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Genre
Drama
Director
Uda Benyamina
Country
France | Qatar
Cast
Oulaya Amamra, Déborah Lukumuena, Kévin Mischel, Jisca Kalvanda, Yasin Houicha, Majdouline Idrissi, Mounir Margoum, Farid Larbi
Storyline
Grown up in a Roma camp and with a mother (Majdouline Idrissi) that is nothing sort of embarrassing, Dounia (Oulaya Amamra) pursues her dream to make big money as she starts dealing drugs.
With an engaging, gripping story very similar to that of "Girlhood" - the story of a girl growing up in the ghetto - this film feels more real and raw than the above mentioned, and it's probably because its director, Uda Benyamina, unlike Céline Sciamma, came from those places and instead of telling the story in a moralistic way, she simply shows how for someone like Dounia drug dealing is the quickest way to achieve her goals.
Not only she does that without judging the (immoral) choices Dounia makes, but she is able to make you empathize with the character, to make you care for her, and eventually to think like her. Well, at least that's what happened to me.
In addition to the story and Benyamina's solid director, "Divines" also features an intense, rich main character that is wonderfully portrayed by Oulaya Amamra. She does really have a bright future ahead. The other characters are also well written and well delivered.
And that brings me to the next point, a wonderful friendship between Dounia and Maimouna - it is truly beautiful to watch these two girls together mostly because of the chemistry between Amamra and Déborah Lukumuena -, and a nice romance that isn't a huge part of the film, but that definitely plays a role in the story as it shows that the film really isn't about the suburbs, but it's about friendship.
Lastly, there's a nice cinematography, beautiful music and some (maybe overlong) dancing scenes that makes you forget everything else.
Opinion
Nominated this year at the Golden Globes for Best Foreign Film, "Divines" immediately captured my attention. I don't know why, I just felt the need to see it. And my gut was right, I didn't just watch a movie, but I experienced a wide range of emotions. Laughs, tears and anger.With an engaging, gripping story very similar to that of "Girlhood" - the story of a girl growing up in the ghetto - this film feels more real and raw than the above mentioned, and it's probably because its director, Uda Benyamina, unlike Céline Sciamma, came from those places and instead of telling the story in a moralistic way, she simply shows how for someone like Dounia drug dealing is the quickest way to achieve her goals.
Not only she does that without judging the (immoral) choices Dounia makes, but she is able to make you empathize with the character, to make you care for her, and eventually to think like her. Well, at least that's what happened to me.In addition to the story and Benyamina's solid director, "Divines" also features an intense, rich main character that is wonderfully portrayed by Oulaya Amamra. She does really have a bright future ahead. The other characters are also well written and well delivered.
And that brings me to the next point, a wonderful friendship between Dounia and Maimouna - it is truly beautiful to watch these two girls together mostly because of the chemistry between Amamra and Déborah Lukumuena -, and a nice romance that isn't a huge part of the film, but that definitely plays a role in the story as it shows that the film really isn't about the suburbs, but it's about friendship.
Lastly, there's a nice cinematography, beautiful music and some (maybe overlong) dancing scenes that makes you forget everything else.
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