STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED

Classic

Excellent

Good

Fair

Tragic

FILM DETAILS

Certificate 15

Cast Vincent Lindon Firat Ayerverdi.

Directors Philippe Lioret.

Screenwriters

Running Time 109 minutes

LATEST FILM REVIEWS A Single Man Ponyo On The Cliff Battle for Terra Beyond The Pole Food, Inc. 5 STAR REVIEWS Precious Red Balloon, The Up In The Air Avatar Departures

Welcome (15)

Plot
A Kurdish teen finds help from a French swim coach in Calais in his endeavour to swim across the channel to England to meet with his girlfriend in London.

Review
Committed performances atone for the contrivances in this engrossing melodrama, which sees Vincent Lindon’s Calais-based swimming coach help Kurdish teenager Firat Ayverdi cross the Channel. Director Philippe Lioret mostly makes his political points in the margins, as Ayverdi is spurred on by reuniting with his girlfriend in London, while Lindon hopes his charity will save his marriage.

Lioret also critiques the cynicism of the police, as they try to control the endless stream of human aspiration and misery coursing through their patch. Chilly images of docks and beaches reinforce the hostility of the coastal world, nevertheless offering snatches of hope amidst the uncertainties and dangers of immigration.

Verdict
Realistic in tone, if a little melodramatic in material. This is compelling mainly for the performances.


Reviewer:

Get this review and thousands more on on your iPhone, download the Empire Movie Guide now!

Write Your Review
To submit your own review and rating please login or register.

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE TO EMPIRE

Subscribe And Get X-Files Season 1 DVD Get the entire first season of the classic sci-fi series on DVD when you subscribe to Empire magazine!

CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
		Colin Firth on A Single Man The Oscar nominee discusses his stunning latest role
		Benicio del Toro on The Wolfman The star talks delays, reshoots and getting furry...
		10 Egregious Oscar Snubs The worthy contenders that the Academy overlooked
		Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes The winners and losers when actors play real people
		Movie Poster Mashups #56 Browse your iPod, iPad and Apple-related movie poster mashups