Abou Sangare, a 23-year-old Guinean migrant living in France, has been granted a one-year work permit, allowing him to avoid deportation. This development comes after his success at the Cannes Film Festival, where he won the prize for best male performance in the Un Certain Regard section for his role in L’Histoire de Souleymane (“Souleymane’s Story”), a film that reflected his own struggles as an undocumented migrant.
Despite being subject to a deportation order and having made three unsuccessful visa applications, Sangare’s legal breakthrough came on Monday with the approval of his work permit. His lawyer, Claire Perinaud, confirmed the news to AFP. Sangare’s role in the film, where he portrayed a food delivery cyclist preparing for an immigration interview, closely mirrored his personal experiences in France.
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Sangare, who had no formal acting training, was chosen by director Boris Lojkine after attending a casting call in Amiens, France, where he worked in various off-the-books jobs, including fixing cars and volunteering at a local education charity. His powerful performance in the film led to international recognition, but despite this, he has expressed a preference for a job as a mechanic over continuing a film career.
In an interview with Liberation newspaper, Sangare revealed that he intends to accept the mechanic job offer rather than pursue further acting opportunities. This marks a new chapter in his life, one shaped by both his personal journey and his unexpected rise in cinema.
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