Smugglers' Songs

Les chants de Mandrin

France

2011

97 Min

Color

1.85:1

French

Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
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CAST Jacques Nolot, Christian Milia-Darmezin, Kenji Levan, Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche, Salim Ameur-Zaïmeche, Sylvain Roume, Nicolas Bancilhon, Abel Jafri, Nicolas Larmignat, Sylvain Rifflet, Sylvain Albaret, Jean-Luc Nancy, Xavier Pons, Yann-Yvon Pennec

SOUND Timothée Alazraki, Bruno Auzet

Locarno (International Competition), Vancouver (Spotlight on France), San Francisco (World Cinema)

Synopsis

Following the execution of Louis Mandrin, the famous mid-18th century outlaw and popular hero, his comrades begin a new smuggling operation in the French provinces, organizing black markets to sell tobacco, fabrics and precious commodities. These smugglers also write songs in honour of Mandrin that they print and distribute to peasants throughout the land. –Locarno Film Festival

Director

Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche

Born in Algeria , Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche arrived in France in 1968 in the time of the second great wave of Algerian immigration. He grew up in the city of Groves in Montfermeil, in Seine-Saint-Denis.

After studying humanities, in 1999 he founded the company Sarrazink Productions and in 2001 directed his first feature film Wesh Wesh, What Happens? His first film won several awards including the Leo Sheer award at the Entrevues Film Festival. For this project, the director did everything himself, from script to interpretation and produced the film with his own funds. In 2006, his second film Bled Number One is selected in the “Un certain regard” and received the youth award at Cannes. In 2008 , he directed Adhen which was selected at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Fortnight .—Wikipedia.fr

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Ali

6Apr12

The most outstanding cinematography I've seen this year/ also some exceptionally lyrical acting - don't know what you were watching, Corriel? - from the great Jacques Nolot, the director himself, an unknown (to me) called Christian Lila-Darmezin; and a rare quality, especially in costume dramas, which is something like urgency. Five star recommendation (and if I was a filmmmaker I'd pawn my house for Irina Lubtchansky behind the camera).

Corriel

28Aug12

Admit it, you're a relative to the director? ^^

Corriel

4Feb12

A disappointing film: rather bad or clumsy acting, a bad rhythm through out the whole movie and a wrong cast for too many characters. It is a pity as the story could have been interesting.