Release Date – TBC, Cert – TBC, Run-time – 1 hour 41 minutes, Director – Ladj Ly
Activist Haby (Anta Diaw) leads a fight against a new interim mayor (Alexis Manenti) clamping down with increasing pressure on her working class Parisian suburb.
Furniture tumbles from windows towards an increasing group of uncertain former-residents, each one wrapped up in multiple layers of clothing as they try to carry as much as possible with them. It’s an extended sequence of angry drama, fiercely captured by director Ladj Ly as his protagonists and their neighbours are suddenly evicted from their apartment block after it’s been deemed unsafe to live in. The building lies within a suburb of predominantly working class figures neglected by the local government. Billboards advertise “a new beginning for the projects” starting soon in the area, something being fought against with increasing passion by the majority Black population, led by hopeful-mayoral candidate Haby (Anta Diaw)
Through Haby Ly demonstrates a fiery passion as she takes on recently-installed interim mayor Pierre (Aleix Manenti) – a man who wishes to continue in his regular work as a paediatrician until properly elected, helping him be recognised as an upstanding member of the (wealthier) community. Also under fire is his deputy Roger (Steve Tientcheu), also a mayoral hopeful, both figures find themselves facing more and more action from the residents of Haby’s community, “why bother rebuilding an entire neighbourhood just to end up with the same problem?” The politics are very clear throughout and make for heated drama at each stage. After his brilliant debut in the form of 2019’s Les Miserables Ly demonstrates himself as a French cross between Ken Loach and Spike Lee.
As things progress a number of the sequences regarding the mistreatment of the struggling community, and indeed their later responses, become hard to watch. The tension rises amongst the heat and anger that’s on display, fear that something might go wrong leading to even worse circumstances or repercussions. Helped by a set of great performances from the leads, and surrounding ensemble, to push forward the ensuing political battle the naturalism adds to the film’s overall power and gripping nature.
Naturalism which helps to bring a universality to the unfolding events. It helps to form even more interest in what’s happening to the characters and the debates at hand. A push of ‘at home’ relevance to the story adds to the impact that it already has thanks to how easy it is to engage in the first place. Watching as Haby tries to represent the unheard voices around her, frustrated by being ignored, abandoned and moved on for more of the same, if not worse. It’s an excellently crafted drama with plenty of anger fuelling it in both personal, up close exchanges and longer sequences where the distance of the politicians from the moment further adds to the rage emitted from the screen. All coming together to create an effectively burning political drama spurred by its relevance and universality.
Ladj Ly confirms himself as one of the fiercest directors working today with an angry drama of burning passion. Further fuelled by its political relevance there’s a good deal to engage with in this well-performed story of activism and marginalisation.
Just A Little Bit Random 