“Little Jaffna,” directed by Lawrence Valin in his feature debut, is a crime drama set in Paris’ Tamil community, exploring identity within the diaspora. The film follows Michael, a Sri Lankan Tamil undercover cop, as he works within a local gang supporting the Tamil Tigers.

Valin, who also stars as Michael, brings an original viewpoint to a genre typically dominated by Western storytelling, creating a film that is deeply personal and globally significant. The district of Little Jaffna reflects the cultural and political tensions between tradition and assimilation in the immigrant experience.

The film explores identity—how it emerges from cultural heritage and personal history. Michael’s internal conflict between his Tamil roots and police duties reveals the challenges immigrants encounter while balancing cultural loyalty and societal adaptation.

The story also examines the Tamil Tigers’ impact, providing insight into how historical conflicts continue to influence diaspora communities.

The Tension of...