vanillabean349 In many ways, this film does a very good job of portraying what life is like for refugees. The unsettling scenes where Bilal and several other men must keep plastic bags tightly over their heads to prevent authorities from detecting their presence are realities for some people who have been forced to flee their home countries to seek refuge elsewhere. Likewise, the film depicts what life is like in refugee camps like the "Jungle" in Calais to a reasonable degree of accuracy, including the barbed wire fence, meager infrastructure and sanitation, and police brutality that was not uncommon.In addition to this, the harshness of French policy and the discriminatory sentiments seen in the film are also true to life. Many refugees often hope to reach Britain where they may have more opportunities to rebuild their lives, but must take the journey across Europe, often ending up in northern France. However, often times, these refugees are not able to make the journey across the Channel, and become stuck in cities like Calais. The French government has attempted to prevent the formation of camps like the Jungle through harsh policies and attitudes toward refugees. This type of alienation and discrimination is seen throughout the film as well. Despite the praise that this film deserves for its accuracy, the story it tells is relatively far-fetched. In a city like Calais where tensions between refugees and citizens would be highest, it is unlikely that someone like Simon Calamat would be the savior that he is in the film. This story is an exceptional case. Also, I was somewhat disappointed as a viewer how the Lioret takes the time to illustrate the hardships that Bilal and others in the camp have faced then shifts the focus to Simon's cliché relationship with his ex-wife. I was drawn in by Bilal's story, and it was somewhat frustrating to see the film revert to classic cinematic themes. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed this film, and appreciate its humanizing message.

efishbin To be stuck in a "camp system" does not always mean you are confined to the borders of a fence or walls. In Bem-Vindo, Bilal could not escape the restrictions in France and was not able to go onto a better place of settlement. He was truly stuck, putting him in a position of desperation. Because he was willing to do anything to get to England, he viewed the impossible as not only possible, but as a necessity. Swimming across the Channel became more than a lofty mission for Bilal, it became an obsession. The movie had a few scenes that seemed in line with the historicity of Bilal's situation. He mentioned being tortured by the Turkish Army, saying that they had put a bag over his head for eight days. Also, a troubling situation that was depicted in the movie was the fact that neighbors could not always be trusted if you tried to help out a refugee like Bilal. When Mr. Calmat took in Bilal, Calmat's neighbor reported him to the authorities and got him arrested for aiding a refugee. The scenes of the refugees lining up for food and living in the woods were also noteworthy. There seemed to many complicated relationships between the refugees themselves. Some were very supportive of each other, whether it was because they were from the same town or not was not always said. However, there were tense relationships that built up because of financial struggles. Anytime money was involved, controversy followed. When Bilal could not keep his bag on when they were first attempting to get to England, another refugee wanted Bilal to reimburse his lost bribe to be on the truck. When they were brought in and registered in the system, they had to give fingerprints and were also marked with a number. This is similar to other camp systems at different time periods around the world, and sometimes refugees would have to mutilate their fingerprints to avoid being caught a second time under the same identity. As shown in the film, the first offense is much less serious than the second. Bilal never got to England, and the movie succeeds in showing the harshness of a refugee's life when they are stuck somewhere in the middle of their journey. The refugees would not be returned to their home country's if caught, but the standard of living in places like Calais and the opportunities available were far less than what they would be in a city like London.

mcgrew09 "Welcome" is by far my favorite French film that I have ever seen. My favorite thing about this film is the strong characters. The way the movie shows Balil makes you feel for him, and they make you root for him the whole way through the movie. The swim instructor Simon is also a strong willed character, and a great friend to Balil who you like right off the bat of the movie. The director Phillippe Lioret really outdoes himself in this film. He has won many awards for his work, and "Welcome" is no exception. He is best known for his work on films like "Tombes du ciel", and "All our desires" One Idea that I really like about this film is the love aspect. I love how Balil swimming across the English channel is all about him getting to a girl. It makes the film that much more exciting, and if he wanted to cross the channel for any other reason it wouldn't have been as exciting. The idea of love is what makes Balil keep going, and working hard to get to his love. The other idea that is a huge one in this film is immigration. The country of France really frowns upon immigrants. In the USA some people do as well but France takes it to an extreme in this film. A perfect example is when the cops stop Simon, and ask him about Balil and his friend. What were they doing spying on the man? That had to have been to see him pick up the immigrants. Thats an example but, I find it to be a very unrealistic scene for that to happen. How do the cops in the first place even know that they were immigrants? That scene drove me crazy. I really like how Simon, and his ex wife help out the refugees. Another example of that is at the supermarket when the security guard wouldn't let them in, and Simons ex stood up to him. In terms of French culture besides the movie being in French you can see the culture through the Immigration scenes, and how frowned upon it is there. Another really big French theme scene in the film I might be wrong about but, I feel like most French people are very hospitable. Simon, and his Ex are constantly trying to help Balil and his friends in the film even though it is frowned upon.

brodek09 Welcome is a film that does not follow what you would expect of a movie about illegal immigration. Rather than portraying this young man's story while glossing over the especially gruesome parts of life as a refugee, it faces them directly, and this is refreshing from many American movies which have a distinctly "Disney" happily-ever-after approach. I liked also that the film focused on a refugee who is so determined to cross the English Channel. The viewer not only sees that he is determined to learn how to swim, but also faces the daily challenge of being hated by the people on the towns of coastal France who are being inundated by illegal immigrants. Philippe Lioret, the director of this film, had his start in the movie business by being a sound mixer and script editor in the 1980s. In the early 90s he started directing full-length films. He became interested in the situation of refugees in France, and wanted to make a movie talking about the hardships that they face. He spent six weeks among illegal immigrants, getting to intimately know their situations. The film was screened for parliament, pleading against the harsh laws that are imposed upon aiding refugees. Although this did not sway the government, the film did win a Lux Prize. The ideas presented in this film were very diverse and complex. One idea is one of treating all human beings as though they are equal. In this film, there is a lot of injustice towards the illegal immigrants, but Simon does what is right and aids his fellow man. Another idea presented in this film is the one that friendship found in unlikely places can help support people through their most difficult points of life. Simon is going through a divorce and Bilal is a refugee, but they manage to help one another in their own ways. I think that the whole topic is something that is something that is very controversial in France right now. Many people are divided on the issue of either saving these refugees, or getting overrun by them because of their kindness if they do. Another French aspect of this film is the way that the story flows. In an American movie, there would be the focus of the love story in most cases. However, this focuses on the struggles of the two lovers and eventually ends very sadly. An American movie would not be reviewed well because there is a sense of needing to have a happy ending in a film made in the United States.