Shéhérazade Review: A Realistic Crime Romance

By Ravi Ahuja

     The crime drama is one of the oldest and most treasured genres in filmmaking, and yet director and screenwriter Jean-Bernard Marlin still finds a way to make a familiar story exciting and touching with his latest film, Shéhérazade (2018). Set in the streets of Marseilles, we follow young rebel Zachary as he struggles to find acceptance on a personal and societal level. With no place to call home and an aversion to the foster care system, he ends up carving a place for himself on the streets as a pimp. The small group of prostitutes he commands contains his new love interest, Shéhérazade, a similarly rebellious and fiery woman. Of course, pimping out your own partner is messy business and heartbreak is almost guaranteed to follow. When it does, Zachary will be put through a true test of character in one of the most emotional and refreshing climaxes in recent memory.

Zachary (Dylan Roberts) and Shéhérazade (Kenza Fortas) together

      The characters are what really make this film shine and stand out among its peers in the genre. Everyone is nuanced and complex, with both good and bad blending together in the typical human contradiction. Every scene feels like another chance to get to know the characters in it and revise your opinion on them, but despite all the mixed messages they send out, nothing ever feels out of character. Even the secondary characters retain plenty of authenticity and weight. The relationship between Zachary and his mother is complicated and heartbreaking, and it lends a lot of emotional context to who Zachary is and what motivates him. Likewise, Zachary’s relationship and dialogue with his paternal figure in crime, Mehdi, gives the audience a good peek at his past and what his upbringing was like without being overly expository or slowing down the pace of the movie. The audience knows less about Shéhérazade, but she still manages to be a relatable and understandable character without sacrificing depth. On top of the great writing, Dylan Roberts and Kenza Fortas both shine in their portrayals of Zachary and Shéhérazade respectively, allowing this movie to work as well as it does.

Zachary armed with a gun in the streets

      The production of this film is another standout feature, with some really excellent cinematography reminiscent of recent Safdie brothers work. Lots of close tight shots and handheld camera tracking add a sense of urgency and realism to scenes, though there is more shot diversity than a movie like Good Time.  There are more than a few well thought-out wide shots and plenty of relatively long takes, including one incredible four minute shot where a door mirror swings into place to change the entire frame and the emotional feeling of the scene. 
    Despite the film taking place entirely in Marseilles and not being in English, the story and characters of Zachary and Shéhérazade were so universal it was easy to forget this was a foreign film. Some small details may place this story in a certain context, but the greater structure is so simple and relatable and human that it could be a Shakespeare play. The world of pimps and prostitutes has rarely felt so relatable and real, not because of the actions they take but because of the emotions they feel and confusion they face. Life can appear wildly foreign at first glance in a different country, a different culture, a different generation, but humanity stays the same. 
    Shéhérazade transcends its own genre of crime drama to become human cinema, appealing to action lovers and romantics alike, fans of both character studies and thrillers. Shéhérazade is now streaming on Netflix, a great watch for anyone looking for a realistic crime story that packs a serious emotional punch.