SOULEYMANE’S STORY Trailer: Boris Lojkine’s César-Winning Immigrant Drama Arrives in August

July 14, 2025

The topic of immigration in today’s society is just as significant as ever. French director Boris Lojkine examines the lives of asylum-seeking migrants in his newest drama, Souleymane’s Story. It stars breakout Abou Sangare as the titular protagonist, a Guinean immigrant in Paris preparing for his asylum interview while trying to survive a chaotic two days. The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it won Best Actor for Sangare and the Jury Prize. It also picked up 4 César Awards this year (France’s Academy Awards) for Best Male Revelation for Sangare, Best Supporting Actress for co-star Nina Meurisse, Best Original Screenplay for Lojkine and Delphine Agut, and Best Editing for Xavier Sirven.

Kino Lorber will release the drama at NYC’s IFC Center on August 1st and LA’s Laemmle Royal on August 8, followed by a nationwide spread. The official U.S. trailer has now arrived.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Racing through the streets of Paris making food deliveries on his bicycle, Guinean immigrant Souleymane (Sangare) is struggling to stay afloat. In two days, he has to report for an asylum application interview, where he must plead his case to an immigration officer (Nina Meurisse) who will determine his future in France. As he rides, he repeats his story. But Souleymane is not ready. Drawing inspiration from Cristian Mungiu’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and evoking the humanist films of the Dardennes, Boris Lojkine’s urgent, propulsive third feature never leaves Souleymane’s side in a deeply affecting account of the daily trials and uncertain futures faced by migrants in France and around the world.

See the U.S. trailer and poster below.