On the dangerous migration route from the Gulf of Guinea to the Moroccan coast, two young people meet who have nothing in common except the hope of a better life in Europe. Hope, a young Nigerian woman, meets Léonard from Cameroon during a life-threatening journey through the desert landscapes of North Africa, where violence, exploitation, and the merciless human trafficking trade are omnipresent.

At first, Léonard rejects Hope, but she refuses to leave his side. Soon he realizes that without support, he too has little chance of surviving their brutal odyssey. Between mistrust and the will to survive, a fragile bond develops, marked by solidarity and mutual dependence amid the inhuman reality of their daily lives.

HOPE is the striking feature debut of French director Boris Lojkine, previously known for his documentary work. For maximum authenticity, Lojkine cast non-professional actors in the leading roles, whom he met in refugee camps in northern Morocco. The outstanding performances by Endurance Newton (Hope) and Justin Wang (Léonard) lend the film emotional intensity and remarkable credibility.

The film premiered in 2014 at the prestigious Semaine de la Critique at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received the SACD Award. Further honors followed at the Festival du Film Francophone d’Angoulême, where HOPE won both the Valois Magelis Award and the Best Director Award.