FR, BE

2023

Finished

Les Indésirables

Directing: Ladj Ly

Synopsis

In 2019, director Ladj Ly’s debut film Les Misérables was a sensation in Cannes, and he received a Jury Prize for his suspenseful drama from the Parisian suburbs. His second film is also set in the decaying housing estates on the edge of the French metropolis where the filmmaker grew up. It’s also the home of Haby, a young activist of Malian origin. After a new mayor takes office, her family faces the risk of displacement from this working-class quarter. Together with other residents they use all available means to defend their right to dignified and affordable housing. This compelling film based on real events is a topical testament about gentrification, poverty, and systemic racism.