In 2003, Cowboys And Angels director David Gleeson was driving through North Dublin when he spied an African security guard standing outside a bank. The uniform was ill fitting – the cap was too small for his head and the trousers were hitched up – but, by golly, the chap looked pleased to be exactly where he was.
When Gleeson began to turn the image over in his mind, he wondered whether the guard was from a war-torn country and how he had come to be here. His thoughts would eventually inspire The Front Line, an urban thriller set against Dublin’s blossoming community of foreign nationals.
The film centres on Congolese immigrant Joe Yumba (Eriq Ebouaney) who leaves civil war behind him when his asylum application is accepted. Reunited with his wife (Fatou N’diaye) and son, Joe takes a job as a security guard in a bank. His hopes for the future are soon dashed when a gang of Dublin thugs kidnap his family and force him to be the inside man on a bank heist. They quickly learn that they’re messing with the wrong guy.
Today, Fatou N’Diaye and Eriq Ebouaney, the man they call the African Denzel Washington, are chatting in the Clarence Hotel about their experiences on the shoot. Both actors are based in Paris so it’s hardly surprising that Ireland came as something of a culture shock. One shudders to think what they would have made of the place ten years ago.
“The thing about Ireland is that people live indoors,” explains Fatou. “In Africa people live outdoors. It’s a little thing but it’s a big difference.”
Eriq nods in agreement.
“Yes. Everything is closed here. In Paris people are out in the open more and it’s a much more cosmopolitan city. The first time I came here I could open a door and close it behind me and I was the only black man in the place. That first step is really hard to do and it’s important to remember that most Africans are not here for fun. It’s a long journey. But Irish people can help by not closing doors, by saying, ‘Hello, where are you from?’ instead of things like, ‘You’re taking our jobs.’"
The Front Line’s chase scenes, featuring Eriq running through the inner city, caused more than a few hairy moments.
“We had a tight schedule and a limited budget so we couldn’t afford to shut the entire city down,”, explains the actor. “So, of course, people would see a black man running down the street and start shouting, ‘Stop thief.’ It got scary sometimes.”
Both stars are thrilled, however, to have had the chance to work here.
“I loved David’s script,” smiles Eriq. “It was a great opportunity and I got to learn Swahili for the role because I’m from Cameroon originally and the character is from the Congo. We’re hoping that the film can make a difference here, that maybe the next time an Irish person sees an African, they’ll wonder what they might have gone through to get here.”