The original poster of Casablanca (1942), screened in Washington during a Moroccan Embassy event marking 250 years of Morocco–US relations. n Sunday evening, the iconic 1942 film Casablanca — directed by Michael Curtiz — was screened at Washington’s prestigious Trump Kennedy Center, in an initiative organized by the Moroccan Embassy to mark the 250th anniversary of Moroccan-American friendship and the historic alliance between the two countries. When the credits rolled, the applause in the room was warm and sustained.
Moroccan Ambassador to the United States Youssef Amrani said the screening was part of a series of activities organized by the embassy to celebrate 250 years of Moroccan-American relations. He recalled that Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the young American republic — a historical bond he described as a true alliance, not merely a friendship.
This film makes you want to visit Morocco and discover it.
— Deepak Taktani, Washington resident · Statement to MAP, May 4, 2026
A film that still travels
Amrani noted the enduring hold Casablanca has on American audiences — evident in the warm reception and applause that filled the hall at the screening’s end. He also underscored the multidimensional nature of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, calling for further strengthening of the bonds and friendship between their peoples.
Washington resident Deepak Taktani, who attended the screening and spoke to MAP, called the film “absolutely wonderful” — praising its sets, cinematography, and performances. He said he believed the film was ahead of its time when it came out in the 1940s, and that watching it again made him want to visit Morocco.
- Source: Maghreb Arab Press (MAP)
