Street Flow

A little slice of the French projects around Paris, la "banlieue" and its habitants les banlieusards, those on the wrong side of the boulevard peripherique, the circular surrounding Paris. Not necessarily realistic sometimes, actually making the banlieue look better than it is in lots of parts, but showing the huge range of possibilities and the randomness of it all. With the best or worst intentions some might rise some might fall, some make fast choices to provide for themselves or their families and meet their doom just as fast, some might get a second chance, some might not. I thought it was very well directed, and the four main actors are great, I hope to see them again in the near future.

I really had no plan on watching this movie, and really just played it from minute 5 to get an idea of it. And I got instantly tucked in. Really enjoyable piece of entertainment coupled with a very nice base for thoughts on immigration, integration and social differences. Would recommend to anyone.

The main flaw of this film is that it hesitates all long between crime gangsta flick and the social didactic drama depicting the life in the remoted suburbs. It's not LA HAINE, nor CHOUF, in waiting to LES MISERABLES, released in two months from now. The film makers are obviously from the urban jungle, the ghetto, so they know what the speak about. It's not Always done without ankwardness, but it's a honest piece of work. The true life I guess, but I repeat, we Don't know what we see here, a crime movie or a social study. But worthy. I would have guessed to find Doudou Masta here. A mobster character would have fit him like a glove. Or even Kaaris...

Finally Kery James gets the opportunity to produce his award winning script, and what a script that is! It beautifully portrays the life of a family, with each family member having his own struggles in the "Banlieues" of Paris.

This film portrays the "banlieu" in the most perfect way, from the conversation to the action scenes and I could not find a single flaw in this film. If you are not from the project then you will not be able to enjoy or relate but with only this film you can learn everything. This film touches every subject, from the lack of involvement of the state to the individuals responsibility of it own choices and much more. You laugh in some parts and cry in others but in the end you will feel fulfilled but you will still want more. All applauds to the writers, actors and directors, THIS IS A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!