, torture, deaths and a hunger strike by prisoner Enaâma Asfari.

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Story summary

Morocco let Christopher Nolan film “The Odyssey” in Dakhla, Western Sahara, with subsidies.
Javier Bardem and Pedro Almodóvar said the shoot lacked Sahrawi consent and had Morocco’s approval.
The UN calls Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory.
The EU’s top court ruled that exploiting its resources without Sahrawi consent breaches international law.
Sahrawi filmmaker Brahim Chagaf and activist Ghalia Djimi reported detentions, torture, deaths and a hunger strike by prisoner Enaâma Asfari.