BOHO - First Episode
With BOHO, we find ourselves in an environment that I have professionally encountered more than once. The area around the Turnhoutse Baan in Antwerp is a multicultural setting where numerous nationalities coexist. Particularly, the Moroccan community has been notably large for many years in the Antwerp district of Borgerhout.
In BOHO, we meet Kima (Serine Ayari, Kassa Kassa), a liberated Moroccan woman in her mid-thirties. She lives with her roommate Alex (Miss Angel). Together with her sister Nawal (Ikram Aoulad, De Luizenmoeder (BE)), Kima and Alex navigate their way through the modern world.
Living as a young independent Moroccan woman is certainly not simple. Especially when mom and dad are trying to find a man for Kima. One of those discussions with her father unexpectedly presents Kima with a potential candidate, although that was not exactly her father's intention.And once again, Flanders manages to deliver a strong series where young actors get the chance to make their debut and prove what they're capable of.
BOHO is a feel-good series where dance plays an important role. However, apart from a small segment at the beginning of the first episode, dance hasn't been featured much yet. Before it can fully develop, a bit of drama is introduced in this debut episode, placing Kima at a crossroads where she must make an important decision.
Once again, Flanders showcases a strong series where young actors get the chance to shine and prove their talents. We already knew that there is a lot of talent in Flanders, and Boho confirms it once more. While the women in the leading roles may have some experience, their roles in Boho allow them to demonstrate that they can handle more serious parts. Even newcomer Miss Angel holds her own in this cast. Add a few seasoned actors like Boris Van Severen (Moresnet), Sabri Saad El Hamus (Oogappels), and Slongs Dievanongs (#LikeMe), and you realize the quality present in the production.
The creators haven't rushed the process either. From the start, it's clear that they have conducted a thorough study of the traditional Moroccan family values, leading to frequent clashes between Kima and her mother, while her more traditional sister Nawal aligns more closely with their parents' worldview. It will be interesting to see how Kima further develops in the new world unfolding before her and how she manages to reconcile that world with her family.
About the writer, Karzal
