The Rascals begins as a simple suburban film, with children fighting, fights, gangs, petty theft and parties. But as the introduction states, the film takes place in 1984, in the suburbs of Paris, in the middle of the European elections, where the FN (French Nationalist Party) scores high for the first time. This is the context of Jimmy Laporal-Tresor's film, which is scheduled for release in theaters on January 11, 2023, and is one of our favorites of the year.
This political scope is not visible at the beginning of the film, which, like a West Side Story, focuses on the rivalry between two gangs that everything opposes, one composed of sons of immigrants, and the other of boneheads, a new form of skinhead punks. Their opposition begins with a simple street fight, but it leads to many consequences.
With this story of a spark, which ends up causing a forest fire, the filmmaker brilliantly examines the political fracture that France experienced in the early 1980s, with the rise of fascism and the skins movements in Paris. The scenario is brilliantly crafted, tragic and often infuriating, as we realize that the immigrant gang will never be listened to, alongside the so-called "native French", even though they are dangerous. Jimmy Laporal-Tresor 's analysis of this period is chilling. It is an important film, which, after having caused a sensation at the Critics' Week during the Cannes Film Festival, could get its entry at the Césars.
Discover also our interview with the director, Jimmy Laporal-Tresor and the actors, Jonathan Feltre and Missoum Slimani.
January 2024 cinema releases: list of films in cinemas and opening times near you
After an intense holiday season, we're kicking off 2024 by taking a break and heading to the cinema to see what's new! So, let's go to the movies in January? [Read more]
January 2024 cinema releases: list of films in cinemas and opening times near you
