After fleeing from his foster family, 11-years-old Khamsa returns to the gypsy camp where he was born. With his cousin, Tony "The Midget", Khamsa dreams of getting rich with cock fights. Nothing seems to have changed since he left, the card games, the Mediterranean Sea... Until his best friend, Coyote, meets Rachitique, a small-time crook. Very soon they pass from stealing scooters to armed robbery, and Khamsa quickly spirals down into delinquency.
Acting
Marco Cortes carries impossible weight for a child actor.
Direction
Dridi's documentary roots make every moment feel stolen, not staged.
Cinematography
The sea glitters while lives corrode—cruel beautiful contrast.
Director
Karim Dridi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Karim Dridi cast non-professionals from actual Romani communities in southern France, including Marco Cortes who'd never acted before.
The film sparked controversy in France for its unromanticized portrayal of marginalized communities—critics called it exploitative, defenders called it honest.
FR
