Andalucia (2007)

Director:

Alain Gomis

Writers:

Alain Gomis
Marc Wels (contributing writer)

Release Date:

5 March 2008 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Samir Guesmi	...	Yacine
Delphine Zingg	...	Elle
Djolof Mbengue	...	Djibril
Bass Dhem	...	Moussa
Axel Bogousslavsky	...	Vincent
Marc Martínez	...	Filipo
Xavier Serrat	...	JB
Irene Montalà	...	Dounia
Jany Gastaldi	...	Jany
Ali Mokrani	...	Le père
Sarah Marshall	...	Le Mannequin
Adel Bencherif	...	Farid
Abdelhafid Metalsi	...	Amar
Salima Boutebal	...	Salima
Marc Planceon	...	Homme Scooter
Jamal Djabou	...	Jeune Pickpocket
Jean-Charles Dumay	...	Homme Pardon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sébastien Autret	...	L'électro
Delphine Daull	...	L'assistante réalisateur
Daniel Delfosse
Karine Dogliani
Jérémie Steib	...	L'assistant réalisateur

Directed by
Alain Gomis

Writing credits
Alain Gomis
Marc Wels		(contributing writer)

Produced by
Anne-Cécile Berthomeau	....	producer
Farès Ladjimi	....	executive producer
Edouard Mauriat	....	producer

Original Music by
Xavier Capellas
Patrice Gomis

Cinematography by
Benoît Chamaillard

Film Editing by
Fabrice Rouaud

Production Design by
Alexandre De Dardel

Set Decoration by
Véronique Grosperrin

Costume Design by
Virginie Montel

Makeup Department
Luisa Ladjal	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Sébastien Autret	....	unit manager
Elisabeth Guthmann	....	assistant unit manager
Alexa Rivero	....	additional post-production supervisor
Eduard Vallés	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jorge Calatayud Blasco	....	second assistant director: Spain (as Jorge Calatayud)
Delphine Daull	....	first assistant director
Mabeye Deme	....	trainee assistant director
Jérémie Steib	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Laure-Anne Darras	....	foley recordist
Séverin Favriau	....	dialogue editor
Daniel Gries	....	foley artist
Vincent Guillon	....	sound editor
Guillaume Le Bras	....	sound (as Guillaume Lebraz)
Vincent Lefebvre	....	boom operator
Jose A. Manovel	....	sound mixer
Jorge Marín	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Loïc Andrieu	....	Steadicam operator
Boubkar Benzabat	....	electrician
Benoît Chamaillard	....	camera operator
Fatma Cherif	....	first assistant camera
Eric Devin	....	second assistant camera
Cyril Dupont	....	electrician
Cyril Dupont	....	key grip
Arnaud Gross	....	gaffer
Céline Pagny	....	first assistant camera
Quiterie Seguin-Medrinal	....	assistant camera
Ramón Sánchez	....	steadicam

Casting Department
Geli Albaladejo	....	casting: Spain

Editorial Department
Jérome Pey	....	assistant editor
Benjamin Weill	....	additional editor

Other crew
Roselyne Bellec	....	script supervisor
Hong Seng	....	trainee assistant producer

Production Companies

• Mille et Une Productions

Distributors

• Eurozoom (2008) (France) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

"Andalusie" - Czech Republic
"Andaluzja" - Poland (imdb display title)

Runtime:

Czech Republic:90 min (Cinepur Choice Film Festival)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Filming Locations:

Orléans, Loiret, France

Company:

Mille et Une Productions

Too many clichés, not enough heart.

I saw an advance screening of this film and I was literally bored to tears. I haven't seen Alain Gomis' previous works, but that one is a real mess.

This is the story of Yacine, a young social worker trying to leave his past, his low-life friends and his family behind him. He finds a job at a soup kitchen and soon the audience is drifting in his stream of consciousness from a one-night-stand to another, his obsession with a female model, his quest for his roots and odd encounters with homeless folks.

Except for the use of the music, a decent cinematography and a few refreshing funny parts, this film totally misses the mark by awkwardly blending *every single cliché* you could expect from a French independent movie (not only French, as the director quotes - or knocks off - Spike Lee's signature "floating shot"). Between "social realism" and fantasizing, professional actors and "real people" (the latter acting far better than the former - go figure) the movie reeks as much of amateurism and demagogy as it lacks authenticity and heart.

For instance: just as you were thinking the director spared us the sexual identity crisis (the most outrageously unoriginal and overblown cliché of the genre) the main character kisses a guy for no apparent reason. But that's after he tried to beat him up. And lectured him about his origins, his job, his looks...

Of course, the unsympathetic nature of about every character doesn't help. If handled correctly it could be a breeze of fresh air and a clever change from the always nice characters we're accustomed to. But in the end it's not the case. Speaking of which, the ending is so silly it makes Hollywood endings look bold in comparison.

You may give it a try, but at your own risks.