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Samba

Play trailer Poster for Samba R Released Jul 24, 2015 1h 59m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
61% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Sparks fly between an illegal immigrant (Omar Sy) and the caseworker (Charlotte Gainsbourg) who tries to help him stay in Paris.
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Samba

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Critics Consensus

Samba isn't the finest effort from directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, but the film's shortcomings are partly balanced by its big heart and talented cast.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Appelo TheWrap The editing errs on the side of longueurs, but likable people and the mise-en-scne draw you in. Somehow, even the artificiality feels heartwarming. Dec 30, 2015 Full Review Leah Greenblatt Entertainment Weekly Samba finds a much stronger rhythm when it stops contriving and simply shines a light on the joy and pain (and musical interludes) of lives lived in the margins. Rated: B+ Dec 30, 2015 Full Review Peter Keough Boston Globe Unfortunately, the material flounders from the broadly farcical to the bombastically melodramatic. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 6, 2015 Full Review Phil W. Bayles One Room With A View Another winning turn from Omar Sy is reason enough to enjoy this optimistic comedy/drama. Rated: 3/5 May 10, 2019 Full Review Ben Nicholson CineVue That Sy and Gainsbourg's love story never quite inflames the heart ultimately means that Samba remains a pleasant, rather than an enduring watch. Rated: 3/5 Apr 5, 2019 Full Review Jasper Rees The Arts Desk Based on a novel by Delphine Coulin, this is an affectionate and touching look at the absurdities of life as an illegal, and at its heart are two charming performances. Rated: 3/5 Nov 22, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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isla s This is a sobering and insightful film, with the main theme being perseverence. Its not what I'd call a comedy, even though there are certainly some lighter moments in it, its not a film that I found myself specifically laughing at. Its easy to feel sorry for the main (titular) character. It has a good soundtrack and overall I'd recommend it, yes. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Es una película disfrutable; la trama es buena y la actuación de Omar Sy es excelente; es muy recomendable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review carlo c Un inmigrante en París, con aspiraciones de convertirse en un gran cocinero recibe la orden de ser deportado, al buscar alguna forma de permanecer en Francia se topa con una voluntaria que le cambiará la vida. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A nicely played little film. I enjoyed the charismatic Omar Sy and the fragility of Charlotte Gainsbourg. An insight into the gig economy, not to mention the blatant exploitation of those marginalised, in a not-so-glamorous Paris. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member amazing movie! it shows how hard and difficult is for immigrants to go to a new country without knowing what is going to happen Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Sweet, subtle, and at times very funny, small love story. Yet, with some powerful themes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Eric Toledano

Director

Olivier Nakache

Director

Omar Sy

Samba Cissé

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Alice

Tahar Rahim

Walid dit Wilson

Izïa Higelin

Manu

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Samba

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sparks fly between an illegal immigrant (Omar Sy) and the caseworker (Charlotte Gainsbourg) who tries to help him stay in Paris.
Director
Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache
Producer
Nicolas Duval-Adassovsky, Yann Zenou, Laurent Zeitoun
Screenwriter
Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache, Delphine Coulin, Muriel Coulin, Delphine Coulin
Distributor
Broad Green Pictures
Production Co
Ten Films, Gaumont, Quad Productions, TF1 Films Production, Korokoro
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 24, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$149.8K
Runtime
1h 59m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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