04/06/2013 - Rapper and writer Abd Al Malik adapts his novel for the screen with Marc Zinga and Sabrina Ouazani in the main roles

On June 17th, seven weeks of filming will begin for the first feature film by rapper and writer Abd Al Malik (rewarded notably at the Music Awards in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011): Qu'Allah bénisse la France. According to our information, the cast features Marc Zinga (a Congolese actor living in Belgium, noticed in the role of Mobutu in the TV movie Mister Bob and who just played opposite Benoît Poelvoorde in Akwaba by Benoît Mariage) and Sabrina Ouazani (revealed in Games of Love and Chance [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and whose filmography also includes Of Gods and Men [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Xavier Beauvois
film profile] and The Source [+see also:
trailer
film profile], currently to be seen in The Past [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

Written by Abd Al Malik, who has freely inspired himself from his novel of the same name, published in 2004, the screenplay of Qu'Allah bénisse la France follows the journey of an exceptionally gifted black child born of immigrant parents, who is brought up by his catholic mother with his two brothers in a social housing neighbourhood in Strasbourg. Between the delinquency of the council estates, rap and Islam, he will discover Love... The screenplay led the author to be selected as a finalist for the Grand Prix for Best Screenwriter in 2012.

Produced by François Kraus and Denis Pineau-Valencienne for Les Films du Kiosque, Qu'Allah bénisse la France benefits from a France 2 Cinéma coproduction, funding from the Alsace region and the urban community of Strasbourg, as well as support from Sofica La Banque Postale Image. Filming will take place in Strasbourg, Paris and Morocco until August 5th. French distribution will be handled by Ad Vitam.

It is worth noting that Les Films du Kiosque will launch their production Les Beaux jours by Marion Vernoux (article – distributed by Le Pacte) on June 19th.

(Translated from French)