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Plot Summary
In this warmhearted portrait of the French harbor city that gives the film its name, fate throws young African refugee Idrissa (Blondin Miguel) into the path of Marcel Marx (André Wilms), a well-spoken bohemian who works as a shoeshiner. With innate optimism and the unwavering support of his community, Marcel stands up to officials doggedly pursuing the boy for deportation. A political fairy tale that exists somewhere between the reality of contemporary France and the classic cinema of Jean-Pierre Melville and Marcel Carné, Le Havre is a charming, deadpan delight.
Credits
Director
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
99%- Reviews Counted: 84
- Fresh: 83
- Rotten: 1
- Average Rating: 7.7/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Does Kaurismaki believe in his own fairy tale? The movie, a humble delight, suggests the answer is yes.
Fresh: The Finnish director's sense of humor is dry and dark as pitch, as he consistently finds moments of absurdity in the midst of strife and tragedy.
Fresh: Kaurismaki wrote the script, I think, with secret credit from Mother Goose and some fabric softener.
Fresh: We are so held by the film's impact that its ending, surprise or not, is like a bonus.
Customer Reviews
An amazing fable!
It is entertaining, and quite a story, it should be more than 5 stars!
Fable? Sorry, but I found it simply two dimensional.
It's as if the actors were commenting on their own performances. I suppose most of these positive reviews enjoy that sense of other, but I found myself frustratingly ahead of every moment. Where is the restraint? Was there any austerity? I feel like I watched a French version of a hollywood blockbuster where the "meaning" of every moment is hammered into the brain. And then a few extra whacks for good measure. Yes, it has a lovely message. But how many minutes did we endure well-meaning characters staring piquantly at the near mute African boy? That is not a scene! That is an idea which could be conveyed in a moment, not a minute!
berlin
saw this at an open air summer kino in berlin. a lovely movie event with beach chairs food beer on a sloping stone ground and cool night sky. the movie is good but my memory of it all is even better.
humanistic
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- $19.99
- Genre: Comedy
- Released: 2011
- © 2011 SPUTNIK OY - PYRAMIDE PRODUCTIONS - PANDORA FILM - ARTE FRANCE CINÉMA