The immigration issue is a big issue in this country at the moment. Each day it seems a boat load of asylum is spotted off our coast. Now we get to see how another country deals with it.
The French situation is a little different. They are just trying to prevent people getting to England across the channel. Being part of Europe like they are it is easy for people to just walk across it. I'm not sure what the border protection is like at each country they pass through along the way but it must be easy to cross. The thing that appealed to me most about this film is the reason for Bilal is trying to get to London. I'm a big sucker for grand romantic gestures and you can't get much grander than this. The fact that this kid is learning to swim in order to swim across the channel to be with the girl he loves is so sweet. The friendship he develops with Simon is also excellent. I was surprised however at the way Simon helps his new friend. Simon does not seem to do much to hide how he is helping Bilal. So him getting caught by the authorities is inevitable. I was confused over some of the legal issues brought up as well.
I see quite a few French films so I may have seen Vincent Lindon before but I can't recall him. He is excellent in this film and brings great emotion to his role as he sacrifices his life to help a young man he does not know. Firat Ayverdi is also excellent as the young man determined to reach the one he loves.
A great drama that shows the power of friendship and love while dealing with some issues that most countries are trying to deal with at the moment.
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