SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Maidexpl Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

kj4 Welcome, a tragic and heartbreaking tale of a 17-year old refugee from Iraq named Bilal, is a story about his attempt to cross the English channel from the French port city of Calais to a better life on the other side. Despite his best efforts, Bilal is unable to keep a plastic bag over his head, a necessity if he were to cross the channel by hiding in a truck in order to avoid carbon dioxide detectors designed to catch refugees. Swimming at the local pool after a failed attempt to cross in a truck, Bilal meets swimming instructor Simon Calmat, played by Vincent Lindon. In secret hope of swimming across the English channel, Bilal signs up for swimming lessons with him, and gradually the two form a genuine, though occasionally troubled relationship. Simon Calmat's character certainly has struggles of his own, and Vincent Lindon does a good job of displaying loneliness, sadness, and anger from his divorce that simmer underneath his character's tough veneer. Bilal and Simon seem to find each other at exactly the right time - Simon gives Bilal hope, and in return, Bilal gives Simon purpose and something to care about again. The ending, in which Bilal is 800 meters from the British shore and drowns as he is chased by the British coastguard, is an absolutely heartbreaking ending to a story in which the audience dared beyond belief to have hope. After Bilal's death, Simon goes to London to meet with Mina, the girl that Bilal was trying so hard to reach, and it is at this point that the idea of freedom is brought front and center. The ease with which Simon, a French citizen, is able to cross the English channel, which Bilal died trying to do, is eye-opening. Though technically not imprisoned, the refugees in the jungle of Calais are effectively trapped, and their mobility utterly restricted by their lack of official documentation. They are stuck in a holding pattern, with little hope for getting out. It is a harsh reality that a human being is not free unless they have paperwork saying they are allowed to be. Welcome reveals not only the complexities and nuances of each and every individual person, but how essential freedom is, and how for some, it is quite literally a matter of life and death.

shannonclare Calais, France has been a major refugee hub for decades as it has the port as well as the Channel Tunnel, the easiest way to get from France to England. Over the decades that refugees have been migrating, they have been attempting to access the UK by means of the Channel Tunnel and have created a camp, known as "The Jungle" which is a largely unregulated area in which refugees reside while they find the resources and courage to make their way to England. "Vem Vindo," or "Welcome" to English audiences follows the story of a single Kurdish refugee named Bilal who is trying to get to England, not only to find a better economic future, but more importantly for him, to reunite and marry his girlfriend. The film starts with Bilal's first attempt at gaining access to England, but he unfortunately fails, causing others to be captured and he himself captured, fingerprinted, and tried. As a political refugee Bilal is not repatriated to his home country, but is not granted any form of citizenship or status in France and becomes bound to the country through fingerprinting. The director, Phillipe Lioret, does a good job of portraying the isolation that refugees feel as a result of stigmatization by the French government and media sources, but he also incorporates the public empathy through the characters of Simon and Marion. Simon, a former swimming champion is reluctant to help the refugees, but after being reprimanded by his ex-wife, Marion, he welcomes Bilal and trains him to attempt to swim across the English Channel and escape his circumstances in France. Although this film is heartwarming and highlights the support many locals in Calais give to refugees, it is unfortunately the rare exception rather than the standard for refugees. The film does little to depict the actual horrors of "The Jungle" and the ways in which linguistic separation, fear, lack of resources, and governmental antagonism interact to create a lawless area in which many become stuck forever. "The Jungle" is much more than some men sleeping on the streets and robbing each other for resources. "The Jungle" is a full-fledged camp, simply without the walls and the organizational structures to support it. As such, "The Jungle" has transformed into a small society, with those of the same ethnicity and language helping each other, while also trying to do what's best for themselves. The film left these aspects of the Jungle largely unexplored, however, they are more representative of the true camp experience than a lucky, young boy who is able to sleep on a couch, take showers, and learn how to swim; the mainstream audience would rather see the latter. Although the film is flawed, it does do well to depict certain aspects of refugee life and the general governmental antagonism of refugees. The film depicts should be rewarded for depicting an often overlooked camp by US society and one that many may not think of as there are no physical bounds except for the dreaded Channel Tunnel.

brodek09 Welcome is a film that does not follow what you would expect of a movie about illegal immigration. Rather than portraying this young man's story while glossing over the especially gruesome parts of life as a refugee, it faces them directly, and this is refreshing from many American movies which have a distinctly "Disney" happily-ever-after approach. I liked also that the film focused on a refugee who is so determined to cross the English Channel. The viewer not only sees that he is determined to learn how to swim, but also faces the daily challenge of being hated by the people on the towns of coastal France who are being inundated by illegal immigrants. Philippe Lioret, the director of this film, had his start in the movie business by being a sound mixer and script editor in the 1980s. In the early 90s he started directing full-length films. He became interested in the situation of refugees in France, and wanted to make a movie talking about the hardships that they face. He spent six weeks among illegal immigrants, getting to intimately know their situations. The film was screened for parliament, pleading against the harsh laws that are imposed upon aiding refugees. Although this did not sway the government, the film did win a Lux Prize. The ideas presented in this film were very diverse and complex. One idea is one of treating all human beings as though they are equal. In this film, there is a lot of injustice towards the illegal immigrants, but Simon does what is right and aids his fellow man. Another idea presented in this film is the one that friendship found in unlikely places can help support people through their most difficult points of life. Simon is going through a divorce and Bilal is a refugee, but they manage to help one another in their own ways. I think that the whole topic is something that is something that is very controversial in France right now. Many people are divided on the issue of either saving these refugees, or getting overrun by them because of their kindness if they do. Another French aspect of this film is the way that the story flows. In an American movie, there would be the focus of the love story in most cases. However, this focuses on the struggles of the two lovers and eventually ends very sadly. An American movie would not be reviewed well because there is a sense of needing to have a happy ending in a film made in the United States.

ringnew1 Vincent Lindon is again excellent in this simple and compelling story about a young man trying to travel to meet someone he loves but caught in a suspicious, racist and corrupt immigration system. Firat Ayverdi is also extremely good and believable in his role. The film has almost a documentary-like style that allows the viewer to be drawn in without forcing the emotional content. The film has a slow pace but manages to make that work and almost help the story. And as it reaches the late parts of the film the intensity increases. It's a simple story, but Lindon handles all the scenes with an absolutely natural approach and he manages to give the story even more dimension.