Movies - Mayhem : let’s talk with Nassim Lyes

By Mulder, Los Angeles, 04 january 2024

Mayhem!, directed by Xavier Gens, embodies the director's bold vision of creating a truly popular French action film. Gens, inspired by his experience on Gangs of London, set out to redefine his cinema and tell a powerful story of redemption through a character of Algerian origin, while avoiding making his origin the central theme of the film. The protagonist, played by Nassim Lyes, embodies an authentic hero ready to do anything to save his family, marking a second chance for both the character and Gens himself, who reinvents himself with this project after starting out in cinema at a young age.

The film, quickly financed with the support of StudioCanal, Canal+ and France Télévisions, explores diverse territory between the Fresnes prison in Paris and the exotic settings of Thailand. The action scenes, particularly the Thai boxing fights, are remarkably authentic, with the participation of real boxers and renowned stuntmen, some of whom have worked with icons such as Donnie Yen and Jackie Chan.

Nassim Lyes, kickboxing champion in 2010, embodies the character with palpable intensity, demonstrating his commitment by training intensely, even during the shoot. The villain, played by Olivier Gourmet, brings an auteur touch to the film, with his simplicity, ambiguity and authority, recalling his previous performances in darker roles.

Xavier Gens adopts an innovative shooting method called pre-viz, anticipating every detail of the sequence to guarantee precision, efficiency and safety for the stuntmen. Mayhem! promises a captivating blend of action, drama and redemption, embodying the French director's new creative phase. Released in France in June 2023 and scheduled for release in the U.S. today, the film promises to be a memorable cinematic experience.

We had the opportunity during the press day of this movie in Los Angeles to interview the main actor Nassim Lyes.

Q: How did you react when Xavier Gens offered you the main role in Mayhem, and how was your first meeting with him ?

Nassim Lyes: My first meeting with Xavier was funny because it was on Instagram, and I was talking with him because I had to pass an audition for Gangs of London Season 2. So, I sent my tape to Xavier to know what he thinks about it, and then he was like, 'I'm not going to do this season two, but let's have coffee together in Paris.' So, we had that coffee together, and then, you know the rest.

Q: Can you share your filming experience in Thailand and France, especially in locations like Fresnes prison and the village of Bang Chan ?

Nassim Lyes: So, first, for the French part, shooting in the jail was really exciting because we managed to be in the real prison. For me, it was easier to feel the vibe and be in the shoes of a convict because the entire set was real. The tight part was like a dream because back then, it was winter in France, but in Thailand, it was like summer. The Bang Chan village, a fisherman's village, was so welcoming. This village is beautiful, and for me, it felt like the dream location.

Q: What drew you to the Mayhem script, and how did you prepare for your character, Sam, a former gang member on a redemption journe ?

Nassim Lyes: What I liked in the script was the emotional side that makes it different from other action films. Sam is more vulnerable with cracks and failures, making him more human than the typical action hero. That's what made me fall in love with the script. I also liked the pace because, unlike other action movies, it takes time to build up, and then it explodes. As for the second part of the question, the places we shot in Thailand were amazing, as I mentioned before. It was a dream set in Bangkok, Bang Chan, and Phuket.

Q: As the French kickboxing champion, how did you utilize your experience in the film's fight scenes to make them as authentic as possible ?

Nassim Lyes: As you said, being a kickboxing champion made the kickboxing part easy for me. The real challenge was learning the choreography that Jude Poyer had put together. I worked a month and a half before the shooting with Jude, learning the choreography like a dance. Once Jude felt it was good, we shot the scene, and then we moved on to another. It was a great experience.

Q: Can you tell us about your collaboration with fight choreographer Jude Poyer and how you worked on action scenes, particularly in the elevator ?

Nassim Lyes: That's one of my favorite scenes, and working with Jude was amazing. I was a huge fan of both Xavier's films and Jude's works. Working with him was a beautiful experience, even though it was more challenging than working with French action designers. The elevator scene, for example, seemed like a sequence shot, but there were more than a hundred shots in that scene. It took us four days to shoot in a very small elevator, which was challenging due to the real-life size and high temperature. The result is amazing, and if I had to do it again, I'd do it without hesitation.

Q: The film explores themes of redemption, destiny, and vengeance. How did you approach the emotional aspects in your portrayal of Sam ?

Nassim Lyes: Approaching that aspect, I, in real life, am more extroverted, unlike Sam. Xavier instructed me not to speak to anyone on set unless it was my lines. Sam is a man of few words, so I tried to immerse myself in his character by speaking to no one on set and only talking when I had to deliver my lines.

Q: Mayhem! offers a unique approach to French action cinema. How do you think the film distinguishes itself from other genre productions in France ?

Nassim Lyes: In France, it distinguishes itself through the crazy action scenes brought by Jude's work. Mayhem! has a level of action never seen before in a French action movie, making it different from other genre productions

Nassim Lyes, born June 3, 1988 in Nîmes, is a French actor. Growing up in the Mas de Mingue neighborhood, he completed his schooling locally before trying his luck as an actor in Paris. His career took off in 2011 when he won the French Junior kick-boxing championship. Spotted by director Tristan Aurouet, he won one of the lead roles in the film Mineurs 27 in 2011. He also made a name for himself on television, notably in the series Les Lascars in 2012 and the web series En passant pécho. Nassim Lyes expanded his repertoire with roles in feature films such as Made in France (2015) and Le Brio (2017), as well as series such as Marseille (2016) and Ils étaient dix (2020). His diverse filmography and talent have earned him a notable place in the French film industry. Beyond his acting career, Nassim Lyes has also appeared in several music videos and collaborated with renowned directors such as David Charhon and Alexandre Bustillo. His versatility and commitment to a wide range of projects bear witness to his growing impact on the contemporary French film landscape.

Synopsis :
Sam is an exemplary prisoner. With only a few months to go before his release, he is diligently preparing his reintegration into society. On leave, his past catches up with him and an accident leaves him with only one choice: escape. Five years later, he has rebuilt his life in Thailand, where he has started the family he has always dreamed of. But Narong, the local godfather, forces him back into delinquency. When Sam wants to end it all, Narong attacks his family... Sam will cross Thailand to take revenge on his tormentor.

Mayhem! (Farang)
Directed by Xavier Gens
Produced by Xavier Gens, Guillaume Lemans
Written by Xavier Gens, Guillaume Lemans, Magali Rossito
With Vithaya Pansringarm, Nassim Lyes, Loryn Nounay, Olivier Gourmet, Chananticha Tang-Kwa, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Yothin Udomsanti, Boonsong Nakphoo, Sawanee Utoomma, Narilya Gulmongkolpech, Alix Poisson, Sarut Khanwilai
Music: Jean-Pierre Thaïeb
Director of photography : Gilles Porte
Editing: Riwanon Le Beller
Production companies: Same Player InternationalDistributionExports WTFilms,, The Ink Connection, Two Suns
Distributed by StudioCanal (France), IFC Films (United States)
Release date: June 28, 2023 (France), January 5 2024 (United States)
Running time: 99 minutes