MARMAILLE

A film by Grégory Lucilly

9 October 2026 | 6:30 PM
Alliance Française de Delhi

Free Entry

As part of the Réunion Island Month, Alliance Française de Delhi presents Marmaille, a 2024 French film written and directed by Réunion filmmaker Grégory Lucilly.

Thomas, a 15-year-old teenager from Réunion, dreams of winning a breakdance competition that could take him to mainland France. But just as he qualifies for the final, his mother suddenly throws him and his sister Audrey out of their home. Their world falls apart as they are placed in the care of their estranged father and left to rebuild their lives in the face of abandonment.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with director Grégory Lucilly, offering audiences an opportunity to explore the film, its characters, and the stories and realities that inspired it.

A FIRST REUNION FILM IN FRENCH CINEMAS

Set against the landscapes and multicultural communities of Réunion, Marmaille tells a story of family, abandonment and reconciliation.

“At the heart of our landscapes and our mixed communities, I tell the story of this fraternal bond that can bring us all together.

I speak to you in our local language, Réunion Creole, to build a bridge between our two worlds, which ultimately are not so far apart.

While Réunion has become a renowned filming location, welcoming major productions—a real open-air film studio and a fertile ground for inspiring stories—this is the first time that a filmmaker from the island will attempt to make his way into cinemas across mainland France.

I do so with the honour of putting young people from my own neighbourhoods in the leading roles, and with the respect owed to our music, inherited from the time of slavery: maloya.

I do so with the deep conviction that, after watching this film, you will want to dance through life and come together.

Mi souhaite azot “Bon film!”

— Grégory Lucilly