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Le Paradis

The Lost Boys
Generation 14plus 2023
© Tarantula, Silex Films, Menuetto Film
“In the middle of the lake we’d sometimes see fish trapped in the ice lined up beside one another. I thought they spent the winter there, then woke up in the spring. I thought they came back to life and breathed again, like before.”

In a youth correctional facility, Joe is preparing for his return to society, uncertain as to what life will look like on the other side of the barbed-wire fence. But when new arrival William moves into the cell next door, Joe’s desire for freedom quickly gives way to a desire of another kind. Through camera obscura photography, ink drawing, dance and rap, Joe and William embark on a twin journey of emotional and expressive emancipation, revolving around each other with increasing yearning and despair. This debut feature charts the twists and turns of a passion between two young men who thought their lives had been put on hold and offers an uncompromising vision of love: behind these walls, passion comes first, and liberty only a distant second.
by Zeno Graton
with Khalil Gharbia, Julien de Saint Jean, Eye Haïdara, Jonathan Couzinié, Samuel Di Napoli, Matéo Bastien, Nlandu Lubansu, Amine Hamidou, Terry Ngoga Belgium / France 2023 French 83’ Colour World premiere | Debut film recommendation: 14 years and up

With

  • Khalil Gharbia (Joe)
  • Julien de Saint Jean (William)
  • Eye Haïdara (Sophie)
  • Jonathan Couzinié (Ilyas)
  • Samuel Di Napoli (César)
  • Matéo Bastien (Tom)
  • Nlandu Lubansu (Yanis)
  • Amine Hamidou (Fahd)
  • Terry Ngoga (Tiago)

Crew

Director Zeno Graton
Screenplay Zeno Graton, Clara Bourreau
Cinematography Olivier Boonjing
Editing Nobuo Coste, Arnaud Batog
Music Bachar Mar-Khalifé
Sound Design Mélissa Petitjean
Sound Romain Cadilhac, Rym Debbarh-Mounir
Production Design Guillaume Orain Audooren
Costumes Tine Deseure
Make-Up Sarah Mescoff
Casting Adélaïde Mauvernay, Sebastiàn Moradiellos
Assistant Director Hélène Karenzo
Production Manager Ben H. Pigeard-Benazera
Producers Valérie Bournonville, Joseph Rouschop, Priscilla Bertin, Judith Nora, Hans Everaert
Executive Producer Marie Darel
Co-Production Silex Films Paris
Menuetto Film Antwerpen

World Sales

Indie Sales

http://indiesales.eu http://indiesales.eu

Produced by

Tarantula Belgique

http://www.tarantula.be http://www.tarantula.be

Photos

Zeno Graton

© Zeno Graton

Born in Brussels, Belgium in 1990, he studied at the city’s INSAS film school and has written and directed several short films. He also works as a videographer for various theatre companies in Belgium and France. Le Paradis is his debut feature film.

Filmography

2013 Mouettes (Seagulls); short film 2015 Jay Parmi les Hommes (Jay Amongst Men); short film 2023 Le Paradis (The Lost Boys)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023