Awarded at Cannes for his performance in the film “The Story of Souleymane” by Boris Lojkine, Abou Sangaré, a 23-year-old Guinean, was still in an irregular situation in France. Since July 24, 2024, he has been subject to an obligation to leave the territory decided by the Amiens court.
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Undocumented bicycle delivery man, the hero of the film presented in its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival last May, drives at full speed around Paris to earn a little money. Souleymane has only one idea in mind: to pass his asylum application interview and start a better life far from Guinea. A story that moved the jury since the film and the actor each received an award in the Un certain Regard category.
But the story of Souleymane was also that of Abou Sangaré, recruited during a casting in Amiens. The similarities between the two paths are disturbing for the young man who has explained several times in interviews that he was reluctant to engage in this cinematographic adventure for fear of being too visible and more easily expelled.
It was forgetting that cinema can work miracles. Receiving a standing ovation at Cannes, the film caused a sensation. The reviews are excellent. This does not prevent, initially, the administrative court of Amiens from validating the obligation to leave the territory imposed on him. But in August, the prefect requested a review of his situation “ due to the integration process of the person concerned “.
On January 8, 2025, Abou Sangaré therefore obtained regularization of his situation thanks to a promise of employment as a mechanic in Amiens and the Valls circular of 2012, which allows regularization through work. In the newspaper Releasehe confided last May that he wanted “ return to all the people of Amiens (colleagues, bosses, teachers, associations…) at least part of what they gave me is to be able to enter the company that offers me work. » An important turning point for the young man in his migratory journey after unanimous artistic recognition.
Also read“The Story of Souleymane” by Boris Lojkine: “I wanted to write a film about bicycle delivery men”