Yamakasi - Les samouraïs des temps modernes (2001)

Gravity or Police, these guys don't believe in any law. Idolised by the youth of Paris as much as they're hated by the police, they are the Yamakasis, modern samurais. With acrobatic ... See full summary »

Directors:

Ariel Zeitoun, Julien Seri

Writers:

Luc Besson (scenario), Philippe Lyon (scenario & dialogue),

Stars:

Châu Belle Dinh, Williams Belle, Malik Diouf

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Châu Belle Dinh	...	Les Yamakasi - Baseball (Oliver Chen) (as Chau Belle)
Williams Belle	...	Les Yamakasi - L'Araignée (Bruno Duris)
Malik Diouf	...	Les Yamakasi - La Belette (Malik N'Diaye)
Yann Hnautra	...	Les Yamakasi - Zicmu (Ousmane Dadjacan)
Guylain N'Guba-Boyeke	...	Les Yamakasi - Rocket (Abdou N'Goto)
Charles Perrière	...	Les Yamakasi - Sitting Bull (Ousmane Bana)
Laurent Piemontesi	...	Les Yamakasi - Tango (Michel Lucas)
Maher Kamoun	...	Vincent
Bruno Flender	...	Michelin
Amel Djemel	...	Aila
Afida Tahri	...	Fatima
Abdelkrim Bahloul
Nassim Faid	...	Djamel (as Nassim Faïd)
Pascal Léger	...	Commissaire Orsini
Frédéric Pellegeay	...	Fretin

Storyline

Gravity or Police, these guys don't believe in any law. Idolised by the youth of Paris as much as they're hated by the police, they are the Yamakasis, modern samurais. With acrobatic skillfulness and adrenaline pumping belief in their own immortality, they throw themselves out from incredible heights, and jump from roof to roof. Locked doors and "No Trespassing"-signs become irresistible challenges. But one day, whilst mimicking one of the Yamakasi's more dangerous stunts, a young fan gets injured. Only one operation can save the boy, an operation that his family can't afford.

---

Plot Keywords:

police | roof | youth | running | climbing | 

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | Crime

---

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

4 April 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Yamakasi

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, Leeloo Productions, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Often mistaken for Japanese, the word yamakasi is actually taken from the Lingala language, which is spoken in the two Congos. Ya makási can mean "strong body, strong spirit, strong person", though in French usage its meaning is closer to "high energy".

---

Goofs

During the pursuit on the roofs after two Yamakasi steal the painting in the lady's apartment, their masks are repeatedly on and off between shots.

---

Connections

Followed by The Great Challenge (2004)

User Reviews

Yamakasi a taint to parkour

In the bright lighted side, we could see the yamakasis, these stuntmen of cities in the luc Besson movie. In the shadowed side, there is parkour, that is also called the art of movement, and that most of the public doesn't know about, and it is understandable: these spider-men's reputation grew, and other young people wanted to practice. David and Sébastien share their passion with anybody who wants to know. The news is spreading: from neighbour cities of noisy and sarcelles, young people move to evry to learn the parkour. The rumour works well, and the show 'notre dame de Paris' offers them to go on a tour, but David and sébastien refuse: a two years tour across France would cut them from their base, and above all they don't want to abandon the other young people who need their help. Then luc besson comes up with a script for yamakasi. They refuse that too. The scenario presents them as revolted boys from housing estates who trick the police and use their skills to steal. Seb explains: 'us, that we don't want, it's to prostitute our art' chilling incorruptible ones. For how long? Seven of the newcomers - including David's cousin give in the temptation and play in the movie. They separate from the group of evry, and rename themselves the yamakasis (strong man, strong spirit). Once famous, they claim to have invented the Parkour, betraying the true parkourists. David, Seb and the others (Stéphane Vigroux, Yoann Vigroux, Jérome ben Aoues, Rudy Duong, Kazuma and Michael Ramdami) rename themselves the 'traceurs'. Irritated by this story, they tell me that: 'to anyone who want to learn the art of parkour, it's welcome, but for the media events, we reserve us the right to choose: now we know who come to train when there's a TV near, and who's really got the passion'. We understand them.