''Africa Paradis'' is a 2006

satirical Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming or e ...

speculative fiction Speculative fiction is a term that has been used with a variety of (sometimes contradictory) meanings. The broadest interpretation is as a category of fiction encompassing genres with elements that do not exist in reality, recorded history, na ...

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

written and directed by Beninese actor

Sylvestre Amoussou Sylvestre Amoussou (born 1964) is a Beninese actor turned film director, best known for his 2006 film ''Africa Paradis'', a satire on immigration. Life Amoussou was born 31 December 1964 in Benin. After living in France for twenty years, and exp ...

. It was produced in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...

and was intended to comment on the situation of African refugees in Europe.

Plot

In the year 2033, the

United States of Africa The United States of Africa is a hypothetical concept of a federation of some or all of the 54 sovereign states and two disputed states on the continent of Africa. The concept takes its origin from Marcus Garvey's 1924 poem " Hail, United Stat ...

is a thriving and affluent country located in Africa. At the same time, Europe struggles with economic and political crisis, poverty and underdevelopment. Olivier is a computer scientist who lives in France with Pauline, a teacher. Both are unemployed with few prospects given Europe's dire economy. The desperate couple decide to immigrate to Africa in hope of finding a better life, even knowing they will face anti-European discrimination in Africa. On arrival in Africa, Olivier and Pauline's entrance visa is rejected. The couple then try to illegally cross the border hidden in a smuggler vehicle, but are stopped by border police and detained until they can be deported back to France. Olivier manages to escape, and is taken in by a group of poor white Africans who live in housing projects. He eventually steals the identity of a dead white man so he will have employment documentation. Meanwhile, Pauline gets a job as a domestic servant to Modibo Koudossou, a politician who is sponsoring a controversial immigration reform bill to address the flood of economic refugees from Europe. Against a backdrop of political intrigue that includes an assassination attempt by corrupt political opponents, Pauline and Modibo grow increasingly attracted to one another. Eventually Olivier is caught and faces deportation to Europe, forcing Pauline to make a choice between the two men and the course of her own life.

Cast

* Stéphane Roux as Olivier Morel *

Eriq Ebouaney Eriq Ebouaney (born 3 October 1967) is a French actor. He is best known for his portrayal as the Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in the 2000 film '' Lumumba'', as "Blacktie" in Brian De Palma's ''Femme Fatale'' and as "Ice" in the 2008 ...

as M'Doula *

as Modibo Koudossou *Charlotte Vermeil as Pauline *Sandrine Bulteau as Clémence *Martial Odone as M'Douala *Mylène Wagram as Koudossou *

Emil Abossolo-Mbo Emil or Emile may refer to: Literature *''Emile, or On Education'' (1762), a treatise on education by Jean-Jacques Rousseau * ''Émile'' (novel) (1827), an autobiographical novel based on Émile de Girardin's early life *''Emil and the Detective ...

as Yokossi *Christian Gibert as Woytek *Thierno Ndiaye Doss as Le ministre (as Thierno Ndiaye) *Cheik Doukouré as Kobaou *Jean-Pierre Beau as Sylvain *Nathalie Chaban as Charlotte *N'Gwamoué Diabaté as Papy *Sonia Kagna as Mamy

Reception

In ''

The Moving Arts Film Journal ''The Moving Arts Film Journal'' is an online film magazine. It is based in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is edited and published by Eric M. Armstrong, member of the Online Film Critics Society The Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) is ...

'', reviewer Alison Frank considered ''Africa Paradis'' to be "enjoyable as a comedy" while also thought-provoking, but also noted the film "felt a little amateurish" making it difficult to become fully involved in the story.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0899129 , Africa Paradis 2006 films 2006 science fiction films French science fiction films Beninese drama films 2000s French-language films French satirical films Films about immigration Films about racism Films set in Africa Films set in the future Films shot in Benin Social science fiction films 2006 directorial debut films 2000s French films