Esse Lawson Movies

Actor Vincent Perez makes his feature-film directorial debut with the romantic drama Once Upon an Angel, which he cowrote with his wife, Karine Silla, and Jerome Tonnerre. Young Angèle (Morgane Moré) sets out to find work in order to ease the burden for her poor, debt-ridden parents and finds a job as a maid. By chance, she meets Gregoire Berthelot (Guillaume Depardieu), who takes a carnal interest in the young woman and seemingly nothing more. Intensely attracted to Gregoire and against all reason, Angèle spends an evening with the fiery stranger who promptly leaves her the next morning -- but he comes away from the tryst with more feelings toward Angèle than he hoped. For her part, Angèle is also left with more than fond memories of her experience with Gregoire and she eventually tracks him down -- but discovers that a couple of major complications may prevent them from developing a meaningful relationship. Once Upon an Angel was chosen as a competing film in the 2002 Montreal World Film Festival. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

A young woman trying to escape a violent lifestyle is unwittingly led back into it in this drama from France. Desiree (Esse Lawson) is a 16-year-old black teenager living in a lower-class neighborhood dominated by gangs. Hoping to protect herself in a community where street violence is an everyday occurrence, Desiree convinces the gang bangers in her neighborhood that she is the child of Souleimane, a legendary figure in local gang culture who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Desiree gains the respect of her peers, and becomes romantically involved with Toussaint (Tony Mpoudja), a good-looking boy her age whose sensitive side disguises a short temper. Desiree falls deeply in love with Toussaint, and believes they're destined to find a better future, but her dreams are dashed when Toussaint betrays her with another girl; an angry Desiree seeks revenge. La Squale was the first feature from writer/director Fabrice Genestal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide