Le Havre (2011)

An elderly man gives shelter to an immigrant boy. Other characters are his gravely ill wife, a policeman, the woman who owns the bar, the woman who owns the bakery, a grocer, a boat owner, a Vietnamese immigrant, several bar patrons, a mysterious neighbor, a rock singer, a medical doctor, etc.

Those familiar with the films by this filmmaker are in for no surprise with this one. The same oversimplification of plot, and toning down of drama, the same naïve worldview. The people who entertain that worldview are vaguely socialist and strongly anti-authoritarian, as if socialism did not require strong State authority. They also are pro-working class and pro-immigration, and see no conflict there, much to the joy of Capitalists who can never get enough of new members in the reserve army of labor. Well, I will probably make no friends with these considerations, so let me stop here and say something nice. The film is watchable due to its (mostly bland) sense of humor and an easy flow of narrative.

Rating: 37