Souleymane's Story

2024 [FRENCH]

Drama

8
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 100% · 49 reviews
IMDb Rating 7.6/10 10 5070 5.1K

illegal immigration homelessness working immigrants worker exploitation

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Plot summary

As he pedals through the streets of Paris to deliver meals, Souleymane recounts his story. In two days, he has to go through his asylum application interview, the key to obtaining papers, but Souleymane is not ready.

Director

Boris Lojkine Photo
Boris Lojkine

Top cast

Nina Meurisse Photo
Nina Meurisse as L'agente de l'OFPRA
Hamid Chbiki Photo
Hamid Chbiki as
Wabinlé Nabié Photo
Wabinlé Nabié as
Boris Lojkine Photo
Boris Lojkine as Le restaurateur
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
861.23 MB
1080*720
French 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  fr  
24 fps
1 hr 33 min
Seeds 15
1.73 GB
1620*1080
French 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  fr  
24 fps
1 hr 33 min
Seeds 62

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by brentsbulletinboard 7 / 10

Engaging But Needs Work

Are there times when telling the truth is not necessarily the wisest course to follow in getting what you want? Some might say, somewhat self-righteously, never. However, for those faced with potentially problematic circumstances, that might not be the case. Such is the conundrum faced by Guinean immigrant Souleymane Sangaré (Abou Sangare), who relocates to France to escape the many hardships in his African homeland. He hopes to secure a permanent new home for himself by seeking asylum from Guinean political persecution, a designation that would earn him the protections of French authorities. There's just one problem with his story: It's not true. That's not to suggest that he's not fleeing many ordeals back home, but there's no guarantee that they would qualify him to stay in France, no matter how problematic they might be. Hence the asylum ruse, a plan he seeks to perpetrate with the aid of Barry (Alpha Oumar Sow), an expensive (some would say extortionist) social worker/asylum broker playing on (and profiting from) Souleymane's fears and desperation. Barry supplies his client (like many others with whom he "does business") with phony asylum documents and an allegedly convincing personal story that he can tell to French authorities during an official interview with a government case worker (Nina Meurisse) to determine his eligibility. While preparing for his meeting with officials, Souleymane works (illegally) as a food delivery courier with the assistance of a shady associate, Emmanuel (Emmanuel Yovanie), who "rents" him fraudulent work credentials that allow him to earn money off the books, a scenario fraught with complications as he bicycles through the streets of Paris. Through this experience, viewers witness the many challenges that immigrants/asylum seekers face when trying to land a new home for themselves far away from their roots. These include numerous bureaucratic nightmares, unbridled prejudice, ubiquitous swindlers, and the frustration of being unable to do virtually anything in addressing difficulties back home, such as handling family health matters and coping with separation from loved ones like Souleymane's fiancée (Keita Dalo). Writer-director Boris Lojkine's latest feature outing tells an involving dramatic tale that captured three top honors at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, including the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, the Un Certain Regard Best Actor Award (Sangare) and the FIPRESCI Prize, among numerous other honors and nominations at other events and awards competitions. This is made possible in large part by the picture's fine performances, as well as its atmospheric cinematography and skillful film editing, both of which show off sides of the City of Lights not often seen. There's also a strong degree of authenticity pervading the narrative, bringing an insightful and profound level of credibility to the story. However, these assets aside, there are times when the film focuses a little too much on the setup preparation for the main event (the interview), along with a sometimes-excessive reliance on depictions of Souleymane's workaday life, while sacrificing greater depth into the protagonist's character development and back story. More emphasis in these key areas undoubtedly would have added more substance to the finished product, not only giving viewers a more complete picture of its lead, but also likely generating a deeper sense of empathy for his situation. As it stands now, "Souleymane's Story" is certainly a solid offering, but, with some tweaking in these other regards, it could have elevated this release to the truly outstanding level that it might have otherwise attained.
Reviewed by Giuseppe_Silecchia 8 / 10

A raw and poignant glimpse into resilience

Souleymane's Story is a gripping and deeply human tale that sheds light on the struggles of asylum seekers in modern Paris. Directed by Boris Lojkine, the film follows Souleymane, a food delivery cyclist racing against time to prepare for a critical interview that could determine his future. In just 91 minutes, the narrative delivers an unflinching portrayal of survival, hope, and the emotional toll of uncertainty.Abou Sangaré's performance is a revelation, capturing the vulnerability and determination of a young man caught between the harsh realities of his daily life and the weight of his dreams. The supporting cast, including Nina Meurisse, adds depth to the story, highlighting the fragile human connections Souleymane forms along the way.Lojkine's direction is understated yet powerful, using the streets of Paris as both a backdrop and a character in itself. The cinematography immerses the viewer in the city's contrasting beauty and hostility, mirroring Souleymane's inner turmoil. The film's pacing is tight, and its realism leaves a lasting impact, compelling viewers to confront the humanity behind headlines and statistics.Rating: 8/10 - A heartfelt and necessary exploration of resilience in the face of systemic challenges.
Reviewed by silviamarcomini 10 / 10

Important, no frills, accurate depiction of an average day in the life of an asylum seeker

This film is a punch in the gut and frankly it should be mandatory in schools.I rarely ever cry for movies, but felt like crying here although the flow and.the directorial angle is very matter-of-fact and realistic, not trying to unnaturally elicit emotions in the viewers.Outstanding performance by the lead actor and the movie does a really good job at showing the different aspects of community at play here - the positive interactions and mutual help.with other asylum seekers and the.ruthless exploitation from other immigrants who have managed to successfully.achieve a legal status in France.
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