artistically this french film festival feature is very appealing
black and white for one - but also about a music megastar
based on the autobiography of french rapper abd al malik
not only did he write the book but he also directed the film
no starring role though - actor marc zinga takes on that part
he is first seen warming up backstage with his fellow rappers
motion changes, indiscernible sounds, b&w - liking it already
cut back a few years to teenage days as regis with his mates
a gang in strasbourg seen pick-pocketing and dealing in drugs
one of the gang throwing a rock at a police car leads to a raid
and then a confronting scene in the back of a paddy wagon
regis has an older brother who loudly abuses a policewoman
the expletives flying as regis tries to calm the tense situation
a sense of the volatile times for immigrants in rural france
we then see regis in school soaking up the literature lesson
but the gang is the focus - once a week they hire a studio
here regis composes and they all hone their rapping skills
so very quickly we learn he is musical, intelligent and loyal
he also has a female friend - sabrina - sister of a gang mate
she - pale-skinned, calm, beautiful - and an avid reader
a striking contrast to the wild nature of congolese regis
she lends regis a favorite book about sufism in morocco
so now some spiritualism in the mix - it's building well
quite absorbed by it actually - even with a lot going on
the subtitles aren't serving us well though unfortunately
sometimes white on white - other times very minimal
lots of on-screen dialogue summed up in a few words
however the regular intermission of music is welcomed
usually some stunning b&w footage with some hip-hop
quite unique too - a mix of rap, electronica and eastern
in the story regis becomes increasingly tired of his gang
forces a change by converting to islam - now abd al malik
musical fame soon follows despite record company rejection
a visit by his old teacher backstage at a concert is pivotal
he realises even material success is shallow - change again
then seen on a ferry to morocco and some mosque visits
after spending time there he comes back a contented man
and in the final scenes he is seen marrying sabrina - nice
the final words at the wedding - qu'allah benisse la france
so neatly wrapping up the film and announcing the title
very cool film actually - despite at times losing it a bit
great acting, great music, great cinematography
and a quite riveting story - see it again? - oui...
the subtitles aren't serving us well though unfortunately
sometimes white on white - other times very minimal
lots of on-screen dialogue summed up in a few words
however the regular intermission of music is welcomed
usually some stunning b&w footage with some hip-hop
quite unique too - a mix of rap, electronica and eastern
in the story regis becomes increasingly tired of his gang
forces a change by converting to islam - now abd al malik
musical fame soon follows despite record company rejection
a visit by his old teacher backstage at a concert is pivotal
he realises even material success is shallow - change again
then seen on a ferry to morocco and some mosque visits
after spending time there he comes back a contented man
and in the final scenes he is seen marrying sabrina - nice
the final words at the wedding - qu'allah benisse la france
so neatly wrapping up the film and announcing the title
very cool film actually - despite at times losing it a bit
great acting, great music, great cinematography
and a quite riveting story - see it again? - oui...
