Wesh, Wesh, Qu’Est-ce-qu’il Se Passe? : Free Film on June 20 at Tompkins Square Park
Part of ’Films on the Green’, the French Movie Festival in NYC Parks
Moving and touching, this movie does not try to be an impressive fictional tale about the ghettos, but gives an exact testimony of the lives of society’s left behind who survive through solidarity.
The critically-acclaimed movie Wesh, Wesh, Qu’Est-ce-qu’il Se Passe?, by Rabah Ameur-Zaïmèche is part of Cinéma Sur l’Herbe | Films on the Green, a free French movie festival happening in NYC Parks. The sub-titled screening will take place Friday June 20 at sunset (around 8 pm) at Tompkins Square Park.
The director will be present for a Q&A after the screening.
Credits
* By Rabah Ameur-Zaïmèche
* With: Rabah Ameur-Zaïmèche, Ahmed Hammoudi, Brahim Ameur Zaïmeche, Farida Mouffok, Ali Mouffok, Serpentine Textier, Salim Ameur Zaïmeche, Mambi Keïta, Bastien Sion
* French Release: 1 May 2002
* Running time: 83 min
* Awards: Bronze Rosa Camuna Award - 2003 Bergamo Film Meeting Wolfgang Staudte Award- 2002 Berlin International Film Festival Léo Scheer Award- 2001 Entrevues Film Festival Best First Film 2002 Prix Louis Delluc
Reviews
“Of all ’banlieue’ movies, Wesh wesh enriches the debate like no other. Politicians should watch it over and over again.” Aden - Philippe Piazzo
“RAZ builds fiction with blocks of raw reality where the pressured actors act - and speak - their life with amazing confidence” Télérama - Jean-Claude Loiseau
“This movie is like a ball that was just hit by a golf club: quick but floating, reaching to the sky (how many ’banlieues’ movies have you seen where the skies are always in the background?) as high as possible, finally hitting the ground to leave a deep print. Who said ’necessary’?” Libération - Philippe Azoury
“Made by he who ’simply invented a new way to direct’ Cahiers du cinema – Jean-Michel Frodon
Synopsis
Halfway between documentary and fiction, ’Wesh wesh’ is a take on the everyday life of an immigrant family which is struggling to integrate into France or, rather into the ’Cite des Bosquets’ a low-income housing project in the Parisian suburbs. Like every district, it is a world of its own, with its rules and values. Mousse, the younger brother has understood how it works there. He has integrated a gang, and deals everyday with small time drug trafficking and protects his territory. On the other hand, his older brother who just came back after 2 years in prison, wants to start a normal life and integrate into society. He understands soon enough that it is hard to succeed behind the walls of ‘Les Bosquets’. He tries to find a job, with the help of his family. But without ID papers, and with the police after him, he is stuck in the neighborhood, spending time with the street kids. One day, he finds a fishing rod, and escapes from the city, going fishing in a lake, close to where he lives…
Films on the Green
Five critically-acclaimed movies were selected, revolving around solidarity, and the powerful links that are formed between communities, friends and neighbors. Profound and moving, each one depicts a different facet of France’s multi ethnic, multicultural society—from its animated banlieues to its typical countryside towns.
In the East Village’s Parks from May 30 to June 27, this event will then move to Harlem parks in July; two neighborhoods selected for their dynamic and close-knit communities.
Link: Cinéma Sur l’Herbe | Films on the Green
Where / When
Dates:
Tompkins Square Park
Bordered by Avenues A and B, and 7th and 10th Streets New York, NY 10009Written on Jun. 05, 08
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