At the cinema La Cascade in Martigues on Friday, April 3rd, a feature-length animated film “Allah n’est pas obligé”, described as “deep and painful” by Amnesty’s spokesperson at the screening, was shown as a show of support.
Catherine Mallet, the director of La Cascade cinema, stated, “It’s a very beautiful film, very colorful, bright with lush vegetation but it mixes in violence and becomes darker and darker.“
The creators of the soundtrack were present at the cinema and explained how the film by director Zaven Najjar, an illustrator and graphic designer, was partially produced at the post-production studio Mont-Mars at the heart of the Provence Studios in Martigues.
The landscapes were based on photos and the film took years of preparation to capture a child’s perspective.
The film’s assistant director, Yukiko Meignien, and other participants noted that while the film creators worked extensively with digital tools, the images were not created by artificial intelligence.
Inspired by the novel of the same name
“Allah n’est pas obligé” depicts the story of Birahima, a boy living in Guinea. After his mother’s death, he must join his guardian, his aunt living in war-torn Liberia. To save his life, he becomes a child soldier.
The director, who grew up in France but comes from a Lebanese family, read Ahmadou Kourouma’s book published in 2000 and drew inspiration from it. The Ivorian novelist, who received the Goncourt high school students’ prize, passed away in 2003.
Thinking about the millions of children living in conflict zones today and the 250,000 children involved in armed conflicts. The director has met some of these young adults who have managed to escape their past with the support and by pursuing education.
The title “Allah n’est pas obligé”, the same as the book, film, and graphic novel released on March 13, 2026, acknowledges the inevitability of life’s tragedies.
A total of ten screenings are scheduled at La Cascade cinema until April 14. The film is in its original language with French subtitles.
