Samba (2014 film)
| Samba | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Based on |
Samba pour la France by Delphine Coulin |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Ludovico Einaudi |
| Cinematography | Stéphane Fontaine |
| Edited by | Dorian Rigal-Ansous |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | Gaumont |
Release dates |
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Running time | 119 minutes[1] |
| Country | France |
| Language |
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| Budget | $15.4 million[2] |
| Box office | $31.1 million[3] |
Samba is a 2014 French comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano.[4][5] It is the second collaboration between Sy and directors Nakache and Toledano after 2012's The Intouchables.
The film premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2014.[6] It had a theatrical release on 15 October 2014 in France.[7] The U.S. theatrical release is set for 24 July 2015.[8]
Plot
Samba Cissé (Omar Sy), a migrant from Senegal to France, works as a dish washer in a hotel. After a bureaucratic slip-up lands him in a detention, he is ordered to leave France. With the help of an immigration officer (Charlotte Gainsbourg), he fights to stay in France.
Cast
- Omar Sy as Samba Cissé
- Charlotte Gainsbourg as Alice
- Tahar Rahim as Wilson
- Izïa Higelin as Manu
- Hélène Vincent as Marcelle
- Liya Kebede as Magali
- Clotilde Mollet as Josiane
- Isaka Sawadogo as Jonas
- Jacqueline Jehanneuf as Maggy
- Youngar Fall as Lamouna
- Christiane Millet as Madeleine
- Adel Bencherif as the residence permit seller
- Maxime d'Aboville as Samba's lawyer
- Nicolas Beaucaire as the policeman in the kitchen
- Catherine Davenier as the judge
- Michel Winogradoff as the caretaker
- Olivier Nakache as the poney club host
- Eric Toledano as the bartender
Reception
The film generated mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 50% of 10 film critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 5.5 out of 10.[9]
Peter Debruge of Variety called the film "A highly polished, widely appealing big-budget French movie." He praised Omar Sy's performance in the film that "Sy’s position as one of France’s most magnetic screen personalities, even more compelling to watch in serious scenes than in the obligatory comedic bits."[10] Sam Woolf gave the film a positive review inWe Got This Covered by saying that "The immigrant's struggle is brought to pulsating life in Samba, which works best as an affecting and amusing star vehicle for Omar Sy."[11]
However, Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter criticized the film's plot that "The film's message is lost amid too many plot contrivances." He concluded that "(it's an) Another crowdpleasing social dramedy from the makers of "Intouchables," though one that wears out its welcome without bringing its message home."[12] Mark Adams from Screen International in his review said that "(it's) A well-meaning and occasionally joyous film that is ultimately too scattershot in its format and tone to really work."[13]
References
- ↑ "SAMBA (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ↑ http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=14390
- ↑ http://www.jpbox-office.com/fichfilm.php?id=14390
- ↑ "Cannes 2014 News - Omar Sy Teams Up w/ His 'Intouchables' Directors On 'Samba'". Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ "Omar Sy reveals the first official still from the film "Samba" on Twitter)". Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ "TIFF 2014: Reitman, Baumbach and Rock to premiere new films". Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ "Cannes: Gaumont Turns Buyers' Heads With Omar Sy's 'Samba' (EXCLUSIVE)". Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ "French Romantic Drama 'Samba' Set for U.S. Theatrical Release in July". Sinuous Magazine. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Samba (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- ↑ "Film Review: 'Samba'". Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ "Samba Review [TIFF 2014]". Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ "'Samba': Toronto Review". Retrieved 15 October 2014.
- ↑ "Samba". Retrieved 15 October 2014.