Hymne à la gazelle

This Arabic-French short drama makes an interesting comparison with the Marilou Berry features made at the same time, all fielding a not conventionally glamorous girl in a part where she wouldn't be expected.

It's the dumpy French woman's night to put out the garbage but biker hoons are in the street calling abuse, so she shelters in a bar full of agro Arabs. One has just come out of jail and, catching a glimpse of her cleavage, decides to get something going - fear the worst.

Surprisingly, this half hour builds considerable conviction and makes it's protagonists dimensional and appealing. The working class suburb is caught vividly. It would not be surprising to see any of this lot turn up in something substantial.

Descoureaux can be spotted in "Amelie." The director also made an earlier short called "Marriage en Papier."