Divines

About Divines (2016)

Explore

• About
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music
• Soundtrack

About

Divines is a French drama film released in 2016, directed by Houda Benyamina. It follows the story of Dounia, a young girl growing up in a marginalized neighborhood outside of Paris. She dreams of escaping her impoverished life and becoming a successful businesswoman. Dounia befriends Maimouna, another young girl from her neighborhood, and together, they form a strong bond as they navigate through the challenges of their surroundings.

The film explores themes of friendship, dreams, poverty, and the struggle for a better life. It provides a gritty and realistic portrayal of life in the suburbs of Paris and addresses the complex issues faced by the characters.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Houda Benyamina, who co-wrote the script with Romain Compingt and Malik Rumeau. It was produced by Marc-Benoît Créancier and Jérôme Pouwels. Divines was financed by the French Ministry of Culture, Canal+, and France Télévisions.

The production took place in various suburbs around Paris, including Montfermeil and Bagnolet. The filmmakers aimed to capture the rawness and authenticity of these neighborhoods, using non-professional actors and improvisation in certain scenes.

Actors

• Oulaya Amamra as Dounia - She portrays the main character, a determined and ambitious young girl who is determined to break free from her circumstances.
• Déborah Lukumuena as Maimouna - She plays Dounia's best friend, who shares the same dreams of escape and success.
• Kévin Mischel as Djigui - He is a young dancer who becomes a love interest for Dounia.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Divines won the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, which is awarded to the best first feature film presented at the festival.
• The film received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of the characters and their struggles, as well as the performances of the young actresses.
• Oulaya Amamra, who plays Dounia, won the César Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in the film.

Awards

Divines won the following awards:

• Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival

Quotes

• "You're just like the rest of them. They won't believe in anything other than God and money." - Dounia
• "One day, I'll be rich, and I'll erase all traces of our lives here." - Dounia
• "I'm sick of respecting everyone. I'd rather be respected for once." - Dounia

Music

The film features a diverse soundtrack that includes a mix of hip-hop, pop, and electronic music. The music adds to the energy and atmosphere of the film, reflecting the characters' dreams and aspirations.

Soundtrack

• "You Don't Know" by Serious Klein
• "Thinkin Bout You" by Frank Ocean
• "Gifitto" by Da Cruz