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Souleymane's Story film image; man riding a bicycle through a city at night

Souleymane's Story

L’histoire de Souleymane

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Cycling through crowded Parisian streets while hustling as an illegal food courier, Souleymane has less than 48 hours to prepare for his asylum interview by rehearsing the details of his migration from Guinea between deliveries. Trouble is, the story he’s desperately trying to memorize is a lie. Exhausted by the grueling grind of the gig economy and hopping between homeless shelters, Souleymane barely has the time—or the money—to meet with Barry, an immigration broker who promises that a fake story about political persecution in Guinea will guarantee asylum. Racing against time as he navigates the faceless bureaucracies and merciless systems fencing him in, Souleymane struggles not to lose himself in his pursuit of freedom.

A multiple award winner at Cannes, the Cesars, and the European Film Awards, Souleymane’s Story is a propulsive social realist drama centered around a virtuosic, heartrending performance from newcomer Abou Sangare. An angry, tender film in the mode of the Dardenne brothers, this is as gripping as any thriller.

Gripping… intelligent and empathetic. Sangare is magnetic.

Variety

Dazzling.

Le Monde

Director

Boris Lojkine

Cast

Abou Sangare, Nina Meurisse, Alpha Oumar Sow, Emmanuel Yovanie, Younoussa Diallo, Ghislain Mahan

Credits
Country of Origin

France

Year

2024

Language

In French, Fulah and Malinke with English subtitles

Awards

Jury Prize, and Best Actor: Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2024; 4 Cesar Awards; 2 European Film Awards

19+
92 min
Unité

Book Tickets

Friday August 22

2:00 pm
First Look Fridays Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Saturday August 23

1:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
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Monday August 25

7:40 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
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Tuesday August 26

5:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Thursday August 28

5:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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First Look Fridays: $10 Tickets

Enjoy $10 tickets at this film’s first Friday matinee screening.

Credits

Executive Producer

Bruno Nahon

Screenwriter

Boris Lojkine, Delphine Agut

Cinematography

Tristan Galand

Editor

Xavier Sirven

Original Music

Marc-Olivier Brullé, Pierre Bariaud, Charlotte Butrak, Samuel Aïchoun

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