Laurent Lafitte – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

MEET THE BARBARIANS (TIFF 2024) – Review by Rachel West

September 16, 2024September 17, 2024 Rachel West Julie Delpy, Laurent Lafitte, Lea Domenech, Les Barbares, Matthieu Rumani, Meet the Barbarians, TIFF 2024

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.

Reviews

EVERYBODY LOVES JEANNE – Review by Nadine Whitney

August 24, 2023August 27, 2023 awfj-admin Blanche Gardin, Céline Devaux, Everybody Loves Jeanne, french films, Laurent Lafitte, Tout le monde aime Jeanne

Céline Devaux has crafted an airy and enjoyable romp which carries with it some very perceptive commentary about how we construct our inner and outer selves. Everybody Loves Jeanne is a delightful peek inside the mind of an over achiever who probably needed to fall down so she could learn who she is. It also understand the complexity of grief – whether that be grief for a parent or grief for a career and smashed dreams. Witty and brilliant, Everybody Loves Jeanne is a gift.