In the Medina of Casablanca, Thami, a young man from a conservative family with a lineage of honourable Koranic lawyers, incenses his father as he decides to enter the profession of butchery.

"We are going to do a Hallmark movie for real," he said. "We are making a real one. A small town is really going to bring Christmas to another small town in need." Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell said ...