Directed by the incredible Jacques Audiard, the 2015 film Dheepan tells the story of Dheepan, a Tamil freedom fighter and his journey to true personal freedom.
In Sri Lanka, the Civil War is reaching its end, and defeat is near. Dheepan flees the country, taking with him two strangers also trying to leave the country – a woman and a little girl – hoping that they will make it easier for him to claim asylum in Europe.
Arriving in Paris, the ‘family’ moves from one temporary home to another until Dheepan finds work as the caretaker of a run-down housing block in the suburbs. And by suburbs, I mean way out in the sticks away from everyone. There is another kind of law in this part of the land.
He works to build a new life and a real home for his ‘wife’ and his ‘daughter’, but the daily violence from gangs in the complex quickly reopens his deep and very dark war wounds.
This forces to reconnect with his warrior’s instincts to protect the people he hopes will become his true family.
This movie is incredible! Heartbreaking. Inspiring. Eye-opening. This is a story of immigrants, of war, of politics, of poverty, and power.
Adding another amazing layer to the film, is the fact that the story on the screen is the real life story of the lead actor Jesuthasan Antonythasan. He’s playing himself! That’s some good therapy.
Audiard’s usual documentary style filmmaking put you right in the middle of the drama. It’s hard for me to go back to a regular film sometimes after watching his work. Everything else starts to feel so staged and ordinary.
If you are looking for something different, something that will hit you in the gut but lift you up, seek out Dheepan.
Available on Criterion Blu-Ray. Trailer below.
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