On the occasion of the release of “Women of the square”, here are five things to know about this social comedy with Eye Haïdara, Ahmed Sylla and Léa Drucker.
The Women of the Square by Julien Rambaldi
With Eye Haïdara, Ahmed Sylla, Léa Drucker…
What is it about ? Angèle, a young Ivorian woman, has always gotten away with it thanks to her chat and her nerve. To avoid reprisals from a gang of thugs, she manages to get hired as the nanny of Arthur, an 8-year-old boy from uptown. Discovering the working conditions of the other nannies and their precariousness, Angèle decides to take matters into her own hands. Under the admiring eye of Arthur and with the help of Édouard, a young lawyer who soon falls under his spell, Angèle will then fight to bring justice…
Starting idea
2022 – Julien PANIE KIOSK FILMS
In the credits of Les Femmes du square appear two first names: Dino and Amina. This is the son of Julien Rambaldi and the woman who took care of him after school. The filmmaker’s desire to make this film started with them, as he recalls:
“Observing their relationship, I realized that my seven-year-old son at the time knew this woman better than I did. He was aware of her family and health problems; he even went to Morocco with her once . Both were molten.”
“In a home where the parents are separated, these women become reference points for the children. The parents are immersed in their professional life without realizing that this is made possible thanks to these women.”
“They spend more time with the children they care for than with their own. It is this relationship that I wanted to tell, as well as this invisible wall between the parents and these home helpers, this game of hide and seek in these apartments.
Who for Angèle?
2022 – Julien PANIE KIOSK FILMS
For Angèle, Julien Rambaldi had Eye Haïdara in mind from the writing because of her outstanding performance in Le Sens de la fête (she played a young woman with a strong character who assists Jean-Pierre Bacri in his work as organizer of parties):
“Her charisma was ideal for this role. She also succeeded in bringing out the somewhat rogue side of Angèle. We had to find her funny and we had to feel empathy for her.”
A modern-day vigilante
2022 – Julien PANIE KIOSK FILMS
The scenario of Les Femmes du square has evolved a lot over time. Initially, Julien Rambaldi had in mind Angèle, Arthur and his mother, Hélène. Then other characters were added, such as Wassia and Fatou. The director says:
“I liked the idea of Angèle coming to their defense and that, thinking of improving their situation, she would deteriorate it. Then we had to build the other family, and the character of Édouard, the lawyer who falls in love with Angela.”
“I met a woman who has become a representative of home childcare workers. She helps them to assert their rights, to obtain papers. I was inspired by her for the character of Angèle, who is a modern-day vigilante.”
“I wanted Angèle to be powerful and find herself doing this job by chance. which is not acceptable.”
reunion
2022 – Julien PANIE KIOSK FILMS
Bwanga Pilipili and Marc Zinga had already filmed for Julien Rambaldi in Welcome to Marly-Gomont. The filmmaker says: “Bwanga Pilipili plays a lot in the theatre. She managed to compose a very sweet woman character, like the one who took care of my son.”
“Wassia is dignified, more conscious and responsible than Angèle, she fights, but suffers injustice where Angèle rushes to the stretchers. She shows a facet of these women and Bwanga. Marc Zinga is here at the service of a rogue role, in which he is particularly believable and disturbing.”
But where is the square?
2022 – Julien PANIE KIOSK FILMS
This is the Square d’Anvers located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, which will be renamed Square Jean-Claude Carrière. It is located at the interface of two districts, with on one side, the opulent Avenue Trudaine, and on the other, Pigalle and Barbès. Director Julien Rambaldi explains:
“I like this contrast, of which Angèle, who does her little scams in Clignancourt and will help Arthur to transition gently towards adulthood, is the hyphen. This square draws a symbolic border between two worlds: we finds women of North African, African or Asian origin.”
“It’s the place where the word circulates. It is in the middle of the 9th arrondissement, which functions a bit like a village with people who meet on a daily basis. In this horribly expensive city, everyone wears a mask, the one essential success.”
“There is something disturbing in imagining these women who we see passing with these strollers entering these apartments, which are so different from theirs. I really wanted this film, out of the blue, to shed light on these dysfunctions specific to our society.”