Lilya Mandre's Short Film 'Casablanca' is Love Letter to Her City

True to her gift for storytelling, DJ and producer, Lilya Mandre has unveiled a new mini-documentary, 'Casablanca', a stunning visual love letter that pays homage to her Moroccan roots and the eclectic city that shaped her.

The film, conceived and produced by Mandre, is a cinematic extension of her latest musical collaboration, also titled 'Casablanca', produced with VXSION and released on Pete Tong’s Places & Spaces label. In linking the documentary directly to the track, Mandre makes an artistic statement, framing the city not just as a backdrop, but the source of her sound and soul.

Directed and shot by Adrian Villagomez, the film achieves 'love letter' status through a rich and evocative visual style that avoids clichés and focuses on an authentic, kinetic energy. The cinematography uses warm, rich tones - sun-drenched ochres, deep blues of the sea and the soft glow of traditional lamps - which wash over the footage with a feeling of nostalgia and genuine warmth. Key moments in the film focus on movement and action: shots of the city’s street life, the focused training required in boxing, and Mandre herself moving through the landscapes, all mirroring the driving, percussive energy of the track. The film also juxtaposes the old and the new to set up a visual conversation that highlights the artist's position - reveling in the past, yet forward-looking in her art.

The film builds to a cathartic resolution and declaration: “Today, I come to make peace. And I can finally breathe again.” It’s at this point that the full weight of the journey becomes clear, with the film acting as a journey toward a liberating form of self-acceptance, offering a quaint and beautiful insight into Mandre's inspirations and drive.