''Mercenary'' (french: Mercenaire) is a 2016 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Sacha Wolff Sasha is a unisex name which originated in Eastern and Southern European countries as the shortened version of Alexander and Alexandra. It is also used as a surname, although very rarely. Alternative spellings include: ( – Russian, Ukrainian ...

. It was screened in the

Directors' Fortnight The Directors' Fortnight (french: Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) is an independent selection of the Cannes Film Festival. It was started in 1969 by the French Directors Guild after the events of May 1968 resulted in cancellation of the Cannes festiv ...

section at the

2016 Cannes Film Festival The 69th Cannes Film Festival was held from 11 to 22 May 2016. Australian director George Miller was the President of the Jury for the main competition. French actor Laurent Lafitte was the host for the opening and closing ceremonies. On 15 Marc ...

where it won the Europa Cinemas Label Award. A young man from the French oversea collectivity of

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

in the South Pacific plays rugby in France.

Plot

Soane, a young rugby player, member of the

Wallisian Wallisian, or Uvean ( wls, Fakauvea, links=no), is the Polynesian language spoken on Wallis (island), Wallis Island (also known as Uvea). The language is also known as East Uvean to distinguish it from the related West Uvean language spoken on t ...

community of

, defies the authority of his violent father, based outside Nouméa, to go play in France. He was recruited by an intermediary, Abraham, who exploits the emigration of Pacific island players to France by taking ten percent of their salaries. Unfortunately his arrival goes badly and he does not get a hoped-for player contract. Rejected by his father, he cannot return to New Caledonia and is threatened by Abraham who demands reimbursement of his expenses. On his own at the other end of the world, his odyssey leads him to become a man in a world that does not offer uncompromising support and success.

Cast

This low-budget film used real life rugby players for its major roles. *

Toki Pilioko Toki Pilioko (born 1 October 1995) is a French rugby union Prop (rugby union), prop and actor. He currently plays for :fr:Union athlétique Gujan-Mestras, UA Gujan-Mestras in Fédérale 2. Acting career Pilioko gained international success by int ...

as Soane. Pilioko is in real life a Wallasian rugby player who left New Caledonia, with the support of his parents, to play in France in 2013. * Iliana Zabeth as Coralie * Mikaele Tuugahala as Sosefo. Mikaele Tuugahala is in real life a Wallasian rugby player who played in New Caledonia and France in the 1990s and 2000s. * Laurent Pakihivatau as Abraham, the mafia agent. The actor is in real life an islander rugby player whose career in France finished in 2012. * Petelo Sealeu as Leone Tokelau, Soane's father *

Omar Hasan Omar Hasan Jalil (born April 21, 1971 in San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán) is a retired Argentine rugby union footballer. He last played for Stade Toulousain in the domestic French club competition, the Top 14. He has also played for Argentina na ...

as Angelo, the rugby player who sings the opera. Hasan was born in Argentina, became a rugby player before settling in France. and turning to singing. * Philippe Rougé-Thomas as Noens. Rougé-Thomas is a former player and coach.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mercenary 2016 films 2016 drama films 2016 directorial debut films French drama films 2010s French-language films 2010s French films Ad Vitam (company) films