“A gritty and fiery urban thriller underscored by scathing social commentary on the current state of the Paris suburbs, depicted here as a powder keg ready to pop.” – Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter

In this explosive debut feature, race and class tensions come to a head in the poverty-stricken and combustible Parisian suburb of Montfermeil. Inspired by the 2005 riots in Paris, Les Misérables follows Stéphane (Damien Bonnard), a recent transplant to the impoverished neighborhood, as he joins the local anti-crime squad. Working alongside his unscrupulous and brash colleagues Chris (Alexis Manenti) and Gwada (Djebril Zonga) as they patrol the racially divided streets of their beat, Stéphane struggles to maintain order amidst the mounting tensions between local gangs. When an arrest turns unexpectedly violent, setting off a chain reaction that culminates in an astounding cinematic showdown, the three officers must reckon with the aftermath and keep the neighborhood from spiraling out of control. Using the famed Victor Hugo novel (originally set in Montfermeil) as a blueprint for a blistering portrait of contemporary France, Ly expanded his César Award-nominated short of the same name (using largely the same cast and crew) for his first narrative feature, which won a Jury Prize at Cannes. Director Ladj Ly (France 2019) 102 min.