Every second of Souleymane’s new life in France is precious. Having fled Guinea, his asylum interview looms. He powers through the streets of after dark Paris as a delivery rider, sleeps in hostels and prepares for his make-or-break appointment. Pressure builds as his date with destiny approaches. Boris Lojkine’s portrait of a modern migrant propels us into the precarious world of an otherwise invisible man. Steeped in compassion, Souleymane’s Story combines the pace of a thriller with the emotional gut punch of a social drama. An award-winning French production in which the dynamic storytelling is matched by a star-making performance from charismatic newcomer Abou Sangaré as Souleymane.

The Garden Cinema View:

Souleymane's Story offers a fresh angle on migration narratives, with a protagonist who is too honest to manipulate France's asylum system effectively. This is a cinematic choice that humanises the faceless category of ‘migrants’ that pervades contemporary discourse; rather than assuming all migrants face identical struggles, director Boris Lojkine treats Souleymane's experience as distinctly his own.

The film captures the chaotic and gritty energy of nocturnal Paris with loose, frenetic cinematography that adds to the high stakes of the story. Abou Sangaré is extraordinary in depicting a man tormented by internal conflict and facing racism from different sides of society. His final monologue is a masterclass in both acting and scriptwriting - a moment that crystallises everything the film has been building toward.

Cast:
Abou Sangaré, Nina Meurisse, Alpha Oumar Sow, Emmanuel Yovanie