Marx is satisfied with his life which revolves around his neighbourhood, his dog Laika and his local bar until his wife falls gravely ill and is sent to hospital. Meanwhile Marx takes in an underage immigrant refugee from Africa who is fleeing the authorities after escaping from a cargo container of immigrants bound for London. French actor Jena-Pierre Darroussin plays Inspector the tough cop policeman that is trying to catch him.
All the neighbourhood rallies round Marx and tries to protect the young African refugee.
Speaking at the press conference Kaurismaki said he chose to shoot the film in Le Harve because he originally envisioned a scene with a boat load of refugees from Africa coming to a port on the Mediterranean. The film follows the Kaurismaki tradition of ultra dry humour but the director spoke about the real problems of refugees and said it was a huge problem to which he had no answers. He said: "It cannot go on as it is. Italy, Greece and Spain cannot take more and more refugees and just put them into some camps somewhere. But the politicians seem to stay in their hotels and their Mercedes and not take an interest in solving these problems." He joked that the reason Finland and Sweden did not have immigration problems is that no one would want to go there.
Despite the dark humour and irony the film is filled with optimism and hope. Working in French does not impede the director's sense of dialogue and style. The actors deliver their deadpan lines with perfect feelings and timing. When the doctor tries to reassure Marx's seriously ill wife that sometimes miracles do happen she replies, "Not in my neighbourhood." But the community supports Marx when he decides to organize a rock concert to raise money. Le Harve is treated to a concert by the aging star Little Bob who is also known as Roberto Piazza.
Kaurismaki brings his signature mixed styles and eras to the film. Set in 2007 according the director, the film shows us alternately cars and phones and other items from different periods. Kaurismaki said he does not like new cars so he does not show them and pointed out that he has a 1949 Moskovich and other cars dating from the 1950's and that there is not reason that all cars have to be new. Likewise the acting style and characters look like they could also be at home in the films of the 1950's.
Le Harve is filled with dark colours and dark humour but ends up being a delightful and very audience friendly comedy.
Credits
Director and Screenplay: Aki Kaurismaki
Cast: Andre Wilms, Kati Outinen, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Blondin Miguel, ELina Salo, Evelyne Didi, Quoc Dung Nguyen, Laika
Production:Sputink Oy (www.sputnik.fi) (Finalnd), Pyramide Productions (France), Pandora Film (Germany), Arte France Cinema (France), ZDF Arte (Germany)
Foreign Sales: The Match Factory
