Ladj Ly, the acclaimed French filmmaker behind Les Misérables, will world premiere his latest film, Les Indésirables, at the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival taking place September 7–17, 2023.

Ly’s debut feature, Les Misérables, was an Official Selection and North American premiere at the 2019 Festival, received the Jury Prize at Cannes, was nominated for a Palme d’Or at Cannes as well as several César awards, among others, and ultimately earned an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature. With Les Indésirables, Ly continues to push artistic boundaries, offering audiences a thought-provoking cinematic experience.

“We are honoured to showcase Ladj Ly’s remarkable talent once again with the World Premiere of his latest work, Les Indésirables,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “This deeply personal film beautifully captures the struggles and aspirations of a community, reflecting Ly’s unparalleled storytelling skills.”

Set in the suburbs on the outskirts of Paris, Les Indésirables is a timely tale of revolution, which beautifully captures a pivotal moment in history. Les Indésirables stars Alexis Manenti, Jeanne Balibar, Steve Tientcheu, Anta Diaw, and Aristote Luyindula. After the sudden death of a town’s mayor, Pierre (Manenti), an idealistic young doctor, is appointed to replace him. He intends to continue the policy of his predecessor, who dreamed of rehabilitating this working-class neighborhood. Haby (Diaw), a young French woman of Malian origin living in one of the dilapidated tower blocks, refuses to see her family driven out of the neighborhood where she grew up.