Ladj Ly, the French director of Les Misérables, returns with another powerful drama about social tensions in the Paris suburbs: Les Indésirables.
A new mayor
The story begins with a tragedy. The mayor dies of a heart attack during the demolition of a housing block. Idealistic paediatrician Pierre, played by Alexis Manenti, is appointed to replace him. With little previous contact with the community, Pierre takes responsibility for redeveloping the run-down working-class neighbourhood. His vision of modernisation and order conflicts with residents' needs and wishes.
Haby’s resistance
Haby, played by Anta Diaw, becomes central to the resistance. A young French woman of Malian heritage, she works for the local administration and is deeply committed to her community. She supports tenants with housing and other difficulties. As Pierre imposes restrictive measures, the situation escalates. Haby decides to stand against him in the mayoral election to prevent the displacement of her family and neighbours.
Housing and politics
Ly draws a forceful picture of the distance between political leaders and citizens. Small two-room replacement flats cannot meet the needs of the large families living there. That architectural mismatch represents deeper social tensions and the authorities' failure to understand residents' lives.
The ensemble
The performances are impressive. Manenti makes Pierre a man caught between idealism and the harsh realities of office. Diaw gives Haby a compelling combination of strength and vulnerability. Steve Tientcheu adds nuance as deputy mayor Roger Roche, balancing loyalty and personal ambition.
Images and music
Julien Poupard's photography captures the cramped, bleak housing blocks in oppressive images, emphasising the neighbourhood's claustrophobic atmosphere. Pink Noise's music complements the images and strengthens the emotional intensity.
Verdict
Les Indésirables is more than a social drama: it is a wake-up call about gentrification, injustice, identity and belonging in a changing urban landscape. Ly turns complicated social questions into a gripping, moving story that invites thought. For viewers interested in committed, authentic cinema, it is a must. It shows how political decisions affect individual lives and how much strength collective resistance can possess.