A low key drama with strong political and social themes, Welcome puts a human face on the key issue of illegal immigration and the fear it conjures. 

Directed with a passionate sensitivity by the acclaimed Philippe Lioret, Welcome succeeds not by using a heavy handed approach to its themes, but by imploring its viewers to look at the humanity of its situation through a well crafted and acted story of friendship between two different men.

In the process Liorett also presents the dangerous and even fatal obstacles refugees go through in order to illegally enter a foreign land. A key sequence which features a group of Kurdish immigrants “hitching” a ride at the back of an international courier truck is a thrilling scene akin to an espionage romp mixed with an all access documentary, Liorett expertly banking on the fact that even so early in the proceedings we care what happens to these men.

Newcomer Firat Ayverdi stars as Bilal, an illegal Kurdish immigrant trying to make his way to the U.K. (where his girlfriend resides), but is stuck in France. Vincent Lindon co-stars as Simon, a swimming instructor who apolitical views change thanks to the in-humane stance towards illegal immigrants by the government and the community as a whole. Simon agrees to train Bilal, who believes the only way to make it to England is to swim the Chanel.

That the very best moments in the film are those shared between the two leads is hardly surprising, since Lioret wants his film to be about friendship as much as politics (a discussion about their personal sporting achievements over a microwave pizza is a highlight).

But Lioret’s other goal is to educate, which he does well in a film that brims with a passion for the people it represents and those who are willing to break the law and help them.

Welcome is a film that does not pretend to know all of the answers, yet it does ask the right questions and will encourage discussion amongst its viewers. It should be seen for that reason alone.