The Dardenne Brothers return with another moral drama that rages against social injustice this time looking upon the hardships endured by two African immigrants as they navigate safe passage while in exile on the streets of modern Europe.
For long periods, the pair are apart from each other as the struggle becomes very real for them both as they have to pay smugglers, work for cannabis growers all off the grid seemingly without their papers. We bare witness to this due to the filming nature and the isolation felt by them is real throughout - the influence of De Sica's Bicycle Thieves remains.
The toil the two young unprofessional actors have to endure is there for all to see, yet the pair Pablo Schils (Tori) and Joely Mbundu (Lokita) conduct themselves admirably throughout, the decision to cast unknowns (a regular occurence in the Dardennes oeuvre) is again a masterstroke as the lack of baggage for the audience with the youthful pair leads to empathy coming to the forefront.
The message of friendship and solidarity between the two is paramount and told so evocatively that the notion of self-sacrifice by one to the other is not a surprise, considering how exploited as individuals they become. The suspense felt is palpable at times. The climatic chase expertly done yet that flourish of action amidst the cruelty beforehand smacks less than those felt by the characters at times.
This is an angry film about the plight so many people have to endure moving from conflict to conflict as in life though, it is not so much the destination but the journey itself that is the story. Deeply powerful and yet understated in its execution, Tori and Lokita is a watch to endure yet remember.
Tori and Lokita is out from Picturehouse Entertainment on Friday 2nd December
