Building 5: Which politician should Ladj Ly’s film be inspired by?

What is it about? Hubby, a young woman very involved in the life of her town, discovers a new development plan for the neighborhood in which she grew up. Under the cunning leadership of Pierre Forges, a young pediatrician turned mayor, he plans to demolish the building where Hubby grew up. Together with his family, he starts a resistance against the municipality and its big ambitions to prevent the demolition of the 5th building.

Originally the mayor

Originally, Bâtiment 5 was announced as the second part of a triptych that began with Les Misérables and was dedicated to Claude Dillane (mayor of Clichy-sous-Bois from 1995 to 2011, he was a figure in the fight against unsanitary housing). Finally, in Ladge Lee’s new film, there is indeed a Mayor character inspired by several elected officials: “The starting point for Bâtiment 5 was Claude Dillane. I knew him, his journey is interesting to tell, but over time and as the writing progressed, the project moved on to something else.”

“Especially when a documentary about his story came out in the meantime. The fiction around him would do double duty. So the script went in other directions, but I kept the character of Mary and the canvas of the foundations of social housing, which was one of Dylan’s struggles. But above all I I made this mayor a right-wing man.”

Reunion after “Les Miserables”.

Ladj Ly will be reuniting with Alexis Manenti, who played Chris, the angry policeman of Montfermeil’s anti-crime squad in Les Misérables. The 41-year-old actor plays Mayor Pierre Forges in Bâtiment 5. Ironically, his deputy is played by Steve Tientchew, who played ‘The Mayor’, the iconic and brash character from Les Miserables. For his part, Jean Balibar also returned in a more secondary role, that of a politician.

An imaginary city

Unlike Les Miserables, which takes place in Montfermeil, Ladj Ly is set in Bâtiment 5 in the fictional town of Montvilliers. The director explains: “I come from Montfermeil, I grew up there, fed on the stories of its inhabitants, which are definitely permeated in my films, but in this case I wanted to expand the frame. What happens in the neighborhoods of Montfermeil, there are performances in many other cities. In France, as elsewhere. By inventing the city, I said to myself, That everyone could be portrayed there. The same goes for the principle of a choral film that explores the story, from the trajectory of this mayor to the trajectory of the activist of the association. His friend or the deputy mayor.”

“It’s all about looking at politics. Building 5 ensures that it’s time to rethink things. Hubby, this activist, symbolizes that, looking for ways, new ways of doing things. Through him, I really wanted to spark that newness. A generation of people from neighborhoods who are starting to be interested in politics, Like those who still hold power but no longer understand anything about our world.”

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repair plan

Ladj Ly grew up in Montfermeil and witnessed one of the most important urban renewal plans in France: “If this movie is called Building 5, it’s because I grew up in that building. I saw an urban renewal plan, one of the most important in the country, implemented, but also how the population was built. Neighborhoods were victims. The expropriation of people by buying apartments for ridiculous amounts of money, which is shown in this film, is a reality that shocked me. To call a spade a spade, it was a huge scam.”

Anta diao, revelation

Anta Diaw plays Hubby, a young woman very involved in the life of her city, who discovers a new development plan for the neighborhood in which she grew up. Laj Lee discovered the actor during the wild casting of Kim Chaperone’s The Young Imam, which he co-produced. The filmmaker confides: “He’s only had a small role, but I think he’s incredible. With Hubby, I’m trying to breathe some hope into Corps 5.”

“Of course, I show disappointed characters who no longer believe in it, but he represents a possible key by deciding to get involved in the municipal elections. Nothing says he will be chosen, but there is still a process.”