Chouf from Karim Dridi is a French crime/drama that takes place in the south of France, in Marseille to be more precise, a multicultural city known for its bad neighbourhoods. The kind of city you couldn't pay me enough to live in. The actors all looked very natural in that environment. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them knew that inside world very well. Foued Nabba for example is also known as Kofs, a French rapper. He took care of the catchy soundtrack as well. His physique is exactly what you could expect from a drug dealer from Marseille. The story is enjoyable to follow, looks realistic enough although at one point one of the extras was wearing a PSG football shirt, which is a big no-no in Marseille, and there is no way you could wear that unpunished over there. The rest looked very natural, youngsters riding their scooters, Choufs (watchmen in the drug business over there, all they do is looking out for cops and warn the hood of incoming danger) at every corner of the neighbourhood. So Chouf is just another movie about the drug problems in Marseille, a well made one with decent unknown actors.
Review of Chouf
