The Culturist Film Club - Online: Les Miserables (June 21)
For the month of June, the film club will focus on the theme of resistance.
With the news racism, injustices and protests in America and other parts of the world, join me in a discussion about this film and its wider historical and cultural context. Additionally, I’m seeing a lot of empty Black Lives Matter talk locally and regionally that are tone deaf to existing discriminations closer to home, so would like to address those issues too in the discussions.
Les Misérables
Director: Ladj Ly
2019, France, 105 min
Stéphane (Damien Bonnard) has recently joined the Anti-Crime Squad in Montfermeil, in the suburbs of Paris, France, where, Victor Hugo set his famed novel “Les Miserables”. Alongside his new colleagues Chris (Alexis Manenti) and Gwada (Djebril Zonga) - both experienced members of the team - he quickly discovers tensions running high between local gangs.
When the trio finds themselves overrun during the course of an arrest, a drone captures the encounter, threatening to expose the reality of everyday life. Inspired by the 2005 Paris riots, and Ladj Ly’s short film of the same name, Les Misérables is a provocative insight into the tensions between neighborhood residents and police.
Les Misérables had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 where it won the Jury Prize. It was selected as the French entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, eventually achieving the nomination.
How to watch:
Available to rent or buy on iTunes in the MENA region. Check your local streaming platform as it might be available there too.
Online film club discussion date:
Sunday, June 21 at 8.00pm (UAE / GST)
Register:
Send an email with the subject line RSVP LES MISERABLES to hind.mezaina@gmail.com by June 21, 2.00pm (UAE / GST).
Discussion format:
Group session on Google Meet (available to users without a Google Account). A link will be sent after receiving your registration.
About The Culturist Film Club:
The Culturist Film Club is something I started on April 19, an online activity where participants have a few days to watch a film I suggest, and then we meet online to discuss on a specific date.
My film programming for Louvre Abu Dhabi is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, so I thought I’d give this a try. There are countless film viewing parties online right now, and I wanted to do something different by suggesting a film you can watch at your own pace and time, and then have a few of us get together online to talk about it.