Review of Leila

Lately, watching Paris in movies (« frantic », « max »), i would say that this wasn't my Paris : Now, this is the one i live everyday, in subway, in streets. Paris isn't an united or tolerant city but an addition of ghetto: it's the left-bank vs the the right-bank, the wealthy vs the poor, the white vs the non-white. Last year during my trip in Sweden, i learned the word « gentrification » and i think that what's happening to Paris : in short, Paris is the home of those who have money and they oust slowly but surely those who haven't.

This movie isn't really about gentrification but the dynamic is here : the boy from the powerful family and the girl from the poor district : if the beginning is light and happy and makes think it will be superficial musical comedy, the story takes a dramatic turn as soon as the illegal mother is arrested : strangely, the songs are much better, especially Balavoine's « save love » ! By dealing with the immigrant fate, the movie really wins a heart, all the more that this subject is usually put in the closet. The lines are powerful with one side talking about file, number and the other fighting with person, family ! Leila is always good playing rebellious, upright characters and if like her partner, she dances better than she sings, this movie is definitely a happy breath in our old dusty and blind french cinema.