Inspired by true events, ODILE is a powerful socially relevant family drama, focusing on one mother's all-or-nothing drive to succeed in the betterment of her family's future.
The story is about a Black French immigrant mother whose ultimate quest to make a better life for her mixed-race son in London, turns into her ultimate grief. Her estranged alcoholic husband is found dead in a homeless shed and then her son is viciously attacked by a notorious gang in the social housing flat they recently moved into.
ODILE intertwines social issues such as the housing crisis (currently affecting an estimated 8.4 million people in England), domestic violence, racism, and youth gang culture in London. With planned bi-lingual English and French English subtitles, the story brings together a mixed international cast to London to help tell this tragically relevant tale, including the following celebrities who've agreed to play in the film: Nollywood royalty, actress Shaffy Bello, stunning Ivorian actress and daytime TV queen Kadhy Touré, South African actor and TV Presenter Hlomla Dandala, and, from here in the UK, Mica Paris MBE and David Harewood OBE.
Story & Screenplay, Director: Elsie Nemlin
Executive Producers: Mica Paris MBE, Shaffy Bello & Kadhy Touré
ODILE CASTING NEWS!!! 👌👏💥🙌❤💖
DAVID HAREWOOD OBE JOINS ODILE !
We are extremely delighted to announce, British actor and presenter, the awesome David Harewood OBE has joined ODILE’s cast! Harewood, one of the most successful Black actors Britain has ever produced, will be playing PASTOR MIKE, a charismatic & hypocritical man “of God". Greatly honored to have you David! 👌👏💥🙌❤💖
IVORIAN TOP STAR KADHY TOURÉ JOINS ODILE!
The stunning awards-winning Ivorian actress and daytime TV queen will be playing Wannabe catwalk model, SOPHIE, Odile’s cousin. Khady Touré, it's a huge blessing having you on board! 👌👏💥🙌❤💖
NOLLYWOOD ROYALTY, SHAFFY BELLO, JOINS ODILE!
It’s an absolute honour to announce, the legendary Shaffy Bello, has officially joined ODILE, this day, as Executive Producer and cast member, greedy pastor’s wife ‘Oyinlola’. Thanks, Shaffy for the past 2 years of support to ODILE! 👌👏💥🙌❤💖
MICA PARIS MBE JOINS THE TEAM!
We are thrilled to announce, actress & queen of British soul, Mica Paris MBE, has officially joined ODILE, this day, as Executive Producer and cast member ‘Matilda Pritchard’. Thanks, Mica for the strong interest in ODILE! 👌👏💥🙌❤💖
SYNOPSIS
Odile wants to give her mixed-race son, Jean-Philippe a good life when she and her newlywed white husband, Mathieu move from Paris to London. Her husband, who because of the language barriers, gets a kitchen porter job in a restaurant, has a hard time adjusting to their new immigrant life. From a loving caring husband, he quickly became a drunk and violent wife beater. Odile, who managed to get a chambermaid job, sticks with him and even covers up for him for the sake of their child but when he turns abusive to Jean-Philippe, she plans to get away and finds refuge in a women’s shelter. She hides from her husband moving from one hostel to another until one day…
…her husband is found dead in a homeless shed!
Odile now a widow has no reason to hide. When she receives an offer to move out of her hostel and settle down in a permanent social council housing, she can’t thank her lucky stars. The new neighbourhood, however, turns out to be one of the worst crime-ridden housing estates in London and now she’s stuck. She is given no choice but to accept her lot, she’s stuck in this new misery. Fearing for her son’s life after he comes home one day, bleeding from a stab, she decides to ask to be moved elsewhere but is laughed off by her local council officer. Her only option is to move to a private rental, but she knows private renting would cost her a fortune, but she’s driven to raise the money one way or another. She exhausts all her options from fundraising outside the train station, to applying for a trust fund at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, to speaking to her boss for a loan, asking her pastor for help, and even approaching a sleazy businessman to vouch for her at the bank after being turned down without a guarantor, until finally she meets Maria a high-end Brazilian escort.
What will a desperate mother do to save her child’s life? ...
Statement from Writer-Producer-Director Elsie Nemlin
From a six-part series plan to a feature-length film plan, ODILE has been a long time coming project. On many occasions, I felt like abandoning it all together, but then, something kept reminding me of the importance of telling it.
The story of ODILE was triggered by an event I was requested to provide support for, over fifteen years ago, when I was the CEO of Stand Up For Africa, a charity in Battersea (South London) that used to work with young people here in the UK and in Africa. With poverty, social housing crisis, domestic violence and gang-related crime reaching an all-time high, I am truly hoping ODILE becomes a voice for families caught in the middle of these occurrences and helps bring more attention to these tragic issues.
We just can't wait to complete the production!
Thank you!
Elsie Nemlin
THE CAST
French Actress Nikki Zag
French Actor Christophe Delesques
French Actor Christophe Delesques
As desperate mum-of-one, Chambermaid ODILE DIJON
French Actor Christophe Delesques
French Actor Christophe Delesques
French Actor Christophe Delesques
as wife beater, kitchen porter MATHIEU DIJON
Nollywood Actress Shaffy Bello
French Actor Christophe Delesques
British Actor David Harewood OBE
as ‘money loving’ OYINLOLA (Mrs Pastor Mike)
British Actor David Harewood OBE
French Actor Christophe Delesques
British Actor David Harewood OBE
as bible-wielding, flamboyant Pastor Mike
British actress Sona Vyas
British Actor Taye Junaid-Evans
British actor Sanjiv Hayre
as fiercely protective, childminder HODA, ODILE’s best friend.
British actor Sanjiv Hayre
British Actor Taye Junaid-Evans
British actor Sanjiv Hayre
as HODA’s cousin, bluntly racist businessman, SANJEY.
British Actor Taye Junaid-Evans
British Actor Taye Junaid-Evans
British Actor Taye Junaid-Evans
as smart, obedient, studious JEAN-PHILIPPE DIJON
Ivorian Actress Kadhy Touré
British Actor Taye Junaid-Evans
British Actor Taye Junaid-Evans
as Odile’s cousin, foreign student, overstayer, stunning top model SOPHIE.
British actress Mica Paris MBE
British Actress Dr. Parvinder Shergill
South African actor Hlomla Dandala
as nasty Housing Officer, MALTIDA PRITCHARD
South African actor Hlomla Dandala
British Actress Dr. Parvinder Shergill
South African actor Hlomla Dandala
as SA Businessman, JONAS JABULANI RADEBE.
British Actress Crystal WingX
British Actress Dr. Parvinder Shergill
British Actress Dr. Parvinder Shergill
as crooked Estate agent, Ms WILSON
British Actress Dr. Parvinder Shergill
British Actress Dr. Parvinder Shergill
British Actress Dr. Parvinder Shergill
as A&E doctor,
Dr HEGARTY
FILMING ODILE PILOT
It’s been almost 10 years in development, and Sunday 27th March (and 03rd April) was an exciting and humbling moment to finally be shooting ODILE’s pilot! Thank you to all our cast and crew and all our shooting locations owners (especially Palace Road Doctors Surgery) for your priceless support and contribution. Check out the stunning behind-the-scenes images (by Jason Yip) HERE!
Writer & Director: Elsie Nemlin
DOP: Caleb Gregory | Editor: Linda Cairns
Cast: Nikki Zag, Christophe Delesques, Taye Junaid-Evans, Sanjiv Hayre, Sona Vyas (Dunne), Cx Wing, Lucy Blake; Parvinder Shergill & Jason Yip (voice).
#ODILE #UKFilm #KnifeCrimeAwareness #HousingCrisis #DomesticViolence #FemaleLed #EnglishFrenchFilm #SupportFilmForChange
ODILE COMMUNITY SCREENING TOUR
To watch the pilot and join the Conversation, check more info about the ODILE Community Screening Tour HERE.
