Street Flow 3 (2026) Movie Script

1
[somber piano music playing]
[breathing heavily]
[women singing in Wolof]
[rhythmic clapping]
[Fodi] She reminds me of your mother.
[women continue singing and clapping]
[applause]
[man] Yeah, Demba!
[man laughs]
- [men singing]
- [percussive music playing]
[man shouting in foreign language]
[Soulaymaan] Congratulations.
[shouting in foreign language]
[rhythmic percussive beat]
[man] This'll be you soon.
Leave me alone!
[indistinct chatter]
When my mother passed away
she left a void.
And Djenaba
Well, Djenaba filled that void.
There are some who are all talk,
but there are some who are the real deal.
I'm always going to be there.
[applause]
[lighthearted music playing]
[woman 1] Bravo! Congrats!
[woman 2] Congratulations!
Oh! Demba!
- [man 1] Demba!
- [all cheering]
See you in a bit.
Congrats, dude.
[man 2] Congrats again.
[laughs]
[photographer] Can I get a picture?
[joyous ululating]
[man 3] To the bride and groom!
[dramatic music playing ]
Thank you so much. Nice.
[man 4] Stop talking.
You look like a waiter in those clothes.
What do you want? I look fire.
Yo, to the waiter!
[all] Yeah!
[laughing]
Yeah, yeah! Hell yeah!
[Noumouk] I got
The good stuff in the bag
The cops want to bust us up
But we're cranked up to the max
Oh yeah, you know our reputation
- [all] Yeah!
- NMK is pulling out the AK
- Yeah!
- You know what's under my parka
- Yeah!
- A shotgun blast to the ass
He thinks he can move
We've got a guitar, we'll make you dance
Black guy from Bois-l'Abb
We're always careful
Always looking fly
Bro, this life will make you trip
- Yeah!
- The barrel is sawed off
- Yeah!
- We could launch a hit for a few bills
They think we're gonna crash, never
They think we're gonna crash, never
They think we're gonna crash, never
Stop, stop, stop, stop.
Deejay, deejay, stop it. Please, stop.
- [music stops]
- You call that a beat?
- [Noumouk] Oh whatever, grow up.
- I'm sorry, what kind of rhyme is that?
- [Noumouk] Okay, drop it.
- You serious?
Bro, can you even spell?
Whoop, whoop
That's the sound of the police
Boop, boop
That's the sound of the police
Whoop, whoop
That's the sound of the police
Whoop, whoop
That's the sound of the police
- You wanna go, son, that it?
- You'll be carried out in a body bag!
- You ain't shit, man.
- Get out.
Fuck outta here.
- Move.
- What are you doing?
You pulling this shit
in front of the family?
Your cop buddy's
losing his shit for no reason.
[music resumes]
So, how'd you end up on the force?
When you were a boy,
you never dreamed of stopping bad guys?
I wanted to be the bad guy.
[laughs]
Oh, yeah?
Remember what the '90s were like?
There was smack everywhere you looked.
Shit even took down my brother.
- I've never moved smack in my life.
- Knock it off, Demba.
Ain't no dealer on the planet
who's clean from that shit.
I swear to you,
you gotta quit this business.
Because if we cross paths on the street,
you know it's gonna be on sight.
[inhales sharply]
[sighs]
I'm more afraid of her than you.
Where are you going, gorgeous?
[waves crashing]
[Demba] Did you go
to Morocco for these drinks?
[Noumouk] Yeah.
And I stopped over in Algeria.
Hey, Demba.
How'd you know she was the one?
[chuckles]
The question is, are you the man for her?
What do you think?
- What the hell does he know?
- Let him answer.
I have no idea. Why are you asking me?
You feel like a man when you're with her,
and when you're not,
you feel all depressed.
[laughs]
He can be a real poet when he wants.
That being said,
your songs are way too street.
- You ever even played his music?
- Don't pay him any mind.
Well, make sure he knows
it's either a coffin or prison.
[Noumouk] Not necessarily.
Gotta know when to jump ship, that's all.
What?
You got out.
Well
It's hard
To be loved
Well
It's hard
To be loved
DIED ON OCT. 25, 2020
Father, are you
Father
Oh, Father
Oh, Father
I can see
You're believin'
STREET FLOW 3
Okay, calm your tits.
We've been waiting for 45 minutes.
- The order got messed up.
- I don't give a shit. Give that here.
Yo, they crispy this time?
- Yeah.
- You sure?
Here.
Where are you off to?
Give me my change, dawg.
- Not tipping?
- You hallucinating?
- I ain't giving you shit. Hand it over.
- Fine, here.
Looking jacked, son.
You been hitting the gym or what?
- Oh, good one. You're a charmer.
- Yeah. Watch out.
- It's windy. Don't fly away.
- Yeah. You too.
I'm missing a euro!
- Yeah, I know!
- Yeah, run. I'll beat your ass next time!
[in French] It's the cops
They want to lock me up
But there ain't no way
I started from the bottom
Got us some pizza! Let's go!
- [in English] Here we go.
- Yeah!
Dude, for fuck's sake,
couldn't you hear us recording?
You need to count to ten.
Quit spazzing out.
- [Noumouk] You're pissing me off.
- Relax.
- I like the tuna one.
- [Lamine] Let's see.
Oh, I'm gonna kill that dude.
They're not crispy at all.
- Serves you right.
- You're a pain in the ass.
Kattri, Kattri, go bring us some napkins.
- You get napkins.
- Go wash your hands and bring us napkins.
[snickers]
I'ma fuck you up, Kattri.
The fuck is that?
[Kattri] He started it,
and now he's the one crying.
- [Lamine] You too. Grow up, man.
- It's not my fault.
- It's all him.
- Yo, enough pouting.
Hey, look. You know this dude?
- [Lamine sighs]
- [Adil] No way.
Is that fucking 9millimtres, dude?
[Samba] Let me see.
Oh, fuck. Holy shit, Noumouk.
Ran into him at the airport.
He'd been in Dakar.
For real? Lamine, come look.
I took the pic of him. I was there.
- He get a pic with you too?
- Like I give a shit about 9millimtres.
- You for real?
- What you talkin' about, you two?
Get a load of this.
I said I was a rapper too.
The man said to send him my shit.
- [Adil] Did you?
- Of course.
Shit, you do a collab with him,
just think of what that'll do for you.
- Get on that.
- Don't psych me out.
- [Samba] NMK and 9millimtres, boy!
- Be for real, dude.
You're never gonna collab.
Mill's gonna forget about your shit.
- [Adil] How do you know?
- It's the game.
Money talks. No money, no clout.
- Hear me?
- [laughs]
- Hey, Kattri, check this out.
- Give it here.
- You know this guy?
- That's the guy who sings "Sicario."
Yeah, that's the one.
Hold on, hold on, we'll play it.
["Sicario" playing]
[in French] I broke too many hearts
I didn't fix any
- [Adil] Hey!
- Ninety micrometers
- They're not prepared
- Hey!
They are all pretending
Yo, knock it off. Leave him alone.
[Adil] Oh!
Don't be surprised
I'm like a sicario
- [Noumouk] Yeah!
- With my TMAX and a 9mm gun
You know the scenario
[man singing in French]
[excited chatter]
Thanks.
- What's up with Demba?
- What about him?
Yo, stop messing with me.
You ask him to cut us in?
- Cut you into what?
- Hey, butt out.
- It's not fair.
- "It's not fair!"
- Shut up!
- Hey, watch your mouth.
Take my phone,
go park yourself over there.
[Noumouk] Forget it, he's out.
[Lamine] You believe him?
He told me he's out for good.
Ever since Djenaba,
it's boring-ass shit. Just drop it.
What about your cousin Doums?
You keep bragging about your huge family.
Back up, dude.
If you won't bring it up,
I'll do it myself.
Get out of here. You gotta chill.
Hang on, you think Sofyan
will be cool with y'all taking over?
Like we're giving Sofyan
a chance in the matter.
Fuck the cousin. We don't need him.
And if we gotta,
we'll beat the shit out of Sofyan, right?
Hey, Samba, it was Demba
who opened the trap house.
Don't forget that.
Fuck, man. You with us or not, pussy?
You seen your track record?
Not my bag, I'm out.
[Lamine] It's all good.
At least you're being honest.
What are you saying?
- I think you know what I'm saying.
- [Noumouk] That's how it is?
[ominous music playing]
Demba.
Demba, what is it?
[Demba] Shh.
[Djenaba] Demba, what is it?
Demba.
- [Djenaba gasps]
- [loud bang]
What's going on?
[banging on door]
[officer 1] Go!
[officer 2] Police! Police!
[officer 3] Police! Hands on your head!
Your hands, show me your hands!
On your knees!
On your knees, now!
[handcuffs ratcheting]
[officer 4] Hands behind your back.
Check the kitchen.
[dramatic music playing]
- [officer 5] All clear.
- [officer 4] Everyone back inside.
[officer 6] Let's go. Move.
[cell phone vibrating]
Morning, Djenaba.
- [Djenaba] They've arrested Demba!
- What?
- They broke down the door.
- What do you mean?
- You sure they were cops?
- They were wearing masks.
Idrissa was terrified.
They tore up the house,
they took the laptops,
they threw Demba in handcuffs
and took him.
Do you know where they took him?
To Nanterre.
- Which unit?
- I don't know. They didn't say.
[officer 1] We've been
listening in on you for months.
We have your bank accounts, everything.
[officer 2] This is the fraud unit.
If we've come for you,
it means we've got everything we need.
- [keys jiggle]
- [lock tumbles]
[dramatic music playing]
[keys jiggling]
Miss Ayadi. From Ayadi and Jouve.
Where's my brother?
[dramatic music playing]
Be seated.
CAN YOU CALL ME BACK AS SOON
AS YOU LEAVE THE FRAUD SQUAD?
The Roger Perras case.
[prisoners shouting faintly]
- [keys jiggling]
- [lock tumbling]
So it's deep shit, huh?
Pinned on money laundering
and evading taxes.
- You figure out how they traced me?
- Weren't after you, Demba.
Your damn manager throwing cash around
for guys deep in the shit.
You weren't even on the radar,
but the cops traced them to him,
and him to you.
Motherfucker, I knew it!
[sniffles]
I try to go straight.
Two years I've been clean.
I mean completely clean, man.
I promise, not one gram.
And they come after me
for some bullshit tax evasion?
Game don't stop just because you stepped
away, Demba, you know that damn well.
It's different when
it's from the state's pockets.
My balls, it's different.
What about my pockets?
I don't work for them.
Listen, same as I told your brother.
My hands are tied here.
- I shouldn't even be here.
- [scoffs]
All good, brother.
[door closes]
[race car engine revving on video game]
What's up, little man?
Give me a controller.
You're getting destroyed today.
What's happening?
Why didn't you tell me?
- You were sleeping.
- So?
- Could have woken me up.
- What would that have done?
You a lawyer? Give me a break.
He sleeps all day, does nothing to help
except empty out the refrigerator.
No job, no school.
Just a wannabe rap artist.
- Stay in your place.
- I'm not following.
- Why are you talking about yourself?
- All right, that's enough.
Will he go to prison?
Soulaymaan?
He'll be remanded into police custody.
So he's going to prison.
Well, when can he get out?
I'm not in charge of this case.
Someone else is.
- What do you mean, someone else?
- Someone better to represent the case.
Miss Ayadi is more experienced.
- He's another number to her.
- She knows how to handle it.
This is messed up.
You're a lawyer. You defend the planet.
But your own damn brother is too much?
Don't you mean it's too much for you?
Man, you better be joking.
Shut your mouth.
Who do you think you're talking to?
- You're supposed to be doing a job!
- I'm done with this place.
Good. Get out. You're no help anyway.
Nobody here needs you.
[sighs]
- Let's go, Idrissa.
- [Idrissa] Game's not over.
- We're leaving. Put that down.
- I'm still playing!
Now, hurry up. We're going.
If you hear my name mentioned even once,
let me know right away.
Should be obvious
why I can't be on this case.
Give this to Djenaba.
Don't tell her it's from me.
- [door opens]
- "Don't tell her it's from me."
[door closes]
If you ever mouth off like that to your
brother again, I will break your jaw.
- He's the one who--
- I don't give a fuck!
You never speak to him like that.
And certainly not in front of me.
You feel me?
[car engine starts]
What the fuck he want now?
What you want?
I wanna take on some of the business.
You got some nerve, you know?
Me, Samba, and Lamine
will take back the trap house.
You trying to fuck shit up
between me and Demba, that it?
He's not gonna know
that you're the one who dealt me in.
You know what?
In life, you want something
to stay secret,
don't fucking do it.
Doums.
Go on, beat it.
- Come on, Doums.
- Move!
- Doums, come on.
- Get out of here.
[revs engine]
Hey!
[percussive R&B music
playing over earbuds]
What?
[sighs]
If I take on Demba's case and I'm not able
to get him out of prison, what happens?
Nothing. Demba wouldn't blame you.
Yeah, but that's your
idealism talking, Noumouk.
Demba has his own mind.
Tsk.
I was serious when I said
I want to move somewhere else.
Then move without me.
Everything at home reminds me of Mom.
The floorboards. The walls.
But that right there
makes me want to stay.
Come on let's go for a walk.
Come on, let's go.
What are you reading right now?
[Noumouk] Nineteen Eighty-Four.
George Orwell.
But I finished it, so I need a new one.
[Soulaymaan] You should read
Malcolm X's biography.
You heard of him?
[Noumouk] Bro, who doesn't
know Malcolm X?
He was a real gangster back in his time.
He started reading in prison.
He was an intellectual.
An intellectual and a great speaker.
He, unlike some people,
knew what he was talking about.
Come on, bro,
you gotta pick on me like that?
Chill out, I'm playin'.
[Soulaymaan laughs]
See, Malcolm hated white people.
When he went to Mecca,
it hit him that in Islam,
there's no difference
between blacks and whites.
We all got the same rights,
the same duties, you know?
Solid.
That's the moment
he changed his whole rhetoric.
It's one of the reasons
he was assassinated.
Who was the assassinator?
- "Assassinator"?
- Whatever.
- Get off my back with that shit.
- Who do you think?
The Feds?
All right, stop milking the suspense.
- Now you're just being a dick.
- [Soulaymaan laughs]
[children shouting distantly]
"This book will teach you
about yourself Soulaymaan."
Yo, it's 9millimtres.
Get ready for my new album.
It's gonna be real nasty,
so keep an eye out.
We're coming for you.
Yo, 9mill, what's going on?
You listen to my demos yet or what?
[Noumouk grunting]
Hey, Traor, at this rate
you won't last three rounds,
I'm telling you.
[Estelle] Right. One, two, three.
Okay, drop your right hand.
One, two, three. That's it.
[grunting]
Raise your right when you jab.
There. Watch out, that's a KO.
Move your feet. Move.
- [grunting]
- One, two, three.
That's good, keep going.
[distant laughter and chatter]
[Noumouk] Look, check this shit out.
They're coming here next month, watch.
Yo, Raptastreet here with my man BK.
They posted this only two days ago.
Check out how many views they got.
- [Sofia] Two hundred thousand?
- [Noumouk] It's nuts.
- Gonna do it?
- Of course. What you think?
You coming with me?
Of course.
And don't forget about my fight.
Don't sweat it, I'll be at your fight.
You're gonna destroy that heifer.
[laughs] Fitoussi!
Fitoussi coming in with a right hook!
- [laughing]
- She's no match for Fitoussi!
Fitoussi, champion of France!
Fitoussi, the world champion!
[both laughing]
[cell phone vibrating]
Hello.
[woman on phone] You planning
on coming inside soon?
- You see how late it is?
- [Sofia] I'm coming.
Right. I gotta go.
When are you gonna come cruise with us?
You mean with the fucking Aviators?
Not happening.
You forget or what?
No, I remember. I just grew up.
[snaps fingers]
[car door opens]
[car door closes]
Hey, don't stress about Demba, okay?
It'll be all right. It's Demba, you know.
[sighs]
[Silima laughing]
[Silima] I gotta be dreaming.
No way this can be real.
I never thought I'd be
sharing a cell with you, fam.
Demba Traor, el survivor!
Just my name is fine.
Everyone called you that
in the Ninety-Four.
You're the only one who could take
four bullets and walk away after.
- You're like our 50 Cent.
- Who the hell fed you all that shit?
Hey, Elder, I've got my sources.
I'm writing a book.
There's gonna be a huge chapter on you.
[laughs]
El Traor.
[guard] Traor, if you're not ready to go
when I open the door, I'm shutting it.
Don't mess with that one, man.
You don't know who he is.
You're all the same to me.
Everyone, stay silent.
[Silima] Move it, fam. What's going on?
[officer] Keep it moving!
Don't you get it, elder?
In my book, I'm gonna
talk about all the Ninety-Four guys
who gave our neighborhood its reputation.
Youssef Big Eyes, Marc Gillas, Ferrara,
Momo Amimer, Brahim Zinzin, Rud Lion.
It's gonna be a shit show, Elder.
Ain't nobody ready.
Rud Lion and Marc Gillas
are the same person, you know.
Yeah, I know.
Momo Amimer isn't
from the Ninety-Four, he's Ninety-Three.
Ah, I get it now, elder.
You're a stickler
for the tiny-ass details.
You like it to be correct, huh?
Hey, tell me, would you be
on board for an interview?
What? Whatever you're cooking,
leave my name out.
I don't want any part of it.
- Why are you here?
- Traor, Diarra, let's go.
Yo, guard, this dude's acting crazy, man.
For real, it's been two weeks,
he won't leave the cell.
Doesn't belong in prison,
he belongs in a hospital, you hear?
Won't say a damn word.
He belong in a hospital,
or do you just talk too much?
He's weird, man. Let me change cells.
You wanna change cells, follow protocol.
Send in a request.
- Hey, I'm gonna walk a bit.
- Cool, I'ma walk with you.
Need a minute alone.
Demba Traor. El solitario.
Anyone who gives you shit,
I'ma come running.
Don't worry,
I'll get my posse all over them.
Got no problems here, my man.
But problems can find you,
even during the best of times, Elder.
[laughs] Demba Traor.
Farouk.
- What'd they pin on you?
- Tax evasion.
And you?
Smuggling.
You haven't changed.
Demba Traor and Farouk Yagaoui.
Las leyendas.
Wow.
[Farouk] I'm totally cooked.
Witness, DNA, recordings, they got it all.
I gotta find my way out. Feel me?
I need plausible deniability.
You've gone straight? That it?
Tell me if you need anything.
This is my turf.
Ah, it's all good.
Sharing a cell with that beanpole.
- The one with that thing on his head?
- Yeah.
- Silima, the hit man?
- Driving me crazy.
He just gabs and gabs.
He won't shut up, the psycho.
[laughs] Your nickname
"Elder" or "Geezer"?
What you mean?
If he calls you "Elder," that's respect.
If it's "Geezer,"
he thinks you're past your prime.
That's how he rolls.
Look at him. Thirty k, he'd take you out.
He got booked on three hits.
- That guy?
- Yeah.
I know he looks like a clown.
He is a clown. Gotta be a clown
to smoke a guy just for money.
Ah. You mean you weren't paid
to take down Abdel?
I've never murdered nobody. Who said that?
Your cousin, Doums.
He runs his mouth runs a lot. Watch out.
[sighs]
You find me a phone I can use?
- Say it again.
- Yo, Doums, I told you twice already.
Just say it again.
- You want me to say it again?
- Yeah.
Demba said,
"Tell Doums to keep his mouth shut."
You-- You told me to repeat it.
I'm just repeating it.
You know what?
Once he gets out,
you can tell him to say it to my face.
No, I'm not saying that.
- But you'll tell me to keep my mouth shut?
- I'm the messenger. I'm passing it on.
It's not me.
I said nothing.
- Get out of here.
- Shit!
Doums, what we talked about
the other night,
we good or not?
Doums!
- Can you answer me?
- [car engine revs]
[in French] Faced with my past
My future fled
My mother's face comes back at night
Night is wild
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Faced with my past, my future fled
My mother's face comes back at night
The street is wild
It's fucked up my life
But it can't take my heart
Or my friends'
But there is too much going on
The city and all its history
In the end, I'm just in the dark
Count the money and put it all on me
And Mom, that's what I'm all about
I spend my time hanging out
Every city is the same
You can't impress me
[turns music off]
[Lamine's voice] Yo, I think
he's talking about you, bro.
I told you, Noumouk. No money, no clout.
[in French] For my mom,
I wanna build a palace
I want a villa back home
Not in Palermo
I might not look like it
But I'll kill you for a "Fuck you"
Wanna do collabs having no cash
Harassing me with DM
Bro, you need to chill
I'm boosted on kerosene
Look, hey, yo, 9millimtres,
you think I'm gonna
get on my knees and suck your dick?
You told me to send my tracks.
I wouldn't have sent shit.
Don't open your bitch-ass mouth
next time, motherfucker.
Son of a bitch.
[cell phone vibrating]
Hello?
[Demba on phone] It's me.
Demba?
- How are you?
- Well, it's prison.
How do you think I am?
You know, I managed
to get a visiting permit.
Okay, but don't bring Idrissa.
He keeps asking about you.
Tell him I'll be back soon.
Did you call Soulaymaan?
I refuse to call Soulaymaan.
We're done, him and I.
Demba.
Company doing all right?
[sighs]
Well, no. All the accounts were frozen.
That's normal. Part of the investigation.
Go speak with the employees,
talk to the supplier.
Ask them for an extension.
I did.
[chuckles softly]
I knew you were a badass.
You know they also froze
all your personal accounts?
Last time I went grocery shopping,
my card was declined.
I had to put back half of the groceries.
I was mortified. You have no idea.
I'll send over Majid.
He's gonna bring you some cash.
Where is this money coming from, Demba?
Majid runs two stores.
He's not into any weird shit.
I'll take care of it, okay?
Okay?
Okay.
[thud, keys jiggling softly]
[whispering] I hear
someone in the hallway.
I gotta hang up.
I miss you.
I miss you, too.
[car horn blares]
[children shouting indistinctly]
[woman] Good morning!
Here.
- They're leftover from work.
- Cool, thanks.
Hey Sofia, are you registered to vote?
Uh, next week, I promise.
You promised that last week, didn't you?
Hey, this attitude is exactly
how the fascists take the primaries.
That's how we get fucked every election.
Watch your mouth, Rayan.
But am I right?
We get our asses handed to us.
They pave the way for the fascists,
and in the general demand our support.
Same song and dance.
Once, twice, three times?
Yeah, and four times, five times,
ten times, if we have to, Rayan.
It means we're still living
in a democracy, at least.
You know what?
They're never voting for a Muslim mayor.
That ain't happening.
Why not?
Why not?
Swouil Ben Saada's gonna be our mayor?
[laughs]
You know who's the mayor in Trappes?
Ali Rabeh.
Rabeh.
You think that guy's a blue-eyed Aryan?
Look at Amal Bentounsi.
Know where she came in
in the last elections?
Second out of her whole constituency.
And it was her first political campaign.
Can you pass me those cups, please?
And let me tell you, Rayan, Sofia,
if I can get the two of you to reconcile,
forget being mayor.
I'm running for president.
Thank you.
[Soulaymaan] Morning, everyone.
- [Swouil] Hey, Mr. Big-Time Lawyer.
- Hello, Mrs. Cissoko.
Hello, Soulaymaan.
- [Soulaymaan] Doing well?
- Doing well.
You don't say hello?
Say good morning, Kattri.
- Morning, Soulaymaan.
- "Morning, Soulaymaan."
- I hope he gets good grades.
- [Cissoko] Yes, he's doing great.
But his behavior
Yeah? His behavior is bad? That it?
You behaving badly, my man?
- You better be getting good grades.
- Ah! Get off of me!
You better be or I'll yank your ears off.
Swouil, can we talk for a sec?
- Ines, cover me for a few minutes?
- Appreciate it.
Talk to me.
We said no badmouthing the mayor
on social media before trial.
Wait, wait, what'd I do?
You serious, Swouil?
Just today, at 3:40.
The only budget that gets to be increased
is the municipal police budget.
- So what, it's true, isn't it?
- It's true, but the trial's tomorrow.
Come on, man.
You know the mayor way more than I do.
You know he'll use this against you.
Okay, okay, you've made your point.
- Understand?
- Yeah, I'll back off.
Radio silence from now on.
- Yeah.
- Yeah? Come on.
Tell me
Thought about my offer to be deputy mayor?
No, Swouil, I already told you.
Man, politics, it's not for me, okay?
- See you tomorrow morning?
- Yeah.
Excellent. See you then.
[door opens, R&B music playing]
The door, bro!
[sighs]
[door closes, music stops]
[sighs] Shit.
Only plain yogurt left?
Oh, did I eat the ones you bought?
- Ha. You're a funny guy.
- That's how it is here.
No job, no money.
No money, well, no vanilla yogurt.
Easy on the sugar.
You trying to get diabetes?
[Noumouk] Don't worry about me.
You forget that's what killed Mom?
Tomorrow is the Ben Saada trial. Big one.
You gonna come support?
Can't, my man. I gotta find work.
No work, no money.
No money
no vanilla yogurt.
Dipshit.
[knocking]
[Ayadi] They need to be ready to answer
any questions about this transaction.
It could mean a more severe penalty.
Yes, Soulaymaan?
I wanted to see if there was
any news on my older brother.
Doing all I can to get him out of prison,
but we're up to our eyeballs right now.
Talk later?
Have you requested
bank statements and the contracts?
[man] Yes, yes,
they're emailing them today.
- All right, penguin.
- Soso, how are you?
Swouil.
- Hey, man.
- I know. I'm sorry, for real. Excuse me.
- How are you?
- I'm fine, and you?
Hey, hey. [whistles]
- You ready?
- Yeah, we're good. Let's go.
[Swouil] What's your deal
with the prosecutor?
Nothing, don't worry bout it.
It'll be fine.
"What are we waiting for? Start the fire."
"Why are we sittin' back
as the stakes grow higher?"
Mr. Swouil Ben Saada posted these lyrics
right as our country was in the middle
of a horrible and devastating riot.
The worst we've seen since '05.
It's a song.
The defense will argue
that it doesn't constitute his own speech.
It's actually a quote.
Indeed, these lyrics are from a song
composed by the trio known as NTM.
That being said,
not once in his many posts
did Mr. Swouil Ben Saada suggest
that he disagreed with these principles.
And as a municipal elected official,
one would expect a condemnation
that is firm and unambiguous
of the incivilities
plaguing the safety of our city.
The brutality our nation is familiar with.
- "Safety of our city."
- But no.
Instead, Mr. Ben Saada
shared provocative song lyrics.
We cannot ignore that the defendant
is bidding for mayor this election cycle,
and he will take down anything in his way.
[all murmuring]
The defense will try to present to you
a favorable,
laudatory image of his client.
That's his job.
But when Mr. Swouil Ben Saada
loses patience
and inspires the youth of Champigny
to take a match to their city,
then it's imperative you see it as it is.
He is encouraging violence.
[murmuring continues]
That is why I request
that Mr. Swouil Ben Saada
be imprisoned for a three-month sentence,
and furthermore,
that his term be suspended entirely.
I also request the defendant receive,
as an exceptional measure in this case,
a ban from holding
public office for two years.
Is she being for real?
[booing]
[judge] Order! Order in the court!
[clapping]
- Silence!
- Shh. Calm down. Calm down.
[judge] Or I'll clear the courtroom.
Defense now has the floor.
"What are we waiting for? Start the fire."
"Why are we sittin' back
as the stakes grow higher?"
As the deputy prosecutor
so beautifully stated,
demonstrating for us
her extensive knowledge
of all things pertaining to rap music,
these words do not belong
to Mr. Swouil Ben Saada.
And given that he used quotation marks
in the very post we're discussing,
it should be abundantly clear
that the post refers to NTM, not himself.
Unless I'm mistaken, that's the manner
quotation marks
are traditionally employed.
To put it another way,
quoting is not advocating.
If you were to ask
the people of Bois-l'Abb,
who took the time today to join us,
they would describe a Swouil Ben Saada
who cares for the well-being of others.
A giving man,
reluctantly pulled into politics.
Some of my earliest memories are of him
giving French lessons to my mother,
with all the patience and generosity
that teaching requires.
Despite working two jobs as a cleaner,
my mother was determined
to improve her vocabulary.
"He who speaks the language of a people
can avoid its evil."
She would say that over and over.
I know it has become tired,
even systematic,
in a debate on media and politics,
if we can even call it a debate,
to ignore the causes and point
our finger at the consequences.
But this isn't some game show where
we can deny all nuance and complexity,
where we are ruled by trigger words.
We're in a courtroom, aren't we?
And in a courtroom,
we do not simply strip away context
and only consider
the consequences of an action,
while ignoring the circumstances.
And yet,
the deputy prosecutor has no issue
pointing right at Mr. Swouil Ben Saada,
accusing him of a power of incitement
that he doesn't possess.
But what of the antisocial policies
enacted by the incumbent
mayor of Champigny-sur-Marne?
Are we going to talk about the community
centers shut down across Bois-l'Abb
and the disinterest shown
by our mayor towards the population,
who he clearly views as negligible
because they don't vote?
What of the mayor's practical obsession
with destroying
the working-class neighborhoods?
Sure, the residents are promised
they'll be able to return after.
But once construction is over,
when it's improved, when it's much nicer,
they jack up their rents.
They move away of their own will, yes,
but they are pushed out,
always farther away,
always farther from their homes.
And we must call it out.
It's gentrification.
[applause]
[judge] Silence!
[Soulaymaan] And that is what ignited
the sparks in Champigny-sur Marne,
not one measly phrase
quoted by Mr. Swouil Ben Saada.
Most honorable judge,
I ask for an acquittal.
- [crowd cheering]
- Oh, it was nothing.
- I never doubted you, you know?
- Oh, sure. Yeah.
Come on, you big shot, get in here.
Oh, come on.
- [woman] Bravo!
- Anytime.
It's fine. Really.
- [woman] Well deserved!
- Thanks for coming.
[man] All the way!
We won the battle. Up next, the mayor.
Damn straight. That's right.
Mr. Ben Saada.
- Your mother would be proud.
- I'm touched, thank you.
[woman] Bravo!
[dramatic music playing]
[woman] Get out and vote!
[dramatic music continues]
[in French] At least 100k
At least, at least 100k
Nine, four, five hundred
Gimme at least 100k
If you ain't feeling it
We'll do it without you
You can't do a thing
I told you 100 times
[all] At least one 100k
At least, at least 100k
At least 100k, at least, at least 100k
Nine, four, five hundred
I came here to eat
Gimme at least 100k
If you ain't feeling it
We'll do it without you
You can't do anything
We're a gang, music and drugs
Cold-blooded
Your girl's hot, she wants the album
They're freaking out
I'll hit them at least 100 times
We're in it always
Firefighters always in the mix
Rapper, robber, we do everything
Money, we're in bad business
Keep it calm, keep it calm
They're calling me
But it's not the time
She wants my heart but have no time
- I want all the
- [man] Bring it down! Slow down!
Pockets full of cash
They're wondering what I'm doing in town
[man] Bring it down more.
Even more. Come on, now.
We're cruising through the city
Pockets full of cash
[man] One! Two! One, two, three!
[all] At least 100k
At least, at least 100k
At least 100k, at least, at least 100k
[man] Yeah!
At least 100k, at least, at least 100k
[Noumouk] Everybody!
[crowd] At least 100k
At least, at least 100k
- [Noumouk] At least 100k
- [crowd] At least 100k
[all] At least, at least 100k
[yells]
[boy] Damn, this dude's on fire!
Exploding everywhere!
Yo, give it up for NMK!
- [all whooping]
- Hell yeah!
Yo dude, look at that message there.
- Hang on, wait. Hey, hey.
- Champigny, you here or what?
- 9millimtres's on the live.
- Oh, yeah?
What's he want, that son of a bitch?
What he want?
So, NMK, little shithead,
you drop insults and then you block me?
- Oh, yeah?
- No, Noumouk, please, drop it.
Don't worry.
Where's the cameraman? Yo, over here.
Listen up, you little bitch.
So, when I catch up to you, 9mill,
that's what I put in your mouth.
Son of a bitch. Listen up, son.
[Noumouk] Hey, 9mill, go fuck yourself!
[all] Hey, 9mill, go fuck yourself!
Hey, 9mill, go fuck yourself!
- [all chanting]
- Go fuck yourself!
Go fuck yourself! Go fuck yourself!
[all cheering]
[crowd whooping]
[sizzling]
Check this out, guys. Look at this.
[podcaster] The latest news
is young rapper NMK,
who went live from the Raptastreet truck
to represent Champigny in Val-de-Marne.
Personally, I'd never heard of the dude.
But his freestyle
lit up the whole damn show.
Lit up the whole damn show.
Lit up the whole damn show, get it?
- Lit up the whole damn show. Fuck yeah!
- So dope, man.
Let's get real, there are rumors
that this was all a stunt
and that actually,
9millimtres and NMK are bros already.
Could be they did this
to launch NMK's career?
Let me know
in the comments what you think.
Not to mention, they just announced NMK
will represent the Ninety-Four this year
at the Raptastreet concert at Znith,
with ISK and tons of others.
[Samba] Znith, man,
that's gonna be the shit! Sick, bro!
But what's everyone else saying?
They think I'm gonna sit back
while he insults me for clout?
Yo, wake up, bro,
9mills needs to be dealt with.
Otherwise, you'll never live it down.
They'll laugh your ass out.
Nobody is laughing at my ass.
Yo, Noumouk, you need to do some clips.
Concerts gotta be everywhere.
NMK everywhere.
There, there, there, everywhere!
He needs to find a record label.
Fuck off with the labels, dude.
He can do it on his own.
Oh, yeah? Can you afford it?
[laughs]
[sucks teeth]
Whatever, you're gonna
find out the hard way.
Go ahead.
[distant chatter]
All right, so?
- That's good.
- [laughs] Right?
And that's not even the one
my big brother makes.
How's he doing?
Not as well as he could.
Bad habits are easier
to pick up than drop, you know.
Oh yeah? Who told you that?
Can't believe you agreed to come.
Me neither.
Especially not after
I decimated you in court.
- [laughs]
- Shut up. Absolutely not.
You know I had no time whatsoever
to prepare the case.
- Yeah, yeah.
- [giggles]
So you still photograph
everything that moves?
[laughs]
- No way.
- What?
- Don't tell me you held on to it?
- Of course.
- Come on, my face is ridiculous.
- What? It's great.
- I'm not seeing it.
- I'll take another one.
- I'ma just delete this.
- Hell no, it's my computer.
You'd better not.
Come on, you know I'm no good in photos.
- Come on.
- I'm not.
Say "cheese."
[Soulaymaan sighs]
[camera clicks and whirs]
[string music playing on phone]
I like this beat.
- Me too.
- You dig? Yeah?
- Yeah.
- You like this?
Yeah.
Ooh.
Whoo!
- [laughs]
- Shall we dance?
No, I'm a terrible dancer.
Well, I'm a terrible model, but here I am.
Just follow my lead.
- Don't make fun of me, okay?
- I promise, I won't make fun.
[both laugh]
[upbeat string music continues playing]
No, I can't. I'm with someone.
I've gotta go. I'm sorry.
So then put down eight there
and carry the
Go on, take it. So you carry
[pensive guitar music playing]
The judge won't agree to an injunction.
[sizzling]
[pensive music continues]
[sizzling]
[Silima] I'm gonna show you
how it goes down in French prisons, fam.
- Check this out. Damn!
- Hey, don't film me.
[Silima] I see, the Elder doesn't
want me to show his face.
This is some big-time shit!
This is the Ninety-Four, homey!
Put the phone down
and cut up the potatoes.
Okay.
That's too thick.
Thin slices.
So, if we want these onions
to caramelize, what do we do?
We just add a sprinkle of sugar
or a bit of honey.
What is it?
You know, Elder,
if anyone out there's giving you shit,
I've got my means.
These guys who have you murder for money,
they're not your real friends.
The second they have beef with you
or they get scared you'll backstab them,
they'll find another man
to take you out for free.
Just to prove his worth.
That bullet better not miss, then.
[scoffs]
Hang on, Elder. Tell me straight.
You mean you never smoked a man?
Never.
The milk.
Dude, I said I need the milk there.
Pass me the bag of cheese.
Now we cover it.
We need heat on top and underneath.
And voil.
Damn, man, you made an oven!
[laughs]
[Demba] Got any brothers or sisters?
I had a big brother.
He got himself killed.
I was 14.
He died right in front of me.
You see a therapist?
Huh?
Damn, Elder. You serious?
Of course, I'm serious.
You know, I used to get anxiety attacks.
Forget about it.
[cutlery rattles]
[dinnerware clatters]
[indistinct chatter, children laughing]
[dramatic music playing]
[camera beeping, shutters clicking]
They're moving, look.
Three kilos, dude!
Listen up, we take back
the trap house with that.
- Put that away, for real.
- Quit buggin'.
[laughs]
This town is ours, man.
[brakes squeal]
Ah, shit.
[tense music playing]
[dispatcher] 10-92, guys.
We got a vehicle parked
in the middle of the road.
2-50 for 10-92.
[siren wails]
[sighs]
[chuckles softly]
Same shit every day,
no matter who's in power.
Nothing changes.
[man 1] Yo, can I bum a smoke?
[Noumouk] Everyone get the fuck out now!
[man 2] Run for cover!
Yo!
Yeah, y'all better run, motherfuckers!
Get the fuck out!
Ah! Yeah, bitch what?
[grunts]
This area is mine, yo!
- [man 3] Motherfucker!
- [Lamine] This is mine, you feel me?
- [man 4] Get up! Get up!
- [man 5] Come on, fucker!
- Get the fuck outta here!
- What the fuck?
Hey, didn't I fucking tell you?
Didn't I tell you?
- [excited chatter]
- This shit's damn tight, dawg. Yeah!
I look good.
[indistinct chatter]
This is tight.
[all] Whoa!
[excited chatter continues]
[R&B music playing]
[man vocalizing]
[bicycle bell dinging]
[man] Yo, Kattri, over here.
[man singing in French]
[Noumouk] Lamine?
Check it out, look.
[inaudible]
- Yeah, I'll call you back.
- Yo, what up?
- Here you go.
- You got it, man.
You keeping the long hair?
Yeah, it's real terrifying.
Check it out, bros.
We got fucking Tarzan over here!
[inaudible chatter]
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
- Money, money, money, money
- [Samba] It's happening fast, yo.
Hey, Johnny, get me some more fliers.
We'll send 'em out quick.
IF YOU DON'T VOTE YOU DON'T EXIS- [man] Yo!
- [Lamine] Look at the cash, man!
What? What? What? What? What?
What? What? What? What? What? What?
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
Money, money, money, money
- Money, money, money, money
- [woman] Hey! Knock it off!
I'ma shit a brick!
[man singing in French]
What's up?
[conversing inaudibly]
- Hold on, ma'am. Let me help you.
- Thank you, young man.
- [Lamine] Move out of the way.
- Oh. My bad.
[laughing] Oh!
- Yeah!
- Yeah!
It's exactly the one I wanted.
[Lamine] Check it!
[man vocalizing on recording]
Come here, bitch ass!
[music playing over headphones]
[Samba] Fuck you, dawg!
9millimtres can lick my balls!
We're the shit now.
We're the sicarios. It's us now.
[man singing in French]
[inaudible]
[distant cheering]
[camera shutters click]
[R&B music playing]
[door closes]
[exhales deeply]
- It's got nothing to do with that--
- Shut your mouth!
You wanna be locked up in here like me?
Answer me.
You told me to shut my mouth.
You think I'm in here
'cause I'm stupid, that it?
You're too smart for them.
You'll slip right through
the cracks, no problem.
When your brilliant plan
falls apart, don't cry to me.
You think I'm gonna need you?
I can handle my own shit.
Last time you told me that, I got shot.
Look in my eyes.
[laughs]
Hey, if I hadn't cut him into our shit,
he would have gone elsewhere.
Imagine how bad that would have been.
[laughs]
- It was for his protection, huh? That it?
- Whatever, believe what you want.
I don't wanna know what shit you did,
but word travels fast here.
I'm hearing the Sidibi brothers
want your ass.
Get your memory checked, man.
When the others came to smoke you,
I never once asked you what you did.
And I never asked you
to meddle in my affairs.
- Gonna be like that?
- It's gonna.
Know what, Demba? Go fuck yourself!
Go fuck yourself!
Stay the fuck away from the kid.
Officer!
[breathing heavily]
It stinks, man.
How many times have I told you
to open a window when you take a shit?
- [toilet flushes]
- Chill out, Geezer. Shit.
I didn't think you'd be back so soon.
The fuck you call me?
Nothing, Geezer. Relax, it's chill.
Geezer, my ass!
[both grunt]
Get over here!
Geezer, huh?
Check out-- Check what the geezer can do.
Fucking geezer!
[grunting]
Want some of this old geezer?
[coughing]
[gasping]
[dramatic music playing]
[breathing heavily]
Leave me alone.
Get off me.
It wasn't me.
[gasping]
[calm music playing]
[man vocalizing]
[vocalizing continues]
[keys jiggling]
[sighs]
[no audio]
[motor revving]
[in French] Keep it calm
They're calling me, have no time
She wants my heart
But it's not the time
I don't have enough bullets
To kill them all
We're cruising through the city
Pockets full of cash
Ah, go, go, go! Let's go!
At least 100k
[man] He's got a gun!
- [gunfire]
- Everyone run! He's got a gun!
Hey, you sons of bitches, this is my turf!
Let's go! Go!
[motor revving and receding]
Motherfucker.
They got no idea what's coming,
these fuckers! You hear me?
Not him, not him. Wrong one.
- [stomach gurgling]
- Fuck's going on with you?
- What?
- Got the runs or what?
You fucking crazy?
I skipped dinner tonight.
My stomach is rumbling 'cause I'm hungry.
Let's go get a kebab
at Yo-Yo's after, hmm?
Noumouk, what you think?
- Kebab with cheese, maybe?
- Damn, bro. Be quiet.
That's Sofyan.
Don't move till we get back, you got it?
[ominous music playing]
Hey, motherfucker!
Get him! Get him! Come on!
[Noumouk] Stop!
Stop, motherfucker!
[panting]
[tense music playing]
Come on, get the fuck up!
I said get the fuck up, bitch.
You fucking deaf?
What's up, son of a bitch?
[Sofyan] Do it!
Shoot me, 'cause I won't miss next time!
Huh? All grown up?
You're all grown up now?
You fucking scared?
Shut your fucking mouth!
[panting]
Get the fuck out of here!
Next time I see you,
I'm lighting your ass up, you hear?
- This ain't over.
- Get the fuck out!
Shut your fucking mouth! Get out!
[Lamine] Where is that fucker?
- Got away, man.
- What do you mean?
I missed, man. He got away.
Come on, we gotta go. Cops are coming.
[cell phone vibrating]
[sighs]
Damn, you're just gonna cut me off
'cause I missed your stupid boxing match?
I couldn't make it
because I was in custody. Fuck.
You think they were gonna
let me out for your match?
Goddamn, be for real.
Whatever, girl. I'm over this.
And if you even care,
I was almost shot yesterday, so there.
Goddamn.
[inhales deeply and sighs]
DELETE FOR EVERYONE
[distant laughter]
[faint chatter]
[car tires squealing]
[dramatic music playing]
[R&B music playing through headphones]
[cell door buzzes]
All right, move.
[man] Let me go!
Get your damn hands off of me!
- [guard] That's enough.
- [man] Let me go! Ah!
- Calm down!
- Ah, fuck!
What the fuck you want?
- [man grunting]
- [guard] Calm down! Keep moving!
[indistinct radio chatter]
[man] Get off me!
[cell door buzzing]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[sighs]
[faint chatter]
Traor, outside.
Yayaoui, visiting room, second group.
Thanks. Coming.
Go ahead, be careful.
What they gonna do?
- [man] Breathe, man!
- [spits]
Breathe!
What's happening, Geezer? Huh?
What you gonna do?
[all shouting]
[overlapping shouting]
[Silima] Fuck him up!
Fucking kill him! Kill him! Kill him!
There's no Demba. There's no Traor.
There ain't nothing for you here!
This shit is all mine!
[Silima snickers]
[screams]
[dramatic music playing]
RESULT OF PREGNANCY TEST: POSITIVE
[laughs]
[sighs]
[newscaster speaking indistinctly on TV]
[sighs]
[cell phone vibrates]
- Hello, Djenaba?
- [Djenaba sobbing]
[Djenaba] It's Demba.
You have to get him out of there.
He doesn't belong in prison.
I understand, but Miss Ayadi
knows what she's doing.
She's trying every angle.
Soulaymaan
I'm pregnant.
[TV newscaster] Prime Minister
Pedro Snchez has laid the blame
on organized crime gangs.
[cutlery clinking]
Mm! Goddamn.
You should open up a restaurant.
- [sighs]
- What is it?
Don't worry about Silima.
We'll handle him.
I'm flat broke. That's what's up.
I've got a kid on the way.
I ain't got a penny to my name.
They took it all.
Man, I'm 40, and I'm stuck in the same
four walls as a bunch of punks.
I gotta fight them to keep my respect,
driving me crazy.
Yeah, but you'll easily
make more money, bro.
I'm looking at double digits
for my sentence.
And who knows, I might even get charged
for our shit while I'm in here.
[scoffs]
We've each got our problems, then.
We each have our own problems.
You need money for your kid.
I gotta get out of here.
[cutlery clinks]
[typing]
[footsteps receding]
[door closes]
[dramatic music playing]
[Soulaymaan] Due to the failure
of the police
during the raid to follow protocol,
I request that this entire case be tossed
out on the grounds of police negligence.
[sighs]
[dramatic music continues]
[giggling]
[girl] It's raining!
[dramatic music continues]
[typing]
[man singing in French]
THREE MONTHS LATER
[sizzling]
Gordon Ramsay.
[Demba] Mr. Lawyer.
El Chapo, bring the meat over.
- [man 1] Oh, look at that tabbouleh.
- [man 2] I'm starting to get hungry.
- [man 3] Where'd you buy it?
- I didn't. It's homemade.
- Mama raised me right.
- [man 3] All right. Respect, son.
- It's like eating a brick.
- I'm just saying it for the record.
[Noumouk] Come on,
pass the ball, Idrissa.
[laughs] Yeah.
- [Demba] Hey.
- [Noumouk] Ol!
Hello?
It's me.
[Farouk on phone] I know,
you're the only one with this number.
So how's it going?
Getting my bearings. You know.
- Come on, pass it. Pass it.
- Get a new cellmate yet?
What, are you nuts?
I told them I didn't want
no one in my cell.
[laughs] I spoiled you.
Ah. Spoiled by your cooking.
[Demba] Stop acting all tough with me.
My friends wanna meet with you.
Tell them to reach out tonight.
Hell no, brother.
Take a beat, be with your family.
Another month makes no difference.
And you're still game?
When I set my mind to a thing, I do it.
[R&B music playing faintly]
You good?
Fine.
Came through, huh?
I can't believe Miss Ayadi missed such
crucial evidence during the investigation.
[sniffles]
She was looking at it through her eyes.
But not with her heart.
Seems like love
doesn't make everyone blind.
[laughs]
So what firm you at?
I actually think I wanna start my own.
So what's stopping you? Go for it.
Yeah.
And don't stay by yourself.
They've all missed you.
[chuckles softly]
What is it?
Nothing.
Hey, now. I know you.
That's the last time
I see you in prison, Demba.
Shh!
[Demba] She's gonna feel your stress.
You know that it's better
to live in the projects in peace,
than to live in some mansion.
How about a big mansion
and we live in peace?
[laughs]
Who were you on the phone with earlier?
Did I just get out of prison
or am I entering one?
[chuckles]
[car horn honks distantly]
[man singing in French]
[boy] What up, Kattri?
What up, little loco? You good?
Where you been?
I called you a hundred times.
I was rehearsing for the concert.
The Znith is coming up soon.
You're a real pain in the ass, man.
You think this shit gonna run itself?
What the fuck? You got Samba, don't you?
He not with you?
- Kattri, go back inside, man.
- I don't wanna go inside. It's boring.
- It's boring out here, too.
- How come you're out here?
Fuck.
Here, take this.
Go buy some candy or something, okay?
- Hell yeah, I'ma get them jawbreakers.
- That enough?
This ain't a good place for your brother.
- He won't leave me alone.
- So what?
Come with me. I wanna show you something,
- What's up?
- Don't worry. Come on.
What do you mean, don't worry? What's up?
- Just chill. Come on.
- The fuck is up with you?
Come on, come on, come on.
- [door closes]
- [Noumouk] Where are we going?
Hey, I'm talking to you.
[Samba] Someone help me! I didn't do shit!
[Noumouk] This shit is weird, man.
[Samba] Lamine!
[Samba breathing heavily]
Lamine, please!
You're my bro!
I didn't do anything!
Please, Lamine! Please, Lamine.
Please. Noumouk. Noumouk?
- Noumouk, come on!
- [belt slaps]
Are you insane?
What the fuck are you doing?
[Samba] Noumouk, get me outta here.
Please, man.
- Get the fuck out of here!
- What the fuck are you doing?
- I'm missing 800 euros.
- Who fucking told you he did it?
- How do you know he did it?
- If it wasn't him, then it was you.
Or you. Or you!
He fucking stole it, asshole.
- You'd do that over some missing cash?
- [laughs]
Wake the fuck up, Noumouk.
I'll kill anyone, any amount. Hear me?
[car tires squeal]
- [loud crash]
- [woman screams]
[car engine revving]
[Soulaymaan] Call an ambulance!
Call an ambulance!
[man] I'm calling, I'm calling.
[somber music playing]
[Soulaymaan] Someone call an ambulance!
Who's calling? We need help!
[man] We need an ambulance right away.
A kid was hit by a car.
He's bleeding. Please hurry.
Move out of the way!
- What happened?
- [Soulaymaan] He got hit by a car.
[Lamine] Hey, wake up!
Kattri, please, wake up!
Kattri!
[Noumouk] What happened, dawg?
What happened?
- [woman] The car dragged him and sped off!
- Get him an ambulance, dammit!
- Someone call an ambulance!
- [Lamine] Please, please Kattri.
Wake up, I'm here.
Your big brother's here.
Kattri. Hey, Kattri, please.
Wake up. Please, Kattri!
- Please, Kattri!
- [woman] They're coming, there they are!
[inaudible]
[somber music playing]
Kattri, please.
Kattri.
[screams]
[tense music playing]
- My condolences, my sister.
- Thank you.
[coughs]
I've said it before,
they don't care about our neighborhood,
not even enough to put in a stop sign.
How many times have I told them?
It's horrible. Such a tragedy.
My dear. Thank you.
Thank you.
[indistinct chatter]
[cutlery clattering]
[mayor] Madam, I wanted to come in person
to extend my deepest condolences.
As a father myself,
believe me, I understand your pain.
My office and I
would like to offer you our--
- Hey, get the fuck out of here!
- Lamine. Lamine.
- Hey, sit down.
- [Kader] I understand your pain. I do.
- [Swouil] You're not welcome here.
- That's not for you to decide.
We've been asking you for years
to install a stop sign on that street.
We even brought it up in the council
meeting, but you did nothing.
Your kids don't use that street,
that much is clear.
Mr. Ben Saada,
don't twist this horrible misfortune
into a political football, all right?
You're not answering the question.
And you're the one making this political.
Isn't that why you're here?
He just came to offer
condolences to the family.
Hey, shut up already!
- Lamine!
- Lamine, don't talk to me like that.
Hey! What aren't you getting, Kader?
Your boss better get the hell outta here.
Let's go, Mr. Mayor.
[door opens]
[dramatic music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
[panting]
- [crowd shouting]
- [firecrackers popping]
Stop, stop, please, Noumouk!
- What the hell? Let me go!
- Please stop.
- What the fuck?!
- Come on, let's get out of here.
Lamine!
- [glass shatters]
- [Noumouk] Lamine! Lamine
Lamine! Lamine!
[dramatic music continues]
[explosions]
[angry shouting]
He still not answering?
I've called him five times.
Not answering.
[explosions and angry shouting continue]
[sirens wailing distantly]
I want to get the fuck out of here.
[explosives fizzling]
[somber music playing]
[birds tweeting]
[sighs]
[sniffles]
Hey, what are you doing?
[laughs] No way, no way.
- Hey, come on. Stop, stop.
- Stop what?
- Stop.
- I just woke up.
- No, no, stop lying. Delete it. Do it.
- I don't know what you're talking about.
- I was sleeping.
- You're lying.
- I'm lying, huh? Oh, so I'm a liar?
- Hell yeah.
[dramatic music playing]
[tranquil music playing]
- [cell phone vibrating]
- Not responding?
Just drop it. It's my mom.
For real, you got what it takes
to go pro, I swear.
- [Noumouk] You plan on getting married?
- [Sofia] Why are you asking me that?
[Noumouk] Just asking.
It's a question. Answer the question.
- See that girl?
- Pretty sure that's a guy.
[Sofia] I don't know.
I think I'd like to, but
[Noumouk] But what?
[Sofia] If I ever get married,
I'm doing it for life.
- Take 'em down, what else?
- [both laugh]
[Noumouk] Doesn't everyone
who gets married say that?
See, if I'm getting married,
the wedding's gotta be
a whole parade of luxury cars, feel me?
You are aware the wedding
is one day and marriage is for life?
All right, fine. Damn, girl.
[tranquil music continues]
[Sofia] You want kids?
[Noumouk] Right now?
[Sofia] Not right now, idiot.
Later.
When you're a man.
[Noumouk] What's that mean?
Who doesn't want kids?
[Sofia] Plenty of folks have kids
but don't take care of them.
- Thanks.
- [woman] Yeah, no worries.
Thanks a lot.
Okay, so
why'd you choose Annecy?
'Cause your father lives here.
Very funny, Noumouk.
Not joking.
I did some research, and I found your dad.
It happened a while ago.
I didn't know how to tell you.
Why are you meddling in my shit?
I don't think you realize
how much you talk about him, Sofia.
So what?
Just because I talk about it
doesn't mean I care.
- He's the one who left, you know.
- But what if that's not the full picture?
'Cause you read fucking minds?
Listen, you do what you want,
but I don't have my dad anymore.
I don't have my mother,
and Lamine doesn't have his brother.
We'd do anything to speak with them again,
but we missed our chance.
Worry about your own family, Noumouk.
[boat horn blaring]
[Soulaymaan] I get it now.
Trusting someone means taking a risk.
It means leaping without a parachute,
blindfolded,
an investment with no guarantee of return.
[doctor] And there's the heartbeat.
[Soulaymaan] It's relinquishing control.
[ultrasound pulsating]
Losing your footing.
I wrote this letter after our missed date.
I couldn't bring myself to give it to you.
I understand now.
[water lapping]
[acoustic string music playing]
Go on.
My darling.
[acoustic string music continues]
[children shouting distantly]
[man] Yo, bro! How long you been back?
You holding out on me?
[Soulaymaan] Hey, where were you?
I've been looking for you for two days.
- Yeah, and what?
- Come on, let's go. Move it, hurry up.
Come on, hurry up! Let's go, let's go!
Move, move. Come on, get in.
Get inside, now.
- Yeah, okay. Let me go.
- Hurry up, get inside. Who did this?
- Not me, dude. It wasn't me.
- Was it Lamine?
You think he's dumb enough
to pull this shit?
Did you do this?
- I didn't do shit.
- Was it you?
- No.
- Who was it? You?
- Okay, calm down.
- Man, don't tell me to calm down!
Got nothing better to do
besides destroy your 'hood?
Got nothing better to do than burn down
your brothers' and sisters' schools?
The libraries?
Your neighbor's car,
who's in the same shit as you?
This guy has always been here for us.
He's been there for our parents.
But the only thing
you guys can do is what?
Destroy his place?
Then you act all stunned when the media
The politicians call you all savages.
Fuck them. The media, the politicians.
What have they done for us?
"Fuck them. The media, the politicians.
What have they done for us?"
What? What is it? Is that funny?
Who finds that funny? Who?
It's true they don't do shit for us,
I'll grant you that.
But what have you contributed?
How have you helped your 'hood?
What did you do for that boy, Kattri?
Swouil, I promise we didn't do it.
"I promise we didn't do it." Of course.
Because it's never once been you.
Okay, okay, that's enough.
- It's never you.
- Everyone out. Give us two minutes.
Go on, go on. Come here, come here.
- You gotta bring it down a notch.
- No, don't ask me to bring it down.
- But it might not have been them.
- If not them, then who is it?
I have no idea.
Maybe the mayor's behind it.
Everyone's got their shit.
We're burning down the mayor's office.
I swear we're gonna burn it down.
You really mean that?
Oh, stop, man.
Knock it off. Of course not.
[fire crackling]
[man singing in French]
CHAMPIGNY HAS A VOICE!
SWOUIL BEN SAADA
[inaudible]
[inaudible]
Hello, ma'am.
How are you today? How are the kids?
[inaudible]
[man singing in French continues]
[no audio]
We're at your service
To burn the place
[cocks gun]
[tense music playing]
[tires squeal]
[engine revs]
- Don't move!
- [man 1] Hands in the air!
[groaning]
Hands up!
[Demba] On your knees! On your knees!
[man 2] Put your hands up
in the air, where I can see them!
[Demba] Don't move! Hands up!
[groans, ears ringing]
Open the door!
Drop it! Drop the gun!
Move it!
- Take off his handcuffs!
- [Farouk] Oh God.
[Demba] Hurry up!
- [officer] Don't be stupid.
[Demba] Shut up!
Back up! Back up! Back up!
Hands! Hands now!
Ah!
[Demba] All right, hold on!
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Almost there. Here we go.
Come on, man. Jump, jump!
Let's go!
[man] Come on, come on!
Let's get out of here.
[suspenseful music continues]
[engine revving]
[Demba breathing heavily]
[exhales]
[Djenaba] Hand me your plate,
I'll serve you.
- You want some fries?
- [Idrissa] Yeah, a lot.
[cutlery clatters]
- [liquid dripping]
- Mom, are you okay?
[Djenaba] Call Demba, quick. Now!
- [Idrissa] Where's your phone?
- [Djenaba] Right there, hurry.
[Djenaba gasping]
- Went to voicemail.
- Try again.
[tires squeal]
[engine revs]
Thanks.
Two million euros.
Set for life.
So now what's your plan?
I'm gonna hole up in Spain.
I got shit to do there.
But after, I'm off to Morocco.
Don't be cocky.
You should disappear for a bit.
If there's money to be made, I'll take it.
Look at my father.
Worked in a factory for 30 years.
Didn't steal a penny. His pension today?
Barely 600 euros.
So fuck all of them, dude.
[laughs]
What is it?
Come here.
What's going on with your cousin, Doums?
He lives his life, I live mine.
Tomorrow, he's meeting
with some guys who've got work for him.
That's Doum's shit, not mine.
It's the Sidib's, man.
It's a trap. To take him down.
I can give you two of my guys if you want.
Mm-mm. I'm not involved.
Brother.
[exhales]
[knock on door]
NMK, you're up next.
[sniffling]
[faint singing]
[Adil] Yo, bro. Be cool.
[man] Oh shit, NMK. You got this shit.
- Yo, man, how you doing?
- You good, or what?
Great to see you.
You all good? You good, dude?
- How you doing?
- Yo, man, you got this shit.
We gotta do that collab, son.
- You good for it?
- Careful, I'm filming.
Yo, I'm not like that little
9millimtres bitch.
- [woman] Hey, guys, gotta go.
- All on the floor.
- Deep breaths.
- Anyway, you got my digits.
You know we're with you. Fuck yeah.
- Oh, shit!
- What's good, my guy?
- You good?
- Yeah.
Everything tight?
All right, team, let's do it.
We got this, brothers. Let's do it.
[ominous music playing]
- [screams]
- You're gonna kill him, bro.
- Chill.
- I don't give a fuck. I want him to die.
[man] Give me five minutes.
He still hasn't spilled, he's yours.
Trust me.
I only trust my brother. No one else.
Here.
[Doums groaning]
[screams]
No! No! No more! No more!
[Doums breathing heavily]
The coke is two minutes away.
Take my phone.
[gasps]
Call the last number.
I'm warning you, don't fuck with me.
If he tries anything, shoot him. Got it?
[phone line beeping]
[woman on phone] Hello?
- Save yourself!
- [gunshot]
- On the ground! On the ground, now!
- Don't move!
Get back! Get back!
- Everyone get back! More! More!
- Go, go, go, go.
Move!
- [Doums screaming]
- Who the fuck is it?
[groaning and panting]
Bro!
[distant gunfire]
[yells]
I'm gonna kill you!
[panting]
Hold on! We're almost there!
Jackpot, baby.
[officer on two-way] I spotted
Demba Traor in the hangar.
Looks like a bloodbath inside.
Chief?
Yeah, I'm here.
You sure it was him?
Affirmative.
[dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering and clapping rhythmically]
Yo, NMK. Look at me, motherfucker!
[acoustic guitar music playing]
[nurse 1] I can see the head.
Come on, that's it. Push!
[nurse 2] One more big push.
Again, again, again. Come on, that's it.
- [nurse 1] Come on, push.
- [nurse 2] That's it.
[Noumouk] Apparently, in France
[baby crying]
there are one to two births every minute.
And one death.
- [man] Where'd he go? Anyone see?
- [all screaming]
Someone call an ambulance!
Someone help her, please!
[whispering] Sofia. Sofia.
[Noumouk] We can't escape death.
Sofia.
I know that.
But I'm not ready to lose her.
Not her. Not yet.
Sofia.
Not tonight.
Stay with me, Sofia.
[acoustic guitar music continues]
[no audio]
[heart monitor beeping]
Sometimes, you have to be
on the verge of losing something
to realize why you're clinging on to it.
And to stop passing each other by
without speaking.
Hearing without listening.
Because tomorrow
tomorrow's not guaranteed.
And even the next second,
who knows if it'll ever arrive?
Khadidjah.
Khadidjah.
[baby crying]
Take her.
Not yet. I'm scared to drop her.
[laughs]
[Noumouk] Khadidjah.
They named her Khadidjah.
Like Mom.
But Demba might not
get to see her grow up.
[Noumouk] Demba.
Demba, the cops are here.
Yo man, cops are here.
[baby crying]
- [Noumouk] Goddamn.
- Where are you going?
Just 'cause you're not playing anymore
doesn't mean the game is over.
It's true.
[nurse] He went that way!
[Noumouk] You choose the street,
there are only two outcomes.
Death or prison.
Out of the way!
[panting]
[exhaling slowly]
[breathing heavily]
[gentle music playing]
[Benaribi] The stairwell.
[sighs]
[monitors beeping]
[Noumouk] Sofia got out of the hospital.
She and I are still together.
We talked things out.
We'd been more
than just friends for a while anyway.
We were just scared to admit it.
Scared to take the leap.
We all voted.
Even me.
Soulaymaan and Swouil
dragged our asses to the voting booth.
I don't think they had ever seen
so many Black people at the polling place.
[all cheer]
Swouil Ben Saada, mayor of Champigny.
Who would have guessed?
Soulaymaan Traor as deputy mayor.
[scoffs] Who would have believed it?
Thinking of school?
Not for me, dawg.
[Noumouk] It had been a while
since I'd seen Lamine.
Not since Kattri's funeral.
Too busy with running the trap house.
- [gunshot]
- [body thuds]
[breathing heavily]
[spits]
I had so many things to tell Lamine,
but I ran out of time.
Soulaymaan.
I know now who killed Malcolm X.
Another Black man, just like him.
The kids of the poor
kill the kids of the poor.
It's always been that way.
[no audio]
You know what?
Life is always a question of choice.
I've got two.
Either I follow in Demba's footsteps,
I find 9millimtres and kill him,
I take over the trap house and make money.
A shit ton of money.
And it'll end like this.
Or I follow in Soulaymaan's footsteps.
I go back to school.
I get my degree.
That way, if I'm not cut out for rap,
I've got another plan.
And fuck those who said I couldn't do it.
Soulaymaan told me of a guy who got
his degree in language while in prison.
If he could do it, why not me?
[in French]
Damn, the street bluffed me
I always wanted to be like my big bro
I didn't want people
To think I was weak
I was warned, but I did it again
Again, again
[in English] Yeah, I was biding my time.
But now I know.
I know what I want to be.
I know I want to be
more than just a number.
A statistic.
An African in kicks.
That's what they want for me.
Who is "they"?
Those who want the poor
to stay lumped together.
That way, they can claim on TV
that we don't want to assimilate.
Fuck 'em.
In fact, fuck all them rappers
who glorify the street life like I did.
And who wanna be like Demba
without understanding what that costs.
[sighs]
[Djenaba] You've reached
the voicemail of Djenaba Traor.
Leave me a message after the beep.
[Noumouk] I'm ready to go now.
Mom will always be in my heart,
no matter where I am.
If I don't get out of here,
someone will drag me down sooner or later.
Bring me back to my bad habits.
It's tough to grow a rose in concrete.
Mom, I miss you.
You're not here to scold me anymore.
To hold me accountable.
To show me the way.
Absorb the blows for me.
I've got my brothers,
but I still feel alone sometimes.
Just me against the world.
Empty.
Like this apartment.
If you still have your mother with you,
take care of her.
Spend time with her.
'Cause there's a before and an after.
Just like that poet said,
"Losing your ma is hard."
"Like trying to sail with no horizon."
["Je Peux" by Kery James and NMK playing]
[man singing in French]
[man resumes singing in French]
[man 1 speaking French]
[man 2 speaking French]
[men conversing in French]
[men resume singing in French]
[music ends]