Welcome

We have seen a lot about "The Jungle" and the desperate efforts of migrants to get from France across into the UK, with our right wing media usually portraying them as people intent on some unspecified harm.  We see them portrayed in racist negative terms, dehumanised, and with little thought given to the impact their presence has on the French people they meet.  Phillipe Lioret's 2009 movie redresses the balance, and has become ever more relevant in the intervening decade.

Bilal (Firat Ayverdi) is a 17 year old Kurd who escaped from Iran and spent 3 months crossing Europe (including a spell being tortured by Turkish police) and is now in Calais to complete the final leg of his journey.  Mina (Derya Ayverdi), his girlfriend is waiting for him in London, although her family are against the match.  But getting across, or under, the closely monitored stretch of water separating them is the hardest thing he's faced.  One desperate effort fails, so Bilal decides on an even more dangerous option - swimming La Manche.

He engages swimming instructor Simon (Vincent Lindon) to teach him.  When Simon realises his intent he tries to talk Bilal out of it, but, partly due to some words of his ex-wife, soon finds himself acting as the Kurd's father figure, giving him shelter and some serious training. 

In doing so Simon finds himself arrested and investigated, for providing aid to migrants.  Even giving one of them a lift in his car is deemed an illegal act.  Small acts of kindness and humanity have become acts against the state.  Even the policeman who questions him recognises the essentially illiberal nature of the law he is forced to uphold. 

Lioret has created a very human story, engaging our empathy with both the young lovers and the cynical but kindly Frenchman.  Lindon is wholly convincing as a man confused by his situation, but trying to find the most compassionate route through, trying to be a decent person even if it means confronting bad law, and he brings a strong truthfulness to the role.  Essential viewing for anyone who is strongly anti-immigrant.

The ironic title comes from the word on the doormat of the neighbour who reports Simon to the police.