Les Invisibles, which opened in French cinemas on Wednesday, tells the story of women sleeping rough in northern France as a social work centre is threatened with closure.
Many the main characters are played by former homeless women who are not professional actors.
At a time when France is facing street protests about social injustice, a comedy about homeless women in the north is being tipped as one of the funniest and most moving films of the year.
Audrey Lamy, another actor, said the film “brings women who are in the shadows into the light without judging them.