In January of 2004, in the northern Moroccan city of Tangiers, first time documentary filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky met a 26-year-old Moroccan named Abdelfattah. He was a clandestine, one of many Africans who try to cross the narrow Straits of Gibraltar and illegally enter Spain by stowing away on cargo ships or boarding inflatable rafts.

At times humorous and disturbing, I See The Stars At Noon intimately examines the circumstances that lead him to risk everything for an utterly uncertain future. But the film is not only a portrait of a hopeful immigrant; it is also an exploration of the nature of documentary filmmaking and objectivity. The traditional relationship between filmmaker and subject is thrown into question when Abdelfattah asks why his life is being filmed for the benefit of European audiences, and what he deserves in return. Such issues are rarely dealt with in documentary film, and by addressing them head-on, I See The Stars At Noon stands out as a highly original and deeply personal look at the dilemma of illegal immigrants.

Part of The Creative Nonfiction Film Weekend, a three-day celebration of what documentary can and should be (cnfw.co.uk).