No offense Finland, but you seem kind of weird.
An odd sense of humor pervades this film about a Syrian refugee trying to find his sister while dealing with his own struggles as an undocumented immigrant in Finland. He's befriended and aided by an aging restaurateur and his motley staff. There are lots of dead pan moments, and you're forgiven if you're not always sure whether or not you're supposed to be laughing.
One thing that struck me about this film was the vast difference between what Americans are told about European countries and their attitudes about refugees and how those countries actually feel about them. America has been shamed for not opening its doors to those in need, and I agree that it should more than it does. But we're told that Europe is altruistic and warmly embraces those fleeing from other countries. Not so in Finland, if this movie is any indication. Immigration officials roam the streets asking people for their papers, and something resembling the White Nationalist Movement seems to exist there as well, full of thugs who go around beating up people who look foreign.
I enjoyed this movie, but couldn't help but feel that it missed some opportunities to be a bit more hard hitting than it is.
Grade: B+
An odd sense of humor pervades this film about a Syrian refugee trying to find his sister while dealing with his own struggles as an undocumented immigrant in Finland. He's befriended and aided by an aging restaurateur and his motley staff. There are lots of dead pan moments, and you're forgiven if you're not always sure whether or not you're supposed to be laughing.
One thing that struck me about this film was the vast difference between what Americans are told about European countries and their attitudes about refugees and how those countries actually feel about them. America has been shamed for not opening its doors to those in need, and I agree that it should more than it does. But we're told that Europe is altruistic and warmly embraces those fleeing from other countries. Not so in Finland, if this movie is any indication. Immigration officials roam the streets asking people for their papers, and something resembling the White Nationalist Movement seems to exist there as well, full of thugs who go around beating up people who look foreign.
I enjoyed this movie, but couldn't help but feel that it missed some opportunities to be a bit more hard hitting than it is.
Grade: B+