zim and co. (2005)

Directed by: Pierre Jolivet | 90 minutes | comedy | Actors: Adrien Jolivet, Mhamed Arezki, Yannick Nasso, Naidra Ayadi, Nathalie Richard, Nicolas Marié, Maka Kotto, Abbes Zahmani, Jean-Philippe Vidal, Guilaine Londez, Michelle Goddet, Jean-Claude Frissung, Pierre Diot, Nada Strancar, Wilfried Romoli Francis Leplay, Eric Prat, Thierry Levaret, Michel Fortin, Daniel Berlioux, Abdelhafid Metalsi, Vincent Grass, Ahcène Nini

‘Zim and Co’ is a refreshing, charming film about four French friends. The main character Victor Zimbietrovsky, called Zim by everyone, gets into trouble when he doesn’t give way to a motorist. He is taken to the police station where they find out that he has a criminal record, albeit for a minor offence. He is now tested positive for drugs and as a result he has become a ‘frequent offender’. The judge advises him to find a job as soon as possible, so that the chance that he ends up in prison is considerably reduced. Zim does have a job, several even, he plays guitar in a band, works black in markets and helps his mother, who is a plumber. Maarja, a job with a contract and salary slips, that is still missing.
Zim tells nothing to his mother (with whom he has an excellent relationship, by the way) and everything to his friends, Cheb and Arthur. He goes looking for a job in good spirits, and soon finds the perfect job for him (skateboard salesman) with some bluffing. The only problem is that within ten days he needs a driver’s license, a (German) car and a high school diploma (because he just bluffed that for the sake of convenience). With the help of his friends, he does everything he can to get this done. He then finds himself in the most extreme situations, is threatened with a gun, is cheated by a car salesman and passes his driver’s license in one go, despite the fact that he damaged both the front and rear bumpers while parking…

Adrien Jolivet, son of director Pierre Jolivet, portrays a charming character, for whom the viewer can immediately sympathize. His baby face, long locks and casual demeanor make him instantly forgiven for his mistakes. Also Zim’s friends, Cheb and Arthur, are played perfectly by Mhamed Arezki and Yannick Nasso respectively. They all come across very natural. Cheb is the inventor of the three, and invents the strangest gadgets, with which he hopes to make a big hit one day. Arthur interns at a body shop, but falls victim to a discriminatory boss and must bear the wrath of his strict father. Safia, Zim’s love interest, is a breath of fresh air among all the Hollywood beauty that comes at you in most mainstream movies. The film manages to avoid all clichés and is brimming with energy due to the short shots and fast editing. The music contributes to this. The dialogues are also very strong. In a funny way, themes such as racism and underprivileged young people in a suburb of a large city (Paris) are treated. The hopelessness of these low-educated young people is distressing, because they often find themselves in a vicious circle. Because ‘Zim and Co’ is more comedy than drama, the reality may be somewhat different from what is described here, but the fact remains that the film can certainly be labeled as a ‘must-see’. A film that can close to your heart.