Review of Le Havre (2011) by Tom D — 21 Jul 2011
My MIFF experience got off to a cracking start, thanks to the inimitable Aki Karismaki and his latest Le Havre. It starts off looking and feeling like a Bunuel film from the 70s, with its surreal tone and absurd humour.
It's safe to say that not many directors would think of making a comedy out of the story of an illegal immigrant African boy trying to dodge the authorities in the French port town of Le Havre in an attempt to meet up with his mother in London.
Yet Karismaki pulls it off with charm and grace. He may have travelled down from Finland to the north of France, but the landscape here is still filled with quietly eccentric characters that are clearly created with love, and his favourite cinematic canine muse, Laika, is back in a pivotal supporting role.
Destined to be a crowd pleaser, this is a disarming treat.
This review of Le Havre (2011) was written by Tom D on 21 Jul 2011.
Le Havre has generally received positive reviews.
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