L'Histoire de Souleymane (2024)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 93 minuten
Alternative titles: The Story of Souleymane / Souleymane's Story / Souleymane
Country:
France
Directed by: Boris Lojkine
Stars: Abou Sangare, Nina Meurisse and Emmanuel Yovanie
IMDb score:
7,6 (6.604)
Releasedate: 9 October 2024
L'Histoire de Souleymane plot
As he cycles through the streets of Paris delivering meals, Souleymane repeats his story. In two days, he has to go to his asylum interview, the key to getting papers. But Souleymane is not ready for that yet.
Actors and actresses
Souleymane
Agente de l'OFPRA
Barry
Emmanuel
Khalil
Ghislain
Mamadou
Yaya
Kadiatou
Reviews & comments
De filosoof
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- 2489 messages
- 1700 votes
The film immediately takes you into the hectic life of asylum seeker Souleymane, who works illegally as a parcel delivery man, racing through the busy streets of Paris and looking for money and a place to sleep while he has an interview for his asylum application the day after tomorrow and he still has to learn his asylum story, so that you get into the flow of his stressful existence and the film never becomes boring. The fact that his asylum story is a lie does not detract from the fact that he has a hard life - in his country of origin Guinea, during the dangerous journey to Europe and now in Europe - and had a good reason to come to Europe: the film criticizes the strict asylum policy that ignores the fact that economic refugees are also refugees who deserve our sympathy. To this end, the film also manages to arouse our empathy with the reason for his flight and his difficult situation here and there. The message is therefore typically left-wing politically – and in keeping with that message, the asylum seeker in question is a model citizen whom even Marine Le Pen would gladly exchange for the average white Frenchman: he speaks fluent French, works hard and has a purely good heart – but you have to be very political yourself to be bothered by that: the film works because it effectively takes you along for a moment in the hopelessness of the life of an asylum seeker (and even the radical right wishes such a man the best, but not when they come in droves, so that the film will not convince anyone to a different political position).
In short, neither the style (the haste), nor the theme (the exploitation and stress of parcel deliverers and illegal aliens), nor the political message (plea for a more generous asylum policy) or method (generating empathy, for which the film medium is very suitable) is original (or politically effective), but it is well done, making it an enjoyable film for everyone.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mjk87 (moderator films)
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- 14602 messages
- 4554 votes
Great film though. The hectic life is also presented audiovisually, right down to the sound mix where the city sounds of hustle and bustle and traffic are quite prominent (so much so that it is nice that there are subtitles anyway because would a Frenchman be able to hear everything properly?). You get a good insight into the life of these kinds of refugees and that is shown well. Especially how they are screwed by everyone. Perhaps a bit too much to put all that in 1 day - as an atmospheric portrait the film works fine but as a drama film it works a bit less. Partly due to the long flat performance of Sangare (only in the last scene does he really manage to touch, but that also seems to be his own story) and the middle section that is not innovative enough and drags quite a bit. Despite the relatively short duration I found the film to be close to boring. Nevertheless, on points the film certainly scores a sufficient. 3.0*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mrklm
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- 11629 messages
- 10041 votes
Sangaré’s stunning acting debut earned him a well-deserved Palme d’Or (and several other awards) and confronts us with the facts about those people we call “asylum seekers”. Souleymane [Aboue Sangaré] is nervous about his appointment at OFPRA (the French equivalent of the IND) because he knows that his future depends on how the interview goes. In a long flashback, we discover what he had to go through to get to that interview. Because Souleymane is not officially allowed to work, he rents an account from Emmanuel [Emmanuel Yovanie] so that he can earn some money as a bicycle delivery boy. Souleymane needs money so that he doesn’t have to sleep outside at night, but also to ensure that Barry [Alpha Oumar Sow] provides him with false documents. Souleymane is caught up in a network of profiteers and suffers one setback after another, but he doesn’t give up. Superbly filmed on location in Paris with a dynamic that underlines the hectic nature of Souleymane's life and excellently acted throughout, but the dramatic highlight is the final conversation (with Nina Meurisse as the OFPRA employee) that makes a deep impression. A brilliant combination of entertainment and socio-political criticism.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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