Official Trailer for Superb Thriller ‘Souleymane’s Story’ from France
by Alex Billington
July 9, 2025
Source: YouTube
“Don’t stress out. Keep optimistic.” Go, Souleymane, go! Kino Lorber has revealed an official US trailer for the indie film titled Souleymane’s Story in English, a superb modern day thriller set on the streets of Paris, France following an immigrant from Africa. This premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival last year and I reviewed it back then. Featuring a remarkable lead performance by Abou Sangaré – his first time ever acting in anything. He learned how to ride a bike and look like he fits right into the food delivery scene. A Paris food delivery cyclist and asylum seeker named Souleymane has two days to prepare his story for a make-or-break interview to secure legal residency. Shooting on city streets with concealed cameras, Lojkine creates a simultaneously pulse-pounding and heartrending view of contemporary Parisian life. Along with Abou Sangaré, it also stars Nina Meurisse, Alpha Oumar Sow, Emmanuel Yovanie. The film has won a few major awards already including César Award for Most Promising Actor and European Film Award for Best Actor last year. Highly recommend catching up with this film when it opens – definitely worth a watch.
Here’s the official US trailer (+ poster) for Boris Lojkine’s film Souleymane’s Story, from YouTube:
In the opening scenes, a Guinean immigrant bicycles frantically from one food delivery pickup to another, the camera racing along just behind him, revealing a singular new view of Paris from the perspective of some of its most underappreciated workers. Over the two days that follow, Souleymane (played by non-professional actor Abou Sangaré in a riveting debut lead performance) struggles to stay afloat while preparing for a crucial immigration asylum interview. Stylistically inspired in part by Cristian Mungiu’s 2007 Cannes winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Lojkine’s bracing, artful realism offers an equally affecting account of a migrant laborer’s experience finding himself caught up in the mechanisms of an uncaring and unforgiving society. Souleymane’s Story, also known as L’histoire de Souleymane in French, is directed by French indie filmmaker Boris Lojkine, director of the films Hope and Camille previously. The screenplay is by Boris Lojkine & Delphine Agut. Produced by Bruno Nahon. This initially premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival last year (read our review). Kino Lorber will release Lojkine’s Souleymane’s Story in select US theaters starting on August 1st, 2025 coming soon. For more info, visit the official site.
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