• Shéhérazade

    Directed by Jean-Bernard Marlin
    France | 106 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Focus On France

  • Shéhérazade

    Directed by Jean-Bernard Marlin
    France | 106 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Focus On France

In this exhilarating, darkly luminous film, Shéhérazade and Zachary meet and quickly fall in love on the tough streets of Marseille. But their relationship is complicated by the fact that Zach is trying to get his life on track after a stint in juvenile detention and Shéhérazade is a teenage prostitute.

film synopsis

On the day of his release from juvenile detention, Zachary is rejected by his mother, who is unwilling to care for him. He is forced to go to a children’s home instead, and eventually leave Marseille. Hopeless, he reverts to the old habits that got him into trouble in the first place. On a joyride, he meets Shéhérazade, a teenage prostitute. An undeniable chemistry ignites and soon turns into a relationship that will change both their lives, bringing a glimmer of light and hope to their wounded souls. In this coming-of-age-on-steroids tale, both teens will have to be vulnerable and fight for their bond to overcome the adversity in their lives. Jean-Bernard Marlin’s camera captures newcomers Dylan Robert and Kenza Fortas’s electrifying performances as the star-crossed lovers in this raw and authentic, bright and dark — but above all hopeful — film.

In competition for the New Voices New Visions Award.

film details

Director: Jean-Bernard Marlin
Producers: Grégoire Debailly
Screenwriter: Jean-Bernard Marlin, Catherine Paillé
Cinematographers: Jonathan Ricquebourg
Editor: Nicolas Desmaison
Cast: Dylan Robert, Kenza Fortas, Idir Azougli, Lisa Amedjout, Sofia Bent, Nabila Bounab, Osman Hrustic, Abdelkader Benkaddar, Abdellah Khoulalene, Agnès Cauchon, Sabine Gavaudan
Country: France
Language: in French with English subtitles
Year: 2018
Running Time: 106 minutes
Premiere Status: U.S. Premiere
Primary Company: Films Boutique

director biography

guests in attendance

Director Jean-Bernard Marlin will be in attendance January 11 and 12.

2019 Film Festival