Le Havre: this little gem by Aki Kaurismäki is a stark reminder that the refugee crisis is not a new issue; the director deals with it in this quasi-fairytale with his usual light and very humane touch. The film is such a solar experience, as it tells the tale of a shoe shiner when he meets a young refugee, that escaped from a forgotten container on his way to London. Kaurismäki imprints it with his usual tone, and anything more could result in a broad melodrama. André Wilms plays the protagonist, a kind and warm man with some history, in a typically low-key and lovely performance; Kati Outinen plays his wife, another generous soul; Jean-Pierre Darroussin, as the police inspector in charge of looking for the escaped kid, projects enough sinisterness to be a proper antagonist.

The film is colourful, with vivid colors in the walls and props, despite how decrepit some interiors can be. Cinematographer Timo Salminen captures it all elegantly, and editor Timo Linnasalo gives the film a snappy, agile pace. The use of music is typically excellent, including the performance on-screen of a rock band.

Read what I wrote before: Le Havre