Kazablan (1973): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1973, Kazablan is a comedy, drama and romance film directed by Menahem Golan, running about 122 minutes. “An embittered gang leader seeks the respect of his neighbors and the love of a young woman” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. An adaptation of a popular Israeli stage musical. Kazablan is an army veteran turned gang leader in the Israeli port of Jaffa who masks his feelings of bitterness with a lot of bravado. He's sweet on Rachel, a young woman who lives with her father and stepmother. The budding relationship scandalizes the neighbors (not to mention Rachel's parents) and infuriates Yanush, a middle-aged shoe store owner who wants Rachel for himself. (Yanush feels he's entitled to marry Rachel since they're both Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern European origins, whereas Kazablan is a Sephardic Jew from Morocco.) The neighborhood has something else to worry about besides the antics of Kazablan and his gang: the city wants to tear down their crumbling homes. The residents pool their resources to save their houses, but the money that's collected is stolen. When he's jailed for the theft, Kazablan must find a way to clear himself.

Who’s in it. Kazablan stars Yehoram Gaon as Kazablan, Efrat Lavie as Rachel, Arieh Elias as Moshiko and Etti Grotes as Maryuma.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Kazablan has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Kazablan page.

If you liked it. Fans of Kazablan tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.