In general, one hesitates to describe as charming a film that includes underage sex workers, gang rape, and revenge shootings—but I guess Shéhérazade breaks the mould. Set in the seedier end of Marseilles and scored with buoyant synth, the film's daring stride is defined in an early scene: it starts with Zach tracking down and threatening Shéhérazade when she makes off with the chunk of hash he’s offered in exchange for sex, and it ends with the two of them gleefully stealing some items together from a sporting goods store. Dylan Robert and Kenza Fortas are tremendously endearing as these two angels with dirty faces, both guilty of little more than being unwanted by their families. Once bonded, Zach takes on the role of pimp to Shéhérazade, and things go horribly wrong. But a declaration of love at the most precarious possible moment from one of these characters leaves us with a tearjerker straight from the gutter. It’s a hardboiled movie with the softest heart, but be warned Vancouver: HE DOESN’T WEAR A BIKE HELMET.  

Published September, 2018