After its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Before the flames go out did not, unfortunately, bring crowds to France. The film, on the other hand, has caused a lot of ink to flow. Indeed, this first feature film by Mehdi Fikri, which deals with the issues of police brutality and racial profiling, encountered a major smear campaign there online and in right-wing media. The mere fact that the film is so disturbing is in itself telling. Controversy aside, what is said fire worth? Well, it’s worth seeing.
The action takes place in a working-class district of Strasbourg, whose population is predominantly Arab. We follow Malika (singer and actress Camélia Jordana, César for Most Promising Female in 2018 for The brilliance), whose younger brother, Karim (rapper Larry), died in unclear circumstances following an equally murky arrest.
While part of the family only thinks about burying Karim as quickly as possible, Malika is determined to fight so that all the light can be shed. Around her, a popular movement is taking shape…
In front of certain images ofBefore the flames go outwe think of the highly publicized riots that occurred in France following the death of young Nahel Merzouk, shot dead by a police officer in the summer of 2023. Certainly, Mehdi Fikri’s film was made before the events, but it does not evokes no less than many cases where police violence was implicated in the deaths of people arrested, such as Adama Traoré, in 2016, or even Amine Bentounsi, in 2012.
This should not be surprising since, in his former life, Mehdi Fikri was a journalist specializing in police and judicial affairs, and working-class neighborhoods, Humanity (a newspaper camped on the left).
Hence this impression of a “documented” reality that his film gives off.
Concern for nuances
However, ambient authenticity also arises from a concern for nuances. Here we think of a very interesting secondary character: Slim (Samir Guesmi), a professional activist who comes to advise the bereaved family.
Slim’s attitude is as much pragmatism as opportunism, and he is one of the reasons why Before the flames go out do not sink into self-righteous Manichaeism.
Another reason lies in the complexity of the protagonist, Malika. It was on his initiative, we learn, that Karim was rejected by his family shortly before his tragic death. Added to this is an inglorious youthful secret that Nour (Sonia Faidi), the younger sister of Malika and Karim, will throw in her eldest’s face during a moment of filial tension.
In short, Malika is in search not only of justice, but of redemption.
In other words, the characters are not sketched in broad strokes.
Birth of a passionaria
Ultimately, if the aspect concerning accountability and the demand for responsibility towards authorities who evade, evade, or even lie in order to protect themselves turns out to be so gripping, it is because, fundamentally, we He feels sympathy for Karim’s family. This is especially true when it comes to Malika.
Throughout her political-initiatory journey, the latter reveals herself to be a fascinating heroine. As the filmmaker summed up during an interview at TIFF: “We start with a heroine who disagrees with her family about the course of action, and who is in silence, and we end with a heroine who has managed to unite her family around her and speak out. »
As a tidy woman who discovers the qualities of a passionaria, Camélia Jordana imposes them. The star offers a true display of strength — of strength of character — in the role of Malika. Malika, who burns with a fire that is not about to go out.