'Bâtiment 5', also known as 'Les Indésirables', is the latest feature film written and directed by acclaimed French director Ladj Ly, whose sharp lens on social injustice captured global attention with his debut feature 'Les Misérables' (2019). This poignant drama intertwines the personal and political in a searing exploration of power, inequality, and resistance within a working-class suburb of Paris.
The narrative follows two compelling figures: Pierre (played by Alexis Manenti), a young doctor thrust into the role of mayor after the sudden death of his predecessor, and Haby (Anta Diaw), a determined activist living in the tower blocks under threat from Pierre’s plans to "clean up" and gentrify the neighborhood. Their intersecting journeys reflect the raw tensions of a community grappling with displacement and systemic neglect.
Julien Poupard's visceral cinematography vividly captures the harsh reality of the tenements and the deep emotional stakes of their residents, culminating in powerful scenes of forced evictions and communal turmoil. Working closely with VFX supervisor Sébastien Rame, The Yard team masterfully crafted nine VFX shots including the climactic destruction of the eponymous Batiment 5 (building n°5), a striking visual centerpiece that reinforces the film's core themes.
