The plot to "Le Havre" is very, very simple...perhaps too simple. A guy who makes a few bucks shining shoes comes upon a young African kid who is running from the immigration authorities. Instead of turning him in, he helps the kid. At first, the help is pretty simple--such as bringing him food and letting him stay at his home. However, later the man is so interested in the kid that he travels to see the boy's grandfather--and ends up promising to get the young man to London to meet his mother. During all this, the shoeshiner's wife is in the hospital--apparently dying of cancer. How does all this work out? See the film.
As I mentioned above, the plot is extremely simple. While illegal immigration is a complex issue, here in this film it's simple--break the law. The immigration officers are evil and it's up to the people to stop them. I would have MUCH preferred a film that talks about the pros and cons of unrestricted immigration instead of one that boils it down to simplistic and emotional answers. Overall, a decent film due to the acting but one that I think it a bit overrated.
As I mentioned above, the plot is extremely simple. While illegal immigration is a complex issue, here in this film it's simple--break the law. The immigration officers are evil and it's up to the people to stop them. I would have MUCH preferred a film that talks about the pros and cons of unrestricted immigration instead of one that boils it down to simplistic and emotional answers. Overall, a decent film due to the acting but one that I think it a bit overrated.