Private Project

A short ride

Faced with the invasion of electric scooters in Paris, Parisians regain control of their city.

(French subtitles available)

  • Mehdi Balamissa
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 46 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 30, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    France
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Mehdi Balamissa

Mehdi Balamissa is a French-Moroccan filmmaker known for his documentary work. His debut short film, "The Boss," was praised by Urbanities Journal for its ethnographic exploration of Moroccan inner cities.

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Director Statement

"A short ride" is a visual essay in the form of an observational short documentary that plunges into the heart of Paris, where electric scooters, powered by American startups, flourish in the City of Light, leaving a trail of inconveniences in their wake. The streets of the capital morph into a dynamic stage, with these scooters, left stranded on sidewalks, roads, or even in the waters of the Seine and canals, embodying an invasion that proliferates at the expense of the population. Yet, a democratic spirit emerges, as the people of Paris rise to reclaim the reins of their city, overthrowing the grasp of these inventions from the depths of Silicon Valley.