The Forgiven

Speeding through the Moroccan desert to attend an old friend’s lavish weekend party, rich Londoners David and Jo Henninger (Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain) are involved in a tragic accident with a Berber teenage boy.

After arriving late at the walled riad in the Atlas Mountains with the party in full flow, the couple then attempt to cover up the incident, colluding with local police.

Set against the majestic backdrop of the Sahara, The Forgiven, based on Lawrence Osborne’s haunting novel, depicts the consequences of when old-world accountability collides catastrophically with modern indifference.

Rocky ridges with sweeping vistas, a cave-like Berber dwelling, and city medinas of Errachidia Province provided the visuals for this road trip from hell.

Many key scenes were shot in Erfoud in eastern Morocco, which also served as a film set for movies including Spectre, The Mummy and Prince of Persia.

Sight-seeing opportunities in this oasis town include Maadid ancient ksar – an ancient fortified village – Erfoud market with its handicrafts, clothes and dates, and the Carrieres de Fossils – the fossil quarries, which are an integral part of the plot in The Forgiven.

Close to Erfoud, and another of the film’s backdrops, is Erg Chebbi, an extraordinary sea of sand dunes, some reaching 500ft, which are ideal for sandboarding and watching sunsets.

Other locations to look out for include the Safsaf Oasis and the desert town of Alnif, famous for its supply of trilobite fossils. In cinemas now.

universalpictures.co.uk/micro/ the-forgiven, visitmorocco.com