STREET FLOW/ BANLIEUSARDS

France, 2019, 96 minutes, Colour.

Kery James, Jammeh Diangana, Bakary Diombera, Chloe Jouannet, Matthieu Kassovita..

Directed by Kery James, Leila Sy.

Street Flow, with its French title the slaying for those who live in the suburbs of Paris, is a project from celebrated singer/actor, Kery James. He has written the screenplay, co-directed and appears as the oldest of three brothers. He has a strong screen presence.

This film is one of a number of films from the 1990s which focus on issues in the outer suburbs of Paris, the enclaves, regions separated by rivers and highways, the poverty of the inhabitants and, especially, racial issues and violence, especially with the presence of migrants from Africa.

A pioneer in this kind of film was the 1995, La Haine, which starred Matthieu Kassovitz – and memories of that film with his appearing in a cameo here as a boxing coach. Another striking example was that by Romain governess, the highly stylised Athena. Street Flow was so successful that in 2022, there was Street Flow 2.

The basic story is not unfamiliar and there was some criticism of the film because of its obvious characters, treatment. However, there is still some power in the story of a widow and her three sons, the oldest gone wild, a thug, in prison, emerging as a leader in drug dealing and violence, the second son the good son, starting to be a lawyer, and the third son, younger, at first opting for following his older brother, suspended from school, robberies…

The film gives attention to each of the three brothers in the context of the suburbs, complexities with the need for help from the oldest brother to warn the youngest against a life of violence. In the meantime, the middle brother, studying law, is preparing for a public debate for credit, working with his rival, the touch of romance, personal difficulties, the long sequence of the debate about the responsibility of the state for the suburbs, his mother and his brothers all attending the debate.

Because the problems in suburban Paris continue, the film has relevance – so much so that there was the sequel.

1. The title, life in the streets, the suburbs of Paris, divisions, enclaves, race issues, gangsters, drug issues, poverty?
2. The locations, the suburbs, homes, streets, school, college, debating halls? Drug deals, centres? The musical score?
3. A story of three brothers, the bad, the good, the young man in the middle? Absent father? Caring mother? The moral dilemma for the teenager and his future, for the good brother and his professional future?
4. The mother, racial background, husband, the children, said history, her care at home, the domestic sequences?
5. The focus on the older brother, place in the family, absent father, alienation from his mother, the drugs, his leadership, henchman, relationships, violence? Time in prison? Personality?
6. The middle brother, age, studies, decisions, support of his mother, concerned about his younger brother? Study, qualifications and ambitions? The rivalry in studies, preparing the debate, going out with the girl, the relationship? The theme of the debate, the responsibility of the state, the suburbs, poverty, law and order? The ups and downs of the relationship, some alienation?
7. The youngest brother, age, experience, the models provided by his two brothers, the opting for trouble, his mother’s reaction, the support of the older brother, yet concern about him? Getting into trouble, crime, stealing? The older brother and his interventions?
8. Killings, in the street, the rivalries, gangs?
9. The middle brother, the symbolic encounters, on the bus, the thugs? And his being held up on suspicions by the police?
10. The boxing gym, the coach and his support?
11. The finale with the debate, rhetoric, political issues, the audience, his brothers been present?
12. The finale for the youngest brother, and the change of relationship to the older brother?
13. The tradition of French films since the 1990s to show racial and crime issues in the suburbs of Paris?