By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.6
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Starring: André Wilms | Blondin Miguel | Elina Salo | Jean-Pierre Darroussin | Kati Outinen
Country: finland, france, germany
Year: 2011
Running time: 93
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1508675/
Bruce says: “The 2009 French film WELCOME, directed by Philippe Lioret, somehow escaped under the Chlotrudis radar in spite of having a limited release in May of 2010. WELCOME is a story about a man who becomes involved with the refugee problem in Calais. The courts allow the refugees to stay in France but the law enforcement forces beat and torture the refugees and vigilantes attack the many Samaritans who provide food, clothing and shelter. Aki Kaurismäki tackles similar themes with LE HAVRE, arguably one of the best films he has made during his strange but distinguished career, his best since THE MATCH FACTORY GIRL.
“Marcel Marx (André Wilms) is a lovely man who has come upon hard times. He lives with Arletty (Kati Outinen) a wife he dearly loves. Yvette (Evelyne Didi) who has a bakery down the block looks the other way when Marcel steals a baguette for his dinner as does the grocer (François Monnié) across the street when Marcel needs a vegetable for the table. Arletty cooks, cleans, irons, and polishes while Marcel shines shoes wherever he can temporarily set up his portable shoeshine kit and stool in spots where he can avoid the police. ‘I don’t deserve such a good wife,’ Marcel confesses.
“Marcel is witness to a police chase and he knows that a young African boy is hiding in the harbor. He gives the boy, whose name he learns is Idrissa (Blondin Miguel), food and eventually hides him in his apartment when his wife is carted off to the cancer ward at the local hospital. Marcel discovers the boy is trying to get to London where his mother has been living for the past year. Slowly the whole community bands together to help Marcel, all except one nosey neighbor (Jean-Pierre Léaud) across the way who keeps tabs on Marcel through the blinds. ‘I believe I have some information for you,’ the neighbor tells the police. Claire the local barkeep also lends her support; clearly she is fond of Marcel and one cannot help but wonder if the two of them shared a past. Inspector Monet (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) is the detective in charge of finding the boy. Monet has ties to the community although he confesses ‘I don’t much like people.’ It seems Monet knows exactly what is going on; all he needs is a little proof. Meanwhile Arletty’s prognosis has taken a turn for the worse and she asks the doctor (Pierre Étaix) to hide the news from her husband.
“Kaurismäki choses an uncharacteristic fairy-tale ending for this story which he also penned as well as directed. LE HAVE is filled
with such humanity it is impossible to not go through a self- examination, ashamed that most of us do so little for our fellow man. 5 cats”
Michael says: “I love Kurismaki’s deadpan humor and minimalist film production. LE HAVRE is less of a comedy that his earlier works that I have seen, but the deadpan style remains. Marcel Marx is an elderly man trying to eke out a living shining shoes in Le Havre, France. His wife, Arletty (frequent Kurismaki collaborator Kati Outinen) is suffering from a serious ailment that she keeps from her husband. When the police, led by Inspector Monet, uncover a group of Africans being smuggled into the country by cargo ship, they lose track of Idrissa, a young boy who escapes from them. Idrissa finds assistance in the form of Marcel and his neighbors. This gentle film has a lot to say about the nature of love, and the plight of immigrants. A delight. 4
cats”
Diane says: “Since at least three Chlotrudians have given high marks to LE HAVRE, I must say that I did not very much like it, this story of heroism with a dash of surrealism. The mix of Scandinavian sensibility and French setting put me off. Accordion music and very deliberate and deadpan characters…. In some ways, AMELIE; in some ways, BLUE VELVET. I did enjoy the trendy charity concert and the film’s deep colors. 2 cats”