Watch Sheherazade

Sheherazade is a 2019 French drama film directed by Jean-Bernard Marlin. The movie follows the lives of two adolescents, Zachary (Leart Duraku) and Shéhérazade (Oulaya Amamra), who live in the working-class suburbs of Marseille. The story is centered around the complex, yet undeniable love that grows between the two young teens.

Zachary is a seventeen-year-old boy who has just been released from prison after serving six months for theft. He uncovers that his girlfriend, Catalina, has started a relationship with a thug, named Apash (Olivier Lucea), and feels abandoned by her. Struggling to find his footing, Zachary quickly falls into trouble and is forced to serve Apash as a drug dealer to win his support.

On the other hand, Shéhérazade is a fifteen-year-old girl who is mysteriously present at every location that a mysterious prostitute, lovingly referred to as "Mamma" (Marie Amachoukeli), appears. Shéhérazade is captivated by the lifestyle of Mamma and feels drawn to her. The young girl decides to become a sex worker herself and begins to imitate Mamma. She starts selling her body and quickly attracts the attention of different men, including Zachary.

Zachary meets Shéhérazade and brings her under his protection as he begins to develop feelings for her. The two teenagers begin a tumultuous relationship plagued with jealousy, abuse, and conflict. Their love is challenged by their criminal lifestyle, abusive family members, and various relationships outside of their own.

One of the most significant issues in the film is the social condition of the Marseille suburbs, which becomes apparent when Zachary is pushed to become a dealer himself. Many people in the suburbs are struggling financially, which leads to heightened levels of criminal activity. The film brings up issues of poverty, violence, and corruption within the criminal underworld.

The acting in Sheherazade is incredible, especially the performances of the two lead characters. Leart Duraku and Oulaya Amamra both give compelling performances, capturing the intensity and complexity of their characters. Their chemistry is palpable, which makes the relationship between Zachary and Shéhérazade all the more believable.

In conclusion, Sheherazade is an intense and captivating film that explores the struggles of two young people growing up in adverse circumstances. The movie delves deeper than the surface issues and provides a commentary on the social conditions within the Marseille suburbs. The two lead actors give outstanding performances that are hard to turn away from. Sheherazade is not one to miss.

Sheherazade is a 2011 art house & international movie with a runtime of 35 minutes.