Genre: Drama, Documentary, Short | Country: Belgium, Burkina Faso, France, Côte d’Ivoire | 2017 | 53 min

Directed by Joël Akafou

Story

In the Ivorian economic center of Abidjan, a group of young men struggles to make a living after the political and economic crises of recent years. „Rolex the Portugues“ and his companions, scam write European women via the Internet to get their money.

During 53 min, the audience follows the young men through the hectic nights of the big Ivorian city, where drinking and having fun is the highlights of the youth besides their difficult life. They want beautiful clothes, fun and they believe in a god who justifies their dishonest way of earning money.

In their opinions, their scam victims are just paying off the dept of the colonization.

Cinematography & Editing

Director Joël Akafou demonstrates a simple but efficient cinematography and editing, which is serving the story.

Between the probable scandalisation the audience feels regarding what the young men are doing and the crazy nights they spend drinking in the city, he chose a purist and intimate way to show their efforts to get out of poverty.

Conclusion

Everybody has heard, at least once, of those scammers who seduce women in the Western world to rip them off, but rather more rarely from their point of view.

The documentary is a crushing report on social inequality, however without sparing the side of the scammers. As a matter of fact, the director chose to show young men in crisis, also by underlining their responsibility and poor choices.

Vivre Riche is a documentary, which turns one’s attention to a more nuanced storytelling on poverty and social struggle. Absolutely worth watching.