The Worst Ones

Les Pires

63rd TIFF: Greek Premiere

A film shooting will take place at the cité Picasso, in the suburbs of Boulogne-Sur-Mer, in the north of France. During the casting, four teenagers are chosen to play in the film. Everyone in the neighborhood is surprised: why only take the “worst ones”? Disguised in the form of a film within a film, this sensitive, intelligent drama articulates a subtle critique of the increasingly rising “cinematic slum tourism,” holding up up a mirror of truth that is confoundingly natural and double-minded.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret

Script: Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret, Elénore Gurrey

Cinematography: Eric Dumont

Editing: Albertine Lastera

Sound: Jean Umansky, Boris Chapelle, Florent Klockenbring

Actors: Mallory Wanecques, Timéo Mahaut, Johan Heldenbergh, Loïc Pech, Mélina Vanderplancke

Production: Les Films Velvet

Producers: Marine Alaric, Frédéric Jouve

Co-production: France 3 Cinéma, Pictanovo

Costumes: Edgar Fichet

Production Design: Laurent Baude

Make Up: Fanny Jakubowicz

Format: DCP

Color: Color

Production Country: France

Production Year: 2022

Duration: 99΄

Contact: Pyramide International

Awards/Distinctions: Un Certain Regard Award – Cannes Film Festival 2022

Lise Akoka, Romane Gueret

Romane Gueret, after studying cinema at the Sorbonne, took her first steps towards directing, as an assistant director, casting assistant, or camera operator. Lise Akoka completed a university course in Psychology and professional training in acting (Les Ateliers du Sud and the Studio-théâtre d’Asnières). She then discovers, in casting and coaching children for the cinema, a way of bringing together her two interests. In 2014, Romane and Lise met during the casting of a feature film, for which they auditioned more than 4,000 young non-professional actors for several months. In 2015, they co-directed the short film Chasse Royale, awarded in several festivals and which won the Illy Prize at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight in 2016. The film was nominated a year later at the César for Best Short film.