Swagger at the MFA

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Swagger takes us inside the astonishing minds of eleven teenagers living in underprivileged housing projects in Aulnay and Sevran, France. Filmmaker Oliver Babinet, best known for his artful music videos featuring public school teens, spent two years working with kids in the troubled area before deciding to make the film. Using surreal special effects and a mix of genres including science fiction and musical, Babinet brings the words and fantasies of these extraordinary kids to life. The result is a film that defies classification, and pushes the boundaries of what a documentary can do. Musician Jean-Benoît Dunckel, half of the electronica duo Air, provides a dreamy soundtrack.

Swagger was nominated for the Best Documentary prize at the 2017 César Awards. Co-presented with the Roxbury International Film Festival.

Swagger will be screened as part of the Boston French Film Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday, July 22. Showtime is 7 PM. Tickets $9/$11. Also screening July 30 at 4:30 PM.