Rencontre avec Boris Lojkine | ENS-PSL

Rencontre avec Boris Lojkine | ENS-PSL

by École normale supérieure - PSL

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Arts & Architecture ATFFilms, cinemaATFBIndividual film directors, film-makers
🎙 École normale supérieure - PSL 👥 75K 📅 June 17, 2025 ⏱ 19 min 👁 520 📄 interview 🧭 2026-08-05
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

cinemadocumentarymigrationcastingethics

Summary

In this interview, filmmaker Boris Lojkine discusses his atypical path to cinema, starting with documentaries in Vietnam and moving to fiction. He explains how his film ‘Histoire de Souleymane’ continues the thematic exploration of migration from his earlier work ‘Hope’, focusing on the life of an undocumented delivery worker in Paris. Lojkine reflects on the open ending of the film, which leaves the audience questioning whether Souleymane will receive asylum, and he values the diverse reactions this provokes. He addresses the ethical challenges of a white filmmaker telling a story about a Black protagonist, emphasizing the importance of thorough research, non-professional casting, and extensive rehearsals to avoid a ‘white gaze’. The interview also touches on the collaborative writing process with Delphine Agut and the role of improvisation, which was integral to capturing authentic performances. Lojkine’s approach highlights a commitment to authenticity and ethical storytelling, making the film a significant contribution to contemporary cinema.

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Critical Evaluation

The interview provides valuable insights into Boris Lojkine’s creative and ethical approach to filmmaking. His discussion of the open ending in ‘Histoire de Souleymane’ is particularly thoughtful, as he explains that the ambiguity is not just a stylistic choice but a political and realistic necessity. He argues that a definitive answer would either be unrealistic or politically problematic, and he embraces the fact that audiences are split on whether Souleymane will get papers, seeing this as a sign of the film’s effectiveness. This demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of narrative and audience engagement.

Lojkine’s reflection on the ethics of representation is also commendable. He acknowledges the potential for paternalism and moralizing in films about marginalized groups, and he outlines concrete strategies to mitigate this: extensive research, non-professional casting, and collaborative rehearsal processes. By casting real delivery workers and asylum seekers, he ensures that the film is grounded in authentic experiences and voices, rather than his own preconceptions. This approach is not without challenges, but Lojkine’s commitment to it is evident and admirable.

The interview is conducted by students, which adds a fresh perspective, but it also means that the questions sometimes lack depth or follow-up. For instance, when Lojkine mentions the collaborative writing with Delphine Agut, the interviewer does not probe further into the specifics of that collaboration. Additionally, the discussion of the film’s political implications could have been expanded, but the constraints of a short interview limit this.

Overall, the content is reliable and offers a genuine look into the filmmaker’s mind. The institutional backing of ENS-PSL adds credibility, and Lojkine’s responses are articulate and thoughtful. The interview would benefit from more detailed questions, but as it stands, it is a valuable resource for those interested in cinema and ethical storytelling.

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Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: an interview with Boris Lojkine hosted by ENS-PSL.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The interview is conducted by ENS students and features a renowned filmmaker discussing his creative process and ethical considerations. The content is reflective and grounded in the filmmaker's experience, with no apparent factual errors. The institutional context (ENS-PSL) adds credibility, though the discussion is subjective and not peer-reviewed.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

External References

Contribution & Novelties

The interview offers a unique perspective on the ethical and practical challenges of making a film about migration, with concrete methods for ensuring authenticity. Lojkine’s emphasis on non-professional casting and collaborative rehearsal is a valuable model for filmmakers.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Cinéma vérité — A documentary style that emphasizes realism and often uses non-professional actors.
  • Asylum in France — Provides context on the asylum process in France, relevant to the film’s subject.
  • Ethics of representation — Discusses the ethical considerations in representing marginalized groups in art.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quality and reliability, reflecting the thoughtful and credible nature of the interview. The moderate score in technical level indicates that the content is accessible to a general audience while still offering depth for cinephiles.

Reliability 8/10