Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki is once again at the top of his game with the drolly comic LE HAVRE, winner of the FIPRESCI prize for best film at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Again re-teaming with cinematographer Timo Salminen, editor Timo Linnasalo and his usual ensemble of Finnish and Gallic actors, Kaurismaki is clearly in his comfort zone, and the result is a film of remarkable craft, wit and charm.
Set in the titular port town in northern France, LE HAVRE centres on Marcel Marx, an aspiring author and shoe-shine man who comes across an African stowaway. He takes a shine to the boy, and before long, Marx and his neighbours are doing everything they can to help him reach England’s shores. Without making light of the plight of refugees, LE HAVRE manages to turn its potentially morose subject matter into a merrily deadpan comedy, full of subtle touches and assembled with clockwork precision by a cinematic team that knows how to push its cast and crew to new heights.