|
Le Havre review
:. Director: Aki Kaurismaki
:. Starring: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Kati Outinen
:. Script: Aki Kaurismaki
:. Running Time: 1:43
:. Year: 2011
:. Original Title: Le Havre
:. Country: Finland, France
:. Official Site: Le Havre
|
After having giving us an intimate look at Helsinki, through a series of films, Finish filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki now wanders in the streets of French town Le Havre, capturing the essence of the port rather than going for touristic clichés.
Don't expect to see some of the city's landmarks as even the docks made famous by Hemingway are here represented by a stack of containers. Kaurismaki practices the art of metonymy, expressing himself once again through a minimalist work.
The containers hold pretty much the entire plot of this decidedly political film: Congolese immigrants are found locked in a container in Le Havre, even though their destination was London. Among them, Idrissa, a street smart teenager, decides to try his luck by running away. He will get chased by the local police, including a stubborn inspector (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) but will get help from a poor shoeshine man (played by the excellent André Wilms).
Kaurismaki uses this premise to explore the situation of clandestine immigrants, a theme that is particularly close to his heart, as an exiled director. But rather than delivering a fully serious work, his approach is humoristic, generous and touching.
A chain of solidarity slowly develops around Idrissa to help him join his mother in London and, as always in his oeuvre, the director brushes a flattering and joyful portrait of ordinary people. To raise funds for Idrissa's journey, a concert is organized with local band Little Rock Bob, which Kaurismaki film as if they were Elvis - their performance is also somewhat reminiscent of those pathetic but endearing Leningrad Cowboys. Soon, this generosity becomes contagious, not only even becoming the source of a miracle cure but also allowing the inspector to showcase an unsuspected humanity.
In addition to have to joy to see Kaurismaki's favorite actress, Kati Outinen (always great, even when acting in French), on screen again, Le Havre also reconnects us with the director's deadpan humor as well as his unequaled talent for sharp dialogues. With its cold atmosphere, the French town shares a lot of similarities with Helsinki - except for the fact that it ends up evolving into an enchanted city, as opposed to a desolated Helsinki.
Last but not least, this - somewhat minor - film is also the opportunity to see iconic French actors Pierre Etaix and Jean-Pierre Léaud, their presence allowing the director to refer to an idealized representation of a France that does not exist anymore.
Sandrine Marques
 Ten minutes older : The Trumpet
Cannes film festival 2011
French Films Reviews 2012 - present
French Films 1998 - 2011 Reviews
French Music Reviews
|
MAILING LIST
Get our reviews by e-mail
We'll never Spam you
|
|
|
