LE HAVRE

Finland/France, 2011, 94 minutes, Colour.
Andre Wilms, Kati Outinen, Jean- Pierre Darroussin, Blondin Miguel, Jean- Pierre Leaud, Pierre Etaix.
Directed by Aki Kaurismaki.

While the advertising title is Le Havre, emphasising the port city of Normandy, the title in other countries includes the word ‘miracle’: Miracle in Le Havre for Denmark and Italy, Le Havre Port of Hope for Mexico. But, more of that later.

The best-known of Finnish directors, Aki Kaurismaki, has tended to make films which are both very serious and, often, very funny. He made a version of La Boheme in the 90s as well as his cult classic about a touring band with oddball hairdos, Leningrad Cowboys Go America. More recently, he has filmed rather darker stories set in Helsinki, Man without a Past and Light in the Dusk. Now he has gone to France, still serious, but with a light and humorous surface, that is very engaging.

Andre Wilms is entertainingly deadpan and kindly as Marcel Marx who makes a precarious living shining shoes at Le Havre station and around the town - if he can get customers. The film opens with him cleaning a pair of shoes for an Italian man who is almost immediately shot off screen with Marcel telling his Vietnamese partner that fortunately the man had had time to pay. We get to know Marcel very well.

Marcel’s wife is loving and dutiful but ill and he takes her to hospital. In the meantime, he chats with local storeowners and at the local bar (with its sympathetic owner and a kind of odd chorus of bearded and tattooed patrons). When a young African escapes from a truck full of illegal immigrants and meets Marcel, Marcel takes him under his wing and hides him (except when he takes him out shoe-shining). A local busybody (veteran Jean- Pierre Leaud) reports him to the police. The world-weary inspector (the excellent Jean- Pierre Darroussin) pursues the case, confronts Marcel, and is instrumental in helping Marcel.

Kaurismaki also indulges his love for music by including a local concert and a song by a veteran singer, Little Bob.
Marcel is a kind man and has put himself out to help the African boy. When he goes to visit his wife in hospital, there is a wonderful surprise – and she uses the word ‘miracle’. A tree blossoms, a sign that goodness is rewarded. So, a fine blend of serious contemporary themes, what used to be called ‘Capraesque’ hopefulness, and some funny sardonic moments and characters. (Winner of the SIGNIS Europe award for 2011.)

1. An entertaining film, both comic and serious?

2. Kaurismaki and his wry comedies, power of observation, a look at outsiders? His love of contemporary music – and the concert piece?

3. Le Havre, the port, the railway station, the streets, homes, the lanes and the shops? Realistic? Musical score?

4. The visual style, the portraits, the framing of the characters, the highlighting of their expressions, the humour implicit in many of the framings?

5. The introduction to Marcel, standing waiting, his Vietnamese associate, shoe-shining, no customers? The Italian man, the shooting off-screen, the payment? His character? Jean- Pierre Leaud as the observer, calling the police?

6. Marcel in the streets, waiting for passers-by for their shoes to be cleaned, the different locations, the church and the two priests having their cigarettes and shoes cleaned, talking about the Gospels?

7. Arletty, at home, dutiful, loving, her illness, giving the money to Marcel to have an aperitif, the box with the money being saved, preparing the meal? Her falling sick, being taken to hospital, Marcel’s visit, bringing the yellow dress, not wanting to see him for two weeks during the treatment? His not visiting, his being delayed? The women and reading Kafka and putting Arletty to sleep?

8. Marcel at the bar, the odd patrons and their comments, the proprietor and her having them under control? His taking the breadstick on the way home, the vegetables and the man shutting his shop?

9. Idrissa, the truck full of migrants? His escape, in the water, seeing Marcel? His situation and Marcel taking him in? His mother in England? The interview with his grandfather and hopes for the future? The police? The observer and his phoning the police? Marcel hiding Idrissa, taking him for the shoe-shining? His being chased down the street? Hiding at home? The inspector, his visit to the house, Idrissa hiding? His being put in the vegetable cart, taken to the wharf? Marcel and the money, the dealings with the boat owner? The inspector and the police arriving, the inspector opening the hold and seeing Idrissa, his sitting on the cover, sending the police elsewhere? His keeping Idrissa safe – and his getting out of the boat, looking back at Le Havre?

10. Getting to know Marcel, his age, character, his life story? His love for his wife and concern? With the locals? Finding Idrissa? The police, the interviews with the police, the smuggler and raising the money, the efforts to get Little Bob back with his wife, to perform at the concert? The takings? Escaping from the police, taking the money his wife had saved? Idrissa and the wharf, the smuggler, Idrissa safe? The police – the conversations with the inspector?

11. The inspector, severe, not liking people much, his interview with his superior (unseen), the search, his coming to Marcel’s home, his talk with him, knowing that Idrissa was there? The hypothetical story of getting rid of the package? Going to the bar, talking with the manager, his having put her husband in jail, her husband’s death? Going to the boat, seeing Idrissa, sitting on the cover? Telling the police to search elsewhere?

12. The gallery of characters, the Vietnamese associate and his helping with the shoe-shining, with the concert, with Idrissa’s escape? The people at the bar? The comic touches?

13. Little Bob, his wife, their clash, Marcel bringing them together, the performance at the concert?

14. Marcel going to the hospital, the empty bed and the package, thinking his wife was dead? Taking him to see the doctor – her complete recovery, the doctors’ opinions, the miracle? The return home, the blossoming of the tree?

15. A film about goodness – and the reward of the miracle at the end?