Yamakasi

Colour, 35mm
France, 2001, 90 min
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

An action film about seven exceptional young men who live in the wilds of the big city. They call themselves Yamakasi or ‘samurai of the modern day.’ They practise their exceptional skills in the suburbs – the art of movement through the transfer of mental and physical energy. They can jump across the rooftops of tall buildings like supermen. Each of them excels at something special: Rocket moves as fast as a rocket, Spider creeps along walls like a spider, Zicmu draws energy from music, Baseball is a great throw, Tango’s body is extremely supple. . . . They soon become models for other boys, but one day a friend who also wants to be a Yamakasi is hurt. A heart transplant is needed. They have twelve hours to save him. . . . Well-known director Luc Besson wrote the script for the film and was its producer. Direction was left in the capable hands of Ariel Zeiton, who has directed several commercially successfull films and produced many action films and comedies.

About the director

Ariel Zeitoun (b. 1945, Tunis) started in film in the seventies as a producer. His writing-directing debut, Memories, Souvenirs, souvenirs (1984), a romantic comedy starring Philippe Noiret, Annie Girardot and MarlŹne Jobert, was nominated for a César for best debut. Selected filmography: Saxo (1987), Le nombril de monde (1993), Les chiens ne font pas des chats (1995, TV), Une femme tres tres amoureuse (1997), Bimboland (1998).