Latest news with #L'histoiredeSouleymane
Sydney Morning Herald
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This French drama is one of the best films I've seen this year
The Story of Souleymane (L'histoire de Souleymane), ★★★★½ M, 94 min For many in the West, debates around immigration often involve a hierarchy of types: professional migrants and asylum seekers at the least problematic end of the spectrum, economic refugees with no clear humanitarian grounds to leave their homeland – accused of being queue jumpers and so despised by nationalists and right-wing populists – at the other. The genius of The Story of Souleymane, one of the best films I've seen this year, is that it demolishes those distinctions. It is a tale about an asylum seeker whose case, on paper at least, is flimsy. But after spending a couple of days (condensed into a brisk and hyper-tense 93 minutes) with Souleymane, you can't help hoping for anything but the best for him. Souleymane is a refugee from Guinea, working as a bicycle delivery rider in Paris, sleeping in a homeless shelter, and trying desperately to memorise the concocted story he is due to tell at his upcoming asylum hearing. The film opens as he's called for his interview – he's dabbing at a spot of blood he's just noticed on the cuff of his borrowed white shirt – and then tracks him over the two days leading up to that moment. Loading In its final heartbreaking scene, we move inside the interview room, where Souleymane desperately tries to convince his assessor (Nina Meurisse, who won a Cesar last year for her brief but touching performance) that he has a legitimate case to be offered succour by the state. Director Boris Lojkine (who co-wrote with Delphine Agut) employs a verite style that keeps us close to Souleymane, often right up in his face. We're there as he pedals hard through the teeming streets, dodging buses and not always dodging vehicles. We're there as he begs a restaurateur to hand over the pizza that was supposed to be ready 10 minutes ago. We're there as he sprints for the bus that will take him to the homeless shelter for the night. We're there in the wee hours of the morning when his phone alarm wakes him so he can book a bed in that very same shelter for the night to come. It's a tough, tough life, and Souleymane can barely catch a break. He's renting an online delivery account from a shady guy called Emmanuel (Emmanuel Yovanie), and has to sprint back to him occasionally for facial verification; in return, Emmanuel takes close to half his meagre earnings. Occasional moments of kindness from strangers or support workers sprinkle like fairy dust on an existence that is otherwise relentlessly harsh.
The Age
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
This French drama is one of the best films I've seen this year
The Story of Souleymane (L'histoire de Souleymane), ★★★★½ M, 94 min For many in the West, debates around immigration often involve a hierarchy of types: professional migrants and asylum seekers at the least problematic end of the spectrum, economic refugees with no clear humanitarian grounds to leave their homeland – accused of being queue jumpers and so despised by nationalists and right-wing populists – at the other. The genius of The Story of Souleymane, one of the best films I've seen this year, is that it demolishes those distinctions. It is a tale about an asylum seeker whose case, on paper at least, is flimsy. But after spending a couple of days (condensed into a brisk and hyper-tense 93 minutes) with Souleymane, you can't help hoping for anything but the best for him. Souleymane is a refugee from Guinea, working as a bicycle delivery rider in Paris, sleeping in a homeless shelter, and trying desperately to memorise the concocted story he is due to tell at his upcoming asylum hearing. The film opens as he's called for his interview – he's dabbing at a spot of blood he's just noticed on the cuff of his borrowed white shirt – and then tracks him over the two days leading up to that moment. Loading In its final heartbreaking scene, we move inside the interview room, where Souleymane desperately tries to convince his assessor (Nina Meurisse, who won a Cesar last year for her brief but touching performance) that he has a legitimate case to be offered succour by the state. Director Boris Lojkine (who co-wrote with Delphine Agut) employs a verite style that keeps us close to Souleymane, often right up in his face. We're there as he pedals hard through the teeming streets, dodging buses and not always dodging vehicles. We're there as he begs a restaurateur to hand over the pizza that was supposed to be ready 10 minutes ago. We're there as he sprints for the bus that will take him to the homeless shelter for the night. We're there in the wee hours of the morning when his phone alarm wakes him so he can book a bed in that very same shelter for the night to come. It's a tough, tough life, and Souleymane can barely catch a break. He's renting an online delivery account from a shady guy called Emmanuel (Emmanuel Yovanie), and has to sprint back to him occasionally for facial verification; in return, Emmanuel takes close to half his meagre earnings. Occasional moments of kindness from strangers or support workers sprinkle like fairy dust on an existence that is otherwise relentlessly harsh.
Euronews
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
César nominations 2025: Who is the favourite to win France's top cinema award?
The César Academy has announced the nominations for its 50th ceremony and unsurprisingly, this year's top nominees include Le Compte de Monte-Cristo, L'amour ouf and Emilia Pérez. Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, the hugely popular cinematic adaptation of the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas, scored the most nominations with 14 nods. The film, directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, sold nine million tickets in France and stands as one of the favourites this year - especially when it comes to the Best Actor category, which Pierre Niney is the frontrunner for. Behind it is the romantic drama L'Amour ouf (Beating Hearts) with 13, and awards favourite Emilia Pérez with 12 nominations. All eyes will be on Jacques Audiard's Spanish-language musical, which has already won two Palmes, five European Film Awards, four Golden Globes and has beaten the nomination record for a non-English-language film at the Oscars. Elsewhere, five superb films make up the shortlist for Best International Feature: Palme d'Or winner Anora; Euronews Culture's top film of 2024 The Seed of the Sacred Fig; the underrated and freshly Oscar-nominated The Apprentice; the mind-melting The Substance; and last year's Oscar-winning The Zone of Interest. It's worth pointing out that all five films debuted at the Cannes Film Festival. Only one month left to find out who will succeed Justine Triet's Anatomy of a Fall - which won six Césars last year, including Best Film. The 50th César Awards will take place in Paris at the Olympia on 28 February 2025. The ceremony will be presided over by Catherine Deneuve and American actress Julia Roberts will receive this year's honorary César. Here are the main highlights of this year's nominees: Best Film Le Comte de Monte-Cristo Emilia Pérez En Fanfare L'histoire de Souleymane Miséricorde Best Director Gilles Lelouche for L'amour ouf Matthieu Delaporte & Alexandre de la Patellière for Le Comte de Monte-Cristo Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez Boris Lojkine for L'histoire de Souleymane Alain Guiraudie for Miséricorde Best Actress Adèle Exarchopoulos - L'Amour ouf Karla Sofía Gascón - Emilia Pérez Hafsia Herzi - Borgo Zoé Saldana - Emilia Pérez Hélène Vincent - Quand vient l'automne Best Actor François Civil - L'Amour ouf Benjamin Lavernhe - En Fanfare Karim Leklou - Le roman de Jim Pierre Niney - Le Comte de Monte-Cristo Tahar Rahim – Monsieur Aznavour Best Actress in a Supporting Role Elodie Bouchez - L'amour ouf Anais Demoustier - Le Comte de Monte-Cristo Catherine Frot - Miséricorde Nina Meurisse - L'histoire de Souleymane Sarah Suco - En Fanfare Best Actor in a Supporting Role David Alaya - Miséricorde Bastien Bouillon - Le Comte de Monte-Cristo Alain Chabat - L'amour ouf Jacques Develay - Miséricorde Laurent Lafitte - Le Comte de Monte-Cristo Revelation Award - Actress Maïwenn Barthelemy - Vingt Dieux Malou Khebizi - Diamant Brut Megan Northam - Rabia Mallory Wanecque - L'amour ouf Souheila Yacoub - Planète B Revelation Award - Actor Abou Sangaré - L'histoire de Souleymane Adam Bessa - Les Fantômes Malik Frikah - L'amour ouf Félix Kysyl - Miséricorde Pierre Lottin - En Fanfare Best Original Screenplay Stéphane Demoustier - Borgo Emmanuel Courcol & Irène Muscari - En Fanfare Boris Lojkine & Delphine Agut - L'histoire de Souleymane Alain Guiraudie - Miséricorde Louise Courvoisier & Théo Abadie - Vingt Dieux Best Adapted Screenplay Matthieu Delaporte & Alexandre de la Patellière - Le Comte de Monte-Cristo Jacques Audiard - Emilia Pérez Michel Hazanavicus & Jean-Claude Grumberg - La plus précieuse des marchandises Best International Film Anora The Seed of the Sacred Fig The Apprentice The Substance The Zone of Interest Best First Film Diamant brut Les fantômes Le royaume Un p'tit truc en plus Vingt dieux
