Watch: ‘Samba’ Creators Talk Bringing Hushed Issues to Life in Exclusive Featurette
READ MORE: Review: Overly Sweet Drama ‘Samba’ Starring Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg And Tahar Rahim
Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, directors of “Samba,” make clear that they will not shy away from largely ignored problems — and place them squarely in a comedic context.
“Samba” is the story of an illegal immigrant (played by Omar Sy) from Senegal who fights to stay in Paris after years of working as a dishwasher. He crosses paths with an anxious immigration advocate (played by Charlotte Gainsbourg) who recently burned out of her executive job and is seeking meaning in other paths. The unlikely pair’s romantic entanglements make for a story about love and identity in addition to brushing the issue of the immigration struggle in modern day France.
Nakache and Toledano, French filmmakers who previously worked together on the critically acclaimed “The Intouchables,” discuss their affinity for making very real, very relevant problems more visible within the lightness of the comedy genre in this exclusive featurette. The pair is joined by the film’s stars, Sy and Gainsbourg, who talk about their approach to their characters — characters whose juxtaposition provides for solid ground to touch on meaningful societal issues amidst budding romance.
“Samba” opens in New York and LA on July 24. Omar Sy will be doing a Q&A in Los Angeles following the Landmark Theater’s 7:15 show this Friday. Tickets can be purchased here.
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