Like a prince: a mix of French humor (review)

Ali Marhyar succeeded in his first production through his ease in mixing genres. Opposite Ahmed Sylla, he offers a very nice role to the young Mallory Wanecque.

Souleyman, 27, a boxing champion in full preparation for the Olympics with the French team, sees his future collapse when he cracks the bones in his hand following a fight in a bar. Souleyman is excluded from the team and is sent to the Château de Chambord, where he must carry out his 400 hours of community service (TIG) collecting waste in the gardens.

At first indifferent to the place, Souleyman ends up becoming interested in the castle, in those who work there, and in particular in Eddy, the events manager, who will take him into another universe. But his meeting with Mélissa, a young teenager with exceptional talent for boxing, will call his plans into question…

Like a prince is released today in cinemas, and at the same time, his team is presenting the film at the Alpe d’Huez comedy festival. It must be said that on this level, it is a victory: for its first achievement, Ali Marhyar (seen in Five and screenwriter for Cast(s) Or The flame) succeeded. By asking Ahmed Sylla to step aside to let his playing partners, with their very eclectic styles, shine, while trying not to do too much, he finds the right tone. Here is our review.

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There is of course Rocky in this “drama” on the transmission. There is also Billy Elliota “vibe” british, this touch of humor which runs through English cinema, even in its most poignant social dramas. References fully assumed by the young director, which are accompanied by a mixture of French humor. In the plural, because this is where Ali Marhyar scores points on this first feature: by fluidly mixing the particular styles of Jonathan Cohen or Jonathan Lambert with that of Ahmed Sylla, he always manages to hit the mark.

Playing a boxer who became a coach in spite of himself and having to carry out TIG (general service) at the Château de Chambord, the flagship actor of The Ascension steps aside, notably to give pride of place to Mallory Wanecque (The worst), ball of energy and comic or dramatic power depending on the evolution of his pretty character. Committing herself 200%, following real boxing training to prepare this film, the young woman is astonishing. After this role as a budding boxer full of life, we can’t wait to see her again in Love phew by Gilles Lellouche, where his spontaneity promises to hit the mark.