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Welcome - 2009 French film directed by Philippe Lioret. Bilal is 17 years old, a Kurdish boy from Iraq. He sets off on an
adventure-filled journey across Europe. He wants to get to England to
see his love who lives there. Bilal finally reaches Calais, but how do
you cover 32 kilometers of the English Channel when you can't swim? The
boy soon discovers that his trip won't be as easy as he imagined... The crossing of the Channel is a treacherous endeavor for asylum
seekers and illegal immigrants. The Channel Passers charge an arm and a
leg (with little to no regards for safety conditions) for their
clandestine operations. If caught asylum seekers and illegal immigrants
are processed, tried, and sentenced to a life in limbo. Their status allows them to stay in Calais but they are unwelcome and
not allowed crossover to the Promised Land. Social workers are kept
under careful watch and harassed by the authorities. It is
illegal to welcome an asylum seeker in your home. Jail time is
awarded to good souls.The
community of struggling illegal aliens in Calais is captured with
authenticity, from the point of view of people who arrived there knowing
nothing about France. This immigrant drama, with wonderful performances
by the actors, is a strong story which uses documentary austerity and
minimalist style to create a great emotional impact. Stars Vincent Lindon, Firat Ayverdi and Audrey Dana. Unrated, but there is no sex or nudity, just bad language and intense themes. Audio is in French, English and Kurkish, with optional English subtitles.
Includes a free discussion guide for classroom use.
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