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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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Illegal Immigrants, Shoe Shines, Gendarmes and Le `Live Aid' avec `Little Bob'!
25 Aug 2012
By Tommy D
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
This is one of those feel good films that has something for nearly everyone. It is bout Marcel Marx Andre Wilms (`Europa, Europa' -also excellent), who scratches a living doing shoe shines in the port of Le Havre. He has a coterie of friends, mostly poor, and a doting wife Arletty, who is covering up her illness from him.
One day a runaway illegal immigrant or `irregular' as we now say comes to his attention. Whilst the media portray this boy, Idrissa, as a possible terrorist, Marcel sees a frightened lonely child who needs help. Despite being chased by the police, Marcel takes all the risks he can to help him. The boy's mother is in London and that is where he wants to get, but with no money and no clue of how to do so.
What happens next is both life affirming and heart warming, some may say too much so. However I was swept along by this beautifully paced and told story. The acting is all spot on, and I particularly like the lack of pretty actors, this is a proper slice of life and has a very cosmopolitan attitude to modern day France and its attitude to immigration. We even get a sort of charity gig at one point which is where `Little Bob' comes in and he makes `the Stones' look a bit spritely - God bless him.
Directed and written by Aki Kaurismaki this is one of those films that will leave you with a nice war feeling inside and a desire to see more of his films, which are not prolific enough. So if a bit of Gallic spirit and humour all wrapped up in a feel good factor is your thing then you really can not go wrong with this brilliant piece of cinema.
One day a runaway illegal immigrant or `irregular' as we now say comes to his attention. Whilst the media portray this boy, Idrissa, as a possible terrorist, Marcel sees a frightened lonely child who needs help. Despite being chased by the police, Marcel takes all the risks he can to help him. The boy's mother is in London and that is where he wants to get, but with no money and no clue of how to do so.
What happens next is both life affirming and heart warming, some may say too much so. However I was swept along by this beautifully paced and told story. The acting is all spot on, and I particularly like the lack of pretty actors, this is a proper slice of life and has a very cosmopolitan attitude to modern day France and its attitude to immigration. We even get a sort of charity gig at one point which is where `Little Bob' comes in and he makes `the Stones' look a bit spritely - God bless him.
Directed and written by Aki Kaurismaki this is one of those films that will leave you with a nice war feeling inside and a desire to see more of his films, which are not prolific enough. So if a bit of Gallic spirit and humour all wrapped up in a feel good factor is your thing then you really can not go wrong with this brilliant piece of cinema.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Wonderful, evocative, gritty French film about loyalities and neighbourhoods, about bending the rules and happy endings. You can almost smell the cigarette smoke wafting up from the ashtrays, taste the crispy french bread and savour the sharp dry red wine. The characters are solid, realistic and stoical. It will make you question your own attitude to sterotypes and the immigration 'problems' of France and the UK, and will touch you with its honest, heart-warming story. Even viewing in French with subtitles doesn't take away the pleasure of this film. First rate. I can't wait for it to be out on DVD as I plan to watch it again and again.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By GlynLuke
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
The droll Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki hadn`t made a film since Lights In The Dusk in 2006, and frankly I was having severe withdrawal symptoms. His last couple of films were a tad disappointing, so it`s good to be able to say that he is back at his deadpan best with this touching tale of an elderly man, Marcel, and a young refugee African boy, Idrissa, in the northern French port of the title.
This is a somewhat gentler work than some of Kaurismaki`s other films, though it has the same mixture of a kind of bleak compassion and mordantly dispassionate observation of working-class people in all their flawed, random multifariousness - `Lord, what fools these mortals be`, indeed.
The plot is minimal, but the rewards to be had from this film of modest marvels are many, not least the central performances by the imposing Andre Wilms as Marcel, and Blondin Miguel as the boy. In fact, Wilms is both subtle and unselfishly restrained as the rather reluctant father figure. The ways in which his neighbours aid and abet his efforts are unsentimentally heartening, and often humorous.
It`s a lovely film to look at too. It lingers in the memory more like a play might, with its backstreet setting - as well as forays to the harbour - and scenes in various bars and shops, as Marcel tries to keep the authorities from discovering the boy.
If you like - or love as I do - this director`s films, you`ll fall for this return to form. If only more directors had the uncluttered honesty, unforced humour, and lack of self-importance of Kaurismaki.
Oh, and there`s a brief scene involving an investigator and a pineapple that made me laugh out loud.
Welcome back, Aki!
This is a somewhat gentler work than some of Kaurismaki`s other films, though it has the same mixture of a kind of bleak compassion and mordantly dispassionate observation of working-class people in all their flawed, random multifariousness - `Lord, what fools these mortals be`, indeed.
The plot is minimal, but the rewards to be had from this film of modest marvels are many, not least the central performances by the imposing Andre Wilms as Marcel, and Blondin Miguel as the boy. In fact, Wilms is both subtle and unselfishly restrained as the rather reluctant father figure. The ways in which his neighbours aid and abet his efforts are unsentimentally heartening, and often humorous.
It`s a lovely film to look at too. It lingers in the memory more like a play might, with its backstreet setting - as well as forays to the harbour - and scenes in various bars and shops, as Marcel tries to keep the authorities from discovering the boy.
If you like - or love as I do - this director`s films, you`ll fall for this return to form. If only more directors had the uncluttered honesty, unforced humour, and lack of self-importance of Kaurismaki.
Oh, and there`s a brief scene involving an investigator and a pineapple that made me laugh out loud.
Welcome back, Aki!
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
terrible
I never thought I will write a review but this film is so disappointing. The acting is non existant. It is not worth buying.
Published 1 month ago by E. Robin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unusual feelgood movie
A very French film with a touch of humour and a surprising almost fairy-tale ending. I enjoyed the location sequences as I spent some time in Le Havre on a French exchange years... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Barb
5.0 out of 5 stars
A sad story told with humour
The central themes of Le Havre are death, illness, loneliness and illegal immigration into Europe. Despite this, it is one of the most optimistic and humorous (a dry, ironic type)... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Xenophon
1.0 out of 5 stars
A wasted opportunity
This is a curious and disappointing film. The production takes the side of illegal immigration and compassionate people who aid it without taking the opportunity to explore the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Trotamundos
3.0 out of 5 stars
SLOW
Although I enjoyed the film, it was very slow. What you think will happen, happens. Very obvious ending, bit of a strange one.
Published 2 months ago by Louisec
5.0 out of 5 stars
Le Havre
Fantastic film. Loved it. Magical realism might sum up the genre. It has unexpected humour and is altogether a delightful film.
Published 2 months ago by Wendy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Finny French
Aki Kurasmaki always seems to draw the very best from his cast. Apart from the different local, France, this is still very identifiable as a Kurasamaki film. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Peter Penn
5.0 out of 5 stars
genius direction and incredible cinematography
The story is fabulous but anyone can tell a good story. What makes this film so unique is the art direction. The detail is incredible and the acting understated and solid. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Johan RF
4.0 out of 5 stars
Caught on the fish-hook of song
Le Havre is Kaurismaki's modern fairy-story set in Normandy.It's about an elderly shoe-shine man,Marcel Marx,living with his wife,Arletty and dog,he's devoted to her despite... Read more
Published 4 months ago by technoguy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful and very French !
I enjoyed this greatly and have bought it for a friend; it is a good story and told with warmth and compassion.
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. Susanna Beer
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