Newton Ramalho
colunaclaquete@gmail.com - www.colunaclaquete.blogspot.com - @colunaclaquete
Movies of the Week: "A
Love to Hide" and "Welcome"
Although with nuances of all kinds, I believe that the root of all
humanity's problems lies simply on intolerance, this feeling that causes
everything bad that surrounds us always. By coincidence, this weekend I saw two
French films that prove this theory, although they deal with different
issues.The films are "A Love to Hide" and "Welcome".
The title, "A Love to Hide" leads to this controversial drama,
which revolves around a Jewish girl and her gay friends, two dangerous and
deadly conditions anywhere under the domination Nazi, during World War II.
Sarah (Louise Monot) was a French Jewish girl whose family was murdered
by a man who was willing to help them to escape. She found shelter with her
childhood friend Jean Lavandier (Jérémie Renier), with who she had a teenage
love affair. Jean, meanwhile, was living a forbbiden affair with Phillipe
(Bruno Todeschini), in whose house he gives a secure place to Sarah.
The trio live well despite the Nazi occupation and the earnest
collaboration of many French who did not hesitate to denounce Jews and steal
the goods from those who fled. Among these is Jacques (Nicolas Gob), the
younger brother of Jean, which causes a tragedy when denouncing his brother for
being in love with Sarah.
The film shows this side of the war that many prefer to forget, the
collaboration of many French with enemies, and the cruel manner in which
homosexuals in Germany and occupied countries were treated, being sent to
concentration camps where they were submited to experiments, lobotomies and
executions.
It is estimated that between 90 and 100 thousand homosexuals were sento
to camps, of which 15 thousand were executed.The French law of 1942 which
criminalized homosexuality was lifted only in 1981.
The second film, "Welcome", deals with a more recent problem,
illegal immigrants trying to reach England, but find in France difficult
choices to get to their final destination.
It is strange to know that France, a country with a tradition to welcome
political and persecuted refugees, kept in his Foreigners Entry and Stay Code
some articles penalizing with imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 euros citizens
that help, transport or shelter any illegal immigrant. But questions concerning
immigrants are not limited to laws and authorities, but also to attitudes of
the French themselves.
In the film we find young Iraqi Kurdish Kalil (Firat Ayverdi) in the
last stage of the long journey that brought him from Iraq towards England,
where he hopes to meet his girlfriend Mina (Derya Ayverdi).
In Calais, the nearest French city of England, only 32 kilometers
separate the two countries, at the narrowest point of the English Channel. The
problem is that all modes of transport are highly monitored, the most frequent
smuggling of persons in cargo trucks.
To avoid supervision that detects the presence of people through the CO2
level, illegal immigrants put plastic bags over their heads. This ends up being
a problem for Kalil, who was traumatized after spending eight days tied up and
with a bag over his head on the border of Turkey. They are discovered, taken to
court and marked with indelible ink on the hand, which resembles tattoos of
Nazi concentration camps.
The similarities do not stop there, they are prevented from shopping at
markets, they are beaten by the police, and any French to help them is
denounced by the neighbors themselves.
Simon Calmat (Vincent Lindon) is a swimming teacher who lives oblivious
to these dramas, immersed in his own life, shaken by the separation of his wife
Marion (Audrey Dana), by whom he is still in love.
Simon meets Kalil by chance, who is determined to use another way to get
to England: crossing the English Channel by swim.Simon tries to convince him to
give up the idea, because only professional swimmers, with a good support team
managed to accomplish the feat, but the young man is even decided.
Although the film is 2009, the conditions of migrants in Calais only got
worse with time, although the humanitarian efforts to improve the living
conditions of those people who just lost everything, are harassed around the
clock, and still are accused of being terrorists.
These two films show the strength of French cinema that remains one of
the world's best, not only by the number of films produced, but also for daring
in the way important issues are presented to the public.
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