MEET THE BARBARIANS (TIFF 2024) – Review by Rachel West
Immigration and refugees are a serious, hot button subject but in her latest project, Meet the Barbarians (Les Barbares), Julie Delpy trains her lens on the subject with warmth, humour, and grace.
Paimpont is a small village in Brittany with old world charm and unique cultural identity separating it from the rest of France. The town council is absolutely delighted to welcome a family of Ukrainian refugees to their village, eager to provide hospitality, comfort, and a home they so desperately need. But Ukrainian refugees are in such high demand in France, Paimpont finds itself playing host to a Syrian family of refugees instead.
The Fayad family is met with mixed reaction from the villagers upon their arrivals, with some, like teacher Joelle (Julie Delpy) welcoming them with open arms while others, like local plumber Hervé (Laurent Lafitte) have been swayed by their xenophobic preconceived notions.
Directed by Delpy who also co-wrote the script with Lea Domenech and Matthieu Rumani, Meet the Barbarians is a light-hearted and uncomplicated film that tackles some very complex issues. Anyone who has seen a film about a cultural clash will know how this story ends before the opening credits finish rolling, but nevertheless, it is a pleasant ride. The town is filled with colourful characters who may be more caricatures in extremes, but they represent that archetypes we’ve come to know well: the cheating husband, the right wing workingman, the hapless mayor, the forgotten sidekick, the outlandish old farmer, and the fish-out-of-water immigrants. Together, the cast makes the townsfolk of Paimpont work, however eccentric they may be.
It is true that Meet the Barbarians could have made more of a commentary on xenophobia, refugees, and immigration in France, but ultimately, this lighthearted romp succeeds at what it set out to achieve. Entertaining with some laugh-filled moments, one wishes there was more of an emphasis on the Fayad family as opposed to the transpirings of some of the bumbling Breton villagers.
Delpy, as an actor, writer, and director, walks a deft line between drama and comedy as she has showcased in her previous films like Two Days in New York or Two Days in Paris. It’s this charming blend of humour and progressive ideas that elevates Meet the Barbarians above your standard integration dramedy.
