Souleymane's Story

'L'histoire de Souleymane' (2024), directed by Boris Lojkine, is a realistic drama that narrates in real-time and without concessions two days in the life of Souleymane, a young undocumented Guinean immigrant living in Paris. Played by Abou Sangaré, who shares similarities with his character, Souleymane works as a food delivery cyclist while preparing for a crucial interview with the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) to apply for asylum.

Throughout the film, Souleymane faces the pressure of earning money to survive, finding a place to sleep, and at the same time, memorizing a false story about his supposed political activism to meet administrative requirements. However, during the interview, he decides to reveal his true story: he emigrated for economic reasons with the aim of improving the situation of his sick mother.

The film is notable for its suspenseful style, filming in real locations, and a narrative that avoids moralism, focusing on the human complexity of the protagonist. It was acclaimed at festivals such as Cannes, where it received the Jury Prize and the Best Actor Award for Abou Sangaré. Additionally, at the 2025 César Awards, it won four awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, and Best Promising Actor.