Salut Cousin! review

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

A young Algerian, Alilo, visits Paris to pick up a suitcase containing haute couture dresses. When he loses the address of the supplier, he winds up staying for a few days with his streetwise cousin Mok, then falls in love with a beautiful Guinean. Should he stay on in France, or return to Africa empty-handed? Algerian director Allouache provides ironic humour, magical realism and poignancy as he explores the difficulties experienced by immigrants in Paris (racist attacks, deportation orders, run-down living quarters). But while Alilo and Mok are engaging characters, the film suffers from a lack of dramatic focus. Full of heart, then, but underwhelming.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.