There's something extremely pure about this simple yet beautiful film in which ordinary people do extraordinary things. Those who are familiar with Aki Kaurismäki's filmmaking style (who can forget his Oscar-nominated 2002 film, The Man Without a Past?), will have a pretty good idea of how effectively the writer director can tell a story with imagery and minimal dialogue. Here, the protagonist is an elderly shoe-shine man, who finds something eminently more rewarding than shoes to polish. With its uncluttered storytelling, haunting scenarios and memorable characters, this is a gem of a film with a boat-load of heart.

The skill of Kaurismäki lies in his ability to recount a story and omit anything that is superfluous. The film's title of LE HAVRE announces the story's setting and we get a glimpse of the leisurely French port where life goes on as usual for the locals as illegal immigrants arrive in ship containers. The story concerns a young African immigrant, Idrissa (Blondin Miguel), who escapes from officials and finds a sympathetic soul in Marcel Marx (André Wilms), a good-hearted man. By the time we meet Idrissa, a sweet-faced youth with a polite manner, we have already met all the locals, who know each other well and look out for each other.

There are many unforgettable scenes like the exchange between Monet and the local café owner, when profound words are exchanged over a glass of calvados.

The melancholy sound of the piano accordion echoes throughout the film and Kaurismäki injects a palpable mood. This is a film for the true film lover and one that will make the world just that little bit brighter. [EDITED]



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