FREE ON CINEGEEK.DE Aki Kaurismäki - Le Havre  

Here comes the sunniest film by Aki Kaurismäki, who is not exactly known for feelgood movies. His world is usually populated by gloomy losers. Kaurismäki's loners fail at usually hopeless endeavors and their hopes are dashed by cold and uncaring society. Sounds bleak? And yet you can be sure that Kaurismäki was secretly grinning while making it. Le Havre, however, is set in the south, on the French Mediterranean coast. There, in a port city, illegal immigrants from Africa land. They arrive in containers, which are discovered by the police. Only one little boy escapes. His name is Idrissa (Blondin Miguel) from Gabon, shy, sympathetic and clever. Meanwhile, Marcel Marx (Andre Wilms) is fishing nearby on the jetty - when he sees the boy standing in the water up to his waist, gesturing to him. Marcel returns, leaves some food. The next day, it's gone. Marcel has no plan, but he takes on the task of protecting the boy from being arrested. Around Marcel there are several other characters, all of whom are workers. And in Kaurismäki's world, these workers are on the side of the boy, not the police. Marcel's wife Arletty (Kati Outinen) supports him and even his dog. Furthermore, the grocer, Marcel's shoe shiner colleague and even a local rock star help. Marcel and Arletty have been together forever and love each other like the first day. They remained childless, but now they have the boy. A very French motif is the snoop from whom Idrissa must be hidden (many will remember WWII and the Resistance). But Idrissa is always smarter and faster, rushing from hiding place to hiding place (you know those French comedies of the 50s? Something like that). Le Havre is as endearing as a silent movie comedy. It's set in a world that seems cruel and heartless. But look at all Marcel does to find Idrissa's father in the refugee camp! Or what he does to raise money so the boy can go to England to be with his mother! By the way, Le Havre is one of those films that I call secret children's films. Nothing is cynical or cheap (looking for effects), but it sees the world with a clear eye. A film that simply gives us a good feeling!