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Welcome

  • 20092009
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Welcome (2009)
Bilal is 17 years old, a Kurdish boy from Iraq. He sets off on an adventure-filled journey across Europe. He wants to get to England to see his love who lives there. Bilal finally reaches Calais, but how do you cover 32 kilometers of the English Channel when you can't swim?
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
10 Photos
  • Drama

Bilal sets off on an adventure-filled journey across Europe and wants to get to England to see his love who lives there.Bilal sets off on an adventure-filled journey across Europe and wants to get to England to see his love who lives there.Bilal sets off on an adventure-filled journey across Europe and wants to get to England to see his love who lives there.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Philippe Lioret
  • Writers
    • Philippe Lioret(original scenario)
    • Emmanuel Courcol(original scenario)
    • Olivier Adam(original scenario)
  • Stars
    • Vincent Lindon
    • Firat Ayverdi
    • Audrey Dana
Top credits
  • Director
    • Philippe Lioret
  • Writers
    • Philippe Lioret(original scenario)
    • Emmanuel Courcol(original scenario)
    • Olivier Adam(original scenario)
  • Stars
    • Vincent Lindon
    • Firat Ayverdi
    • Audrey Dana
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 50User reviews
    • 86Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 13 wins & 16 nominations

    Videos1

    Welcome
    Trailer 2:06
    Welcome

    Photos10

    Vincent Lindon and Firat Ayverdi in Welcome (2009)
    Firat Ayverdi and Mehmet Selim Akgul in Welcome (2009)
    Philippe Lioret in Welcome (2009)
    Welcome (2009)
    Welcome (2009)
    Welcome (2009)
    Welcome (2009)
    Welcome (2009)
    Welcome (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vincent Lindon
    Vincent Lindon
    • Simon Calmatas Simon Calmat
    Firat Ayverdi
    • Bilalas Bilal
    Audrey Dana
    Audrey Dana
    • Marion Calmatas Marion Calmat
    Derya Ayverdi
    • Minaas Mina
    Thierry Godard
    Thierry Godard
    • Brunoas Bruno
    Mehmet Selim Akgul
    • Zoranas Zoran
    • (as Selim Akgül)
    Firat Çelik
    Firat Çelik
    • Kobanas Koban
    Murat Subasi
    • Mirkoas Mirko
    Olivier Rabourdin
    Olivier Rabourdin
    • Lieutenant Caratinias Lieutenant Caratini
    Yannick Renier
    • Alainas Alain
    Mouafaq Rushdie
    • Le père de Minaas Le père de Mina
    Behi Djanati Atai
    Behi Djanati Atai
    • La mère de Minaas La mère de Mina
    • (as Behi Djanati Ataï)
    Patrick Ligardes
    • Le voisin de Simonas Le voisin de Simon
    Jean-Pol Brissart
    Jean-Pol Brissart
    • Le jugeas Le juge
    Blandine Pélissier
    • La juge aux affaires familialesas La juge aux affaires familiales
    Eric Herson-Macarel
    • Le policier du centre de rétentionas Le policier du centre de rétention
    Gilles Masson
    • Le gradé du centre de rétentionas Le gradé du centre de rétention
    Emmanuel Courcol
    • Le directeur du supermarchéas Le directeur du supermarché
    • Director
      • Philippe Lioret
    • Writers
      • Philippe Lioret(original scenario)
      • Emmanuel Courcol(original scenario)
      • Olivier Adam(original scenario)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Bilal is 17 years old, a Kurdish boy from Iraq. He sets off on an adventure-filled journey across Europe. He wants to get to England to see his love who lives there. Bilal finally reaches Calais, but how do you cover 32 kilometers of the English Channel when you can't swim? The boy soon discovers that his trip won't be as easy as he imagined... The community of struggling illegal aliens in Calais is captured with authenticity, from the point of view of people who arrived there knowing nothing about France. This immigrant drama, with wonderful performances by the actors, is a strong story which uses documentary austerity and minimalist style to create a great emotional impact. —Warsaw Film Festival
    • calais france
    • france
    • swimming
    • english channel
    • england
    • 72 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Friendship has no borders. True love has no limits.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The neighbor of Simon who rats him out to the police, has a doormat with the word 'Welcome' printed on it.
    • Goofs
      When Simon finds Mina in London, in the background is a sign for "Elephant and Castle Shopping Center" - in British English, the spelling "centre" would be used.
    • Quotes

      Marion Calmat: Know what barring people from shops means? Want me to buy you a history-book?

    • Connections
      Spoofed in Chashme Baddoor (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Migrants
      by Nicola Piovani

      © 2009 Nord Ouest

    User reviews50

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Are you now, or have you ever been...?
    When the Kurdish boy Bilal, on the run from war-torn Iraq, is caught trying to cross the border into Englad, he ends up stranding in Calais. Here he meets Simon(in the process of divorcing his wife), who is as taken aback by the 17-year-old's sheer determination to meet back up with his girlfriend, Mira, in London as we are, and agrees to teach him how to swim. Yes, this kid wants to cross the channel. This is about love, the criminalization of refugees and people fighting against seemingly impossible odds. I have yet to watch anything else by this director, but now I will be on the lookout for it. He correctly realizes that this story is powerful enough, and thus does not need any manipulation for us to be deeply affected by it. Everything in this is underplayed, merely showed, and it is absolutely heartbreaking. The music is minimal(that, or it was so subtle that I did not notice it most of the time) and subtle, with only a single use of a tense piece(and it was still not overbearing). Other than that, it consists of a soft, sad piano, a sort of "voice" to the helplessness of the situation. While the young couple are seldom granted even direct communication(it tends to be second-hand), we believe in their deep feelings for one another. The acting is excellent all the way, and the characters are well-written, and like everything else in this, credible. Granted, this only really shows one side to the argument... still, no one in this feels "evil". Another great thing, and one that also helps it be more removed from Hollywood, is that everyone speaks the language that makes sense for the situation. Their native tongue, or English if they're talking to someone who won't otherwise understand them. There is a little sensuality, moderate violence and disturbing content in this. I recommend this to everyone who can comprehend it(maybe no one under 11). 8/10
    helpful•4
    3
    • TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
    • Dec 2, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 11, 2009 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Film Movement (United States)
      • Mars Distribution (France)
    • Languages
      • French
      • Kurdish
      • English
      • Turkish
    • Also known as
      • Hoşgeldiniz
    • Filming locations
      • Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France
    • Production companies
      • Nord-Ouest Films
      • Studio 37
      • France 3 Cinéma
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,578,009
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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