brodek09 Review of Welcome

Welcome (I) (2009)

Friendship of a French man and a Middle Eastern Refugee

[7/10 · 4 December 2012]

Welcome is a film that does not follow what you would expect of a movie about illegal immigration. Rather than portraying this young man's story while glossing over the especially gruesome parts of life as a refugee, it faces them directly, and this is refreshing from many American movies which have a distinctly "Disney" happily-ever-after approach. I liked also that the film focused on a refugee who is so determined to cross the English Channel. The viewer not only sees that he is determined to learn how to swim, but also faces the daily challenge of being hated by the people on the towns of coastal France who are being inundated by illegal immigrants. Philippe Lioret, the director of this film, had his start in the movie business by being a sound mixer and script editor in the 1980s. In the early 90s he started directing full-length films. He became interested in the situation of refugees in France, and wanted to make a movie talking about the hardships that they face. He spent six weeks among illegal immigrants, getting to intimately know their situations. The film was screened for parliament, pleading against the harsh laws that are imposed upon aiding refugees. Although this did not sway the government, the film did win a Lux Prize. The ideas presented in this film were very diverse and complex. One idea is one of treating all human beings as though they are equal. In this film, there is a lot of injustice towards the illegal immigrants, but Simon does what is right and aids his fellow man. Another idea presented in this film is the one that friendship found in unlikely places can help support people through their most difficult points of life. Simon is going through a divorce and Bilal is a refugee, but they manage to help one another in their own ways. I think that the whole topic is something that is something that is very controversial in France right now. Many people are divided on the issue of either saving these refugees, or getting overrun by them because of their kindness if they do. Another French aspect of this film is the way that the story flows. In an American movie, there would be the focus of the love story in most cases. However, this focuses on the struggles of the two lovers and eventually ends very sadly. An American movie would not be reviewed well because there is a sense of needing to have a happy ending in a film made in the United States.