JACQUES AUDIARD | FRANCE | 2015 | 110' | TAMIL, FRENCH, ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
The refugee problem is a large and urgent one. This urgency is reflected in Dheepan, French director Jacques Audiard's (Un prophète) new film that tells a strong, realistic, gritty story of a refugee's life. It made a deep impression on past Cannes Film Festival's jury, who awarded the film the main prize, The Palme d'Or.
As the Tigers' rebel army is facing defeat in the bloody civil war in Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger fighter Sivadhasan decides to flee. In the refugee camp he assumes the identity of a dead man: Dheepan. He also manages to find a woman and young girl to form a fake family, as families have a better chance of finding political asylum in Europe.
Eventually, the "family'" ends up in Paris, where Dheepan lands a job as the resident caretaker of a dilapidated housing block in a desolate, criminal suburb. All he wants is to lead a quiet life with the woman and her child, but the daily violence surrounding them opens old wounds and unleashes his inner fighter.
Jesuthasan Antonythasan as the film's protagonist in particular impresses with his intense and authentic acting presence. It is no surprise: he used to fight for the Tamil Tigers for many years.
Distribution: vanaf 3 september 2015, Lumière.
Screenings:
Venue: Rialto
SAT 22 AUG – 21:00 - closing ceremony 
Venue: De Balie
SUN 23 AUG – 17:00