Culture
Les Miserables, a film by Ladj Ly
French film director and screen writer, Ladj Ly came to Zurich on Friday for the Swiss Premiere of his film, Les Miserables. The two film producers, Toufik Ayadi and Christophe, accompanied him. Les Miserables depicts the tensions in the French suburbs, in the Banlieue of Paris and the violence of the police toward its residents. The script is inspired from real facts, from the riots of 2005. It is not a film against the police stresses the film director. He feels for them and knows it is not easy. “It is an humanist film,” he adds.
Ladj Ly lives in the quartier of Montfermeil where it was filmed since 30 years and he has been filming there for the last 15 years. He recently opened the Kourtrajme Film school and has formed 30 young kids, who made 5 films in 1 year. His dream is to open more schools in Africa. He is proud of the results the film has made on the people of the quartier and on the kids who participated in the film. Many have started doing photography and filming.
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 27: Toufik Ayadi , Ladj Ly and Christophe Barral attend the “Les Miserables” photo call during the 15th Zurich Film Festival at Kino Corso on September 27, 2019 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Ferda Demir/Getty Images for ZFF)
It was not easy to find finances for the film as what the people remembered was the violence so the producers had produce with what they had. The film will be shown this week in the banlieue. Ladj Lye was invited by French President Macron to show his film at Elysee. He refused and proposed him to come and see it in the suburb where the problem still exist. He said laughing he will do everything to keep the President safe.
He explains that his quartier is now a safe place to live in as the French government did a lot to ameliorate the situation.However more has to be done. The film will be shown soon to the police union. So far the policemen who saw the film reacted well to the film.
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – SEPTEMBER 27: Ladj Ly attends the “Les Miserables” photo call during the 15th Zurich Film Festival at Kino Corso on September 27, 2019 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for ZFF)
Les Miserables remind of us the literature work of Victor Hugo so why did Ladj Ly picked this title for his film? That is simple he said the place he filmed was used for a part of the scenes of the famous novelist and many years later the misery is still there, he said sadly.
Ladj Lye has worked a lot with the son of Costa Gavras. His film won the Jury Prize in Cannes this year and will represent France at the Oscars in February. It is the first time a black film director will be representing France.
We encourage you to go watch the film when it comes out on the screens in Switzerland.
Christophe Barral and Ladj Ly after the screening of the Miserables in Zurich – credits Vivamost
Ladj Ly in Zurich after the screening of Les Miserables – credits Vivamost
