Mercenary (2016 film)

Mercenary (French: Mercenaire) is a 2016 French drama film directed by Sacha Wolff. It was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival[2][3] where it won the Europa Cinemas Label Award.[4] A young man from the French oversea collectivity of New Caledonia in the South Pacific plays rugby in France.

Mercenary
Film poster
Directed bySacha Wolff
Written bySacha Wolff
StarringToki Pilioko
Release dates
  • 18 May 2016 (2016-05-18) (Cannes)
  • 5 October 2016 (2016-10-05) (France)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Budget$83,000[1]

Plot

Soane, a young rugby player, member of the Wallisian community of New Caledonia, defies the authority of his violent father, based outside Nouméa, to go play in France. He was recruited by an intermediary, Abraham, who exploits the emigration of Pacific island players to France by taking ten percent of their salaries. Unfortunately his arrival goes badly and he does not get a hoped-for player contract. Rejected by his father, he cannot return to New Caledonia and is threatened by Abraham who demands reimbursement of his expenses. On his own at the other end of the world, his odyssey leads him to become a man in a world that does not offer uncompromising support and success.

Cast

This low-budget film used real life rugby players for its major roles.

  • Toki Pilioko as Soane. Pilioko is in real life a Wallasian rugby player who left New Caledonia, with the support of his parents, to play in France in 2013.
  • Iliana Zabeth as Coralie
  • Mikaele Tuugahala as Sosefo. Mikaele Tuugahala is in real life a Wallasian rugby player who played in New Caledonia and France in the 1990s and 2000s.
  • Laurent Pakihivatau as Abraham, the mafia agent. The actor is in real life an islander rugby player whose career in France finished in 2012.
  • Petelo Sealeu as Leone Tokelau, Soane's father
  • Omar Hasan as Angelo, the rugby player who sings the opera. Hasan was born in Argentina, became a rugby player before settling in France. and turning to singing.
  • Philippe Rougé-Thomas as Noens. Rougé-Thomas is a former player and coach.

References
  1. "Mercenary". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  2. "Fortnight 2016: The 48th Directors' Fortnight Selection". Quinzaine des Réalisateurs. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  3. Nancy Tartaglione (19 April 2016). "Cannes: Directors' Fortnight 2016 Lineup – Laura Poitras' 'Risk', Pablo Larrain's 'Neruda', Paul Schrader's 'Dog Eat Dog'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  4. Patrick Frater (20 May 2016). "Cannes: 'Wolf & Sheep' Rounds up Directors' Fortnight Prize". Variety. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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