Samba, 2014.
Directed by Olivier Nakache, and Eric Toledano.
Starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Omar Sy, Tahar Rahim, and Izia Higelin.
SYNOPSIS:
A recent migrant to France fights to stay in his adopted country with the help of a rookie immigration worker.
An illegal immigrant named Samba who has been caught by French authorities is assisted by a group of volunteer social workers one of whom develops a personal interest in him; complications arise when he finds the girlfriend for one of his friends and they have a brief affair. Samba tries to stay under the authorities’ radar while doing odd jobs like being a security guard, construction worker and window washer.
Unlike Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things) who tends to explore the dark underbelly of society, co-directors and writers Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano address social issues with more of a light-hearted touch. The absent-minded antics of Alice set the tone for the rest of the movie which features shoes being thrown off the roof of a building by mistake, an Algerian pretending to be Brazilian in order to bed women, and a dance routine while window washing an office building.
There are elements of drama such as a drowning and the looming threat of deportation. Omar Sy (Untouchable). Charlotte Gainsbourg (Do Not Disturb) and Tahar Rahim (A Prophet) portray characters struggling with the hardships of life but are also attempting to have some joy which makes them endearing. The humour at times borders on slapstick; however, nothing overboard tends to happen. Some of the facial expressions are priceless, especially, from Omar Sy. Samba is the type of comedy which grounds itself in the follies that occur to people and as result moviegoers will leave the theatre with a smile on their faces.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★★★/ Movie: ★★★
Originally published September 10, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
