Le Havre

It takes alot these days for me to fall in love with a film but that is just what I did with the French film Le Havre (2011). The film was directed by Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki who also directed The Man Without a Past (2002). It is a story, or possibly a fable, about an immigrant African boy who becomes stranded in the French shipping port of Havre on the coast where the Seine river meets the English Channel. He was on his way to London, hiding in a cargo container, when the police opened it up and he ran away. The whole story then becomes about an eldery man, Marcel Marx, played by Andre Wilms, who, once was a Bohemian writer, possibly in Paris, now works as a shoe shiner around the train station. He befriends the boy, named Idrissa, and he, along with his neighborhood friends, make it their purpose to get this boy to London anyway they can. Meanwhile, Marcel's wife Arletty has become critically ill and is in the hospital for treatments. It is a simple yet poignant story of what can get accomplished when people work together for a common good. The highlight for me was when the neighborhood puts on a benefit concert starring a man named Little Bob who comes out of retirement to rock and roll. It is a beautiful and funny scene. The cinematography is somewhat muted and we see the pale rainbow colors of the homes and the slow and steady lifestyle of the people in neighborhood each one accepting each others talents, faults and idiosyncracies. I usually prefer films with quick and original dialogue but with Le Havre I just sat back and relaxed and wished I lived in one of the tiny homes while enjoying the little things that life has to offer.

I highly recommend this movie which is in French. A poor man whose wife is in the hospital in Le Havre, France, takes in an African illegal alien boy whose only hope is to get to London and be reunited with his relatives. At first the neighbors are hostile to the boy and his keeper, but in time they rally around them. His wife is sensitively played by Finnish movie star Kati Outinen. This movie is classified as a comedy, but it is light years away from being funny. It does have a happy ending but be preparedto have your tissues handy. It's the kind of movie you can see more than once. I bought it when I was enchanted with Kati Outinen in A Man With No Past as a Salvation Army inner-city missionary. I went to high school with A Salvation Army girl and Kati Outinen captures the role with very realistic sweetness, warmth and modesty.The local bar-fly characters, dour French neighbors, and the helpful cop play their roles to perfection.The star of the movie who earns a meagre living shining shoes is played by Andre Wilms whose acting is above and beyond any expectations of a great performance. Academy Award material.There is some music added to this movie and the additional material on the DVD is also worth viewing.

Back in 1938 Marcel Carne's Port of Shadows w/Jean Gabin, Michel Simon, and Michele Morgan did what could be considered the 1st waterfront film noir. This was a fantastic film about lives on the edge and the extremes that would toss about like roll of dice just for a smile, a warm embrace, enchanting engagement set for later rendezvous, and anything that resembled real love on the eve of a German disregard of all human necessities. This was a great black and white romantic film shot in the port of La Harve. I cannot and will not say more about this timeless classic here and now.Some near 75 years later Aki Kaurismaki uses the port of Le Havre once again front and center to tell a tale of romance tripled into fairy tale of sorts as diverse characters ban together for no reason what-so-ever to rescue a black immigrant boy of near teenage youth just because. Charm, wit, cunning, deft planning, and risk of life are all combined and pushed to edge - sacrifice the all for the good of the one story. This film is a love letter to the heart of anyone whom ever cared because a rally for one is action for compassion for all. Savor a good crime haunt and lines of colored disregard to witness the better half of human nature in modern day action once again in the port of Le Harve.

We love Kurismaki films, and this is probably at the top of the list. Droll slice of life, with suspense. The cinematography plays like a series of paintings. The colors and lighting are incredible. The use of flowers throughout, particularly the cherry tree in blossom at the end smacks of Japanese cinema, particularly the director Ozu.

Upon receiving it, i realized i had ordered a wrong movie but didn't realize it until i had removed the wrapper. So decided to see it. It turned out to be v. good. The quality of the movie & the DVD are both very good. Thnx

Nothing profound here and pretty predictable but I enjoyed it. Nice, sweet feel good movie that highlights the good in human nature - a nice movie to watch with kids. And a pleasant way to practice listening to French.

I presumed this was an animated movie! Didn't read the review properly. Got suckered in by the cover, but having said that I am glad I picked it up. Was a bit expensive..was waiting for the price to drop but two months later realized it wouldn't so picked it up. The director has done a fantastic job and the style he uses is really unique. Trust me, you won't be disappointed in this one do give it a look.

You keep expecting everything to fall through; but miraculously, things work out. Amusing but also serious, and well-played by the excellent cast, cinematographer, and of course the director.