INTERVIEW
Les Miserables is released this Wednesday in the dark rooms. Filmed in Seine-Saint-Denis and presenting a panorama of life in the suburbs, this film has been selected to represent France at the Oscars. A real consecration for its director, Ladj Ly, which is the first feature film, and who created in 2018 a free school of the professions of cinema, Kourtrajmé school in Montefermeil. For students, mostly from the suburbs, the critical success of Les Miserables is an incredible source of motivation .
"Ladj Ly opened a door for me, and I thought I was not crazy, that I was not crazy about dreaming about it," says Europe 1 Gaspa, 33, a passionate writer and production. In the middle of the building blocks of the 93, far from the Hollywood decorations, this artist can now touch his dreams of seventh art. "I had never considered making cinema, until the day I had so much to tell stories ...", he slips. "Beyond the fact that I did not know anyone who practiced cinema, I did not know anyone who talked about cinema, now I feel a little inside, I'm not alone anymore."
"I opened the doors for you in Montfermeil, not in Hollywood"
Courses, filming, masterclass, school Kourtrajmé, accessible without age limit or diploma, intends to twist the blow to inequality of opportunity. The students are nevertheless aware that the road will be long before they can break through in this environment. "After opening the door, Ladj Ly told us, 'It will be so hard, I opened the doors for you in Montfermeil, not in Hollywood.'"
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The students were able to follow the adventure of Les Misérables , already rewarded in Cannes by a Jury Prize. Ladj Ly has now become an example. "No one can tell as well as he does about Les Miserables, I took a big slap with this film," assures Gaspa. "I had seen some suburban films [...], but when I see his film, I thank him a thousand times, I know that all the people who are in this school have a lot of gratitude for what he has He is like a guide, in the distance, who gives me inspiration. " From now on, Gaspa aims to make his first feature film.