Director: Boris Lojkine
Two days. One interview. A young man's entire future in France balanced on how convincingly he can tell his own story.
What is Souleymane's Story about?
Souleymane pedals across Paris delivering meals on a rented bike, sleeping wherever he can, and rehearsing a version of his past that officials might accept as grounds for asylum. Boris Lojkine's 2024 drama follows him through the chaotic gig-economy hustle of the city — dodging traffic, chasing tips, fielding demands from the man who lent him the bike account he uses to work — while a looming appointment with immigration authorities hangs over every scene. The film compresses his ordeal into a tight 93-minute window, tracking small humiliations and quiet acts of solidarity among fellow migrants as the clock runs down toward the interview that will decide whether he stays or is sent back.
Cast & crew
Abou Sangare, in his first screen role, anchors the film with an unforced, lived-in performance that earned wide festival attention. Nina Meurisse appears as an aid worker who briefly crosses his path, and the supporting cast — including Alpha Oumar Sow and Younoussa Diallo — is drawn largely from real delivery riders, lending the Paris streets an unpolished authenticity.
Context & significance
Director Boris Lojkine builds the film around the mechanics of the French asylum process, where an applicant's spoken account, delivered under pressure to a stranger, can outweigh paperwork. Shot largely on the move with handheld cameras, the production leans into the physical exhaustion of gig work as its own kind of narrative pressure, pairing social realism with the propulsive rhythm of a race against a deadline.
Where & how to watch
Souleymane's Story is available to watch on K-Time with a free account login — no separate purchase required to start streaming once you're signed in. The platform's interface and support are built around Farsi-speaking audiences, and this title carries both Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles, so viewers can follow every detail of Souleymane's account in their own language.