Welcome (2009 film)
- Vincent Lindon: Simon Calmat
- Firat Ayverdi: Bilal Kayani
- Audrey Dana: Marion, Simon's wife
- Olivier Rabourdin: Lieutenant Caratini
- Derya Ayverdi: Mina, Bilal's girlfriend
- Yannick Renier: Simon's colleague in the swimming pool
- Mouafaq Rushdie: Minas father
- Behi Atai Djanati: Minas mother
Welcome ( also: Welcome - limit of Hope) is a feature film by French director Philippe Lioret from 2009 The premiere took place at the Berlin Film Festival on February 7, 2009.. The start date of the German version was on February 4, 2010. The director wanted to point with his film to the difficult situation of illegal immigrants in Calais trying to get to the UK, and are supported by French activists. In Germany the film was released in Arsenal Film Distribution.
Action
Simon Calmat is a swimming instructor in an indoor pool in Calais in France. He lives with his wife Marion in divorce. Simon tries, a seventeen -year-old Iraqi- Kurdish illegal immigrant, Bilal Kayani to help. Whose dream is to go to the UK, there to meet his girlfriend Mina again, who lives in London. After he and other illegals were in an attempt to get in the cargo area of a truck across the border, discovered and sent back, he is desperate. In addition, he also learns more that the strict father of his girlfriend wants zwangsverheiraten with a cousin this soon.
But then Bilal has the bright, but at the same time seemingly hopeless idea: To achieve his goal, he wants to swim across the English Channel. He takes swimming lessons with Simon. Simon gets through the support of immigrants targeted by the police. At the end Bilal actually trying to perform his daring enterprise. But just before he reached the English coast, he is discovered by the Coast Guard and drowns trying to escape.
Reviews
The Frankfurter Rundschau indicated in its 2010 review of the film as "a moving drama ." The plight of illegal immigrants get " a human face ", what it do difficult to " just keep looking the other way. "
Awards
International Film Festival Berlin 2009
- Prizes of the Ecumenical Jury
- Label Europa Cinemas
International Film Festival Warsaw 2009
- Audience Award
Lux Film Prize of the European Parliament 2009
- Lux Price
Independent Film Festival Osnabrück 2009
- Peace Film Prize of the City of Osnabrück
Gijón International Film Festival 2009
- Best Screenplay
- Special Prize of the Young Jury
Heartland Film Festival 2009
- Grand Prize for Dramatic Feature (Grand Prize for Drama )
Prix Lumière 2010
- Lumiere Award for Best Film
Sofia International Film Festival 2010
- Burgas Municipality Award ' Silver Sea - Gull '