The Orphans

The setting is a gym where Leila practices martial arts. She leaves feeling frustrated and at odds with the instructor. Very upset, she joins her mother in her car, in an atmosphere that has become tense and gloomy. A moment of inattention by the driver suddenly leads to tragedy, a huge crash and then chaos. The 17-year-old girl sees her world collapse and loses her carefree attitude, entering the adult world with a bang after the death of her mother.

At the hospital, Leila meets two men, long-time friends of her mother, who are ready to support her in her misfortune. They have known each other for a long time, but do not seem to like each other. They harbor a heavy secret and a wound that has not healed with time. One is Gabriel, a trainer with the GIGN (French National Gendarmerie Intervention Group), who respects the rules, and the other is Idriss, who is the complete opposite and navigates the world of thugs. They are polar opposites: Gabriel is cold and sharp-tongued, while Idriss is friendly and mischievous. They find themselves thrown together against their will in a case that is beyond them. Leila knows nothing about their past, but that doesn't matter. She arrives in the middle of their lives with her passion, her resentment, and her intention to make no concessions. Leila wants to know the truth, to find out what really happened. Chance leads her on the trail of a reckless driver responsible for the terrible accident. She intends to conduct her investigation alone or with the help of these two strangers, and above all, she wants revenge. She is determined, unaware of the danger that may await her around every corner. In this production, director Olivier Schneider does everything he can to draw the viewer into the story. The script is well-crafted, and the intensity never lets up throughout the film.

Emotion and suspense abound, and the fight scenes are spectacular, interspersed with more intimate moments. The action scenes take place in a fairly realistic urban setting. Olivier Schneider, known for his international work as a stunt coordinator, puts his heart, professionalism, and passion into this adventure to deliver a thrilling thriller.  This is not just a feature film with a series of fights and brawls, but also a film imbued with emotion, filial love, generosity, and passion. The viewer immediately puts themselves in the characters' shoes and trembles for them at every moment.

The trio of actors transcends the screen. Idriss, played by Dali Benssalah, is touching as he is constantly rebuffed by Gabriel, played by Alban Lenoir, his teammate in misfortune, who is himself fragile beneath his tough exterior and inflexible character. Leila, played by Sonia Faidi, is the pillar that holds them together; she is strength personified, dynamism, but also courage. As for the villains played by Romain Levi and Suzanne Clément, they are convincing in their roles, ready to do anything to keep their power and fight to the end.

This perfectly paced 95-minute production takes us on a fast-paced and powerful ride. The suspense is always there, building up to the end. This breathless thriller, especially in the last half hour, is sure to satisfy fans of the genre. The chase scenes and the well-orchestrated physical and mechanical stunts follow one after another with no downtime. It must be said that the director is a master of his craft. The credits are also quite original. A fabulous cocktail of action, perfectly choreographed fights, and tension pushed to the limit, but also a film about reflection, loyalty, generosity, justice, and loyal feelings. Les Orphelins is a feature film that is a pleasure to watch, a real thriller.

The Orphans (Les Orphelins)
Directed by Olivier Schneider
Produced by Rémi Leautier, Rémi Cervoni
Written by Nicolas Peufaillit, Olivier Schneider, Alban Lenoir, Jean-André Yerles
Starring Alban Lenoir, Anouk Grinberg, Dali Benssalah, Jean Kinsella, Naidra Ayadi, Romain Levi, Sonia Faidi, Suzanne Clément
Music by Paul-Marie Barbier, Julien Grunberg
Cinematography: Maxime Cointe
Edited by Tianès Montasser
Production companies: Inoxyfilms, Gaumont Production
Distributed by Gaumont Distribution (France)
Release date: August 20, 2025
Running time: 95 minutes

Seen on June 26, 2025 at Pathé 7 Batignolles

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