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Film follows refugee's journey
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Posted: 11/01/2012
AWARD-WINNING French film Welcome (subtitles) will be the feature at Carnivale Wodonga Film on Friday, March 9, 2012 at Gateway Island.
Welcome (2009, 110 minutes duration) received 10 Cesar Award nominations including best film, director, actor, breakthrough performance, original screenplay and cinematography. London Review gave the film four stars and said it was, “Powerfully engaging. Terrific.”
To fit in with the ‘HARMONY' theme of Carnivale Wodonga this year, the film by Phillippe Lioret has a multicultural storyline. Bilal (Firat Ayverdi), a 17-year-old Kurdish refugee, has spent the last three months of his life travelling across Europe in an attempt to reunite with his girlfriend who recently emigrated to England.
The journey has been difficult, but the end is in sight when Bilal finally reaches the far north coast of France, where he can literally see the white cliffs of Dover across the English Channel. But it is here that his journey comes to an abrupt halt as local authorities, and the immigration laws they are enforcing, prevent him from going any further.
Not content with merely looking upon the country he desires to call his home, Bilal devises a plan to swim across the bitterly cold waters of the channel, and heads to the local swimming pool to commence his training. It is here that he crosses paths with Simon (Vincent Lindon), a middle-aged swimming instructor with a dejected spirit, who is privately reeling in turmoil as he dreads an imminent divorce from his wife (Audrey Dana).
Despite their differing ages, the two men discover that they have much in common, and their friendship develops into a strong bond that will prove necessary for both men to realise their dreams for a happy future.
The film will start at 7pm in Butter Factory Theatre at Gateway Village, Lincoln Causeway, Wodonga.
Prior to the film, the tenants of Gateway Village are extending their opening hours to 7pm to showcase their individual premises, and arts and crafts on offer. Musical act Vardos will also be performing outside GIGS Gallery from 5pm to 7pm. Driven by wild violin, chased by accordion and double bass, Vardos play gypsy and traditional music learnt from Roma (gypsy) musicians during their travels in Eastern Europe.
Wodonga Carnivale Film is the prelude to the main street festival at Carnivale Wodonga HARMONY held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 4pm in Wodonga's CBD. This is a free event, however, bookings are required for the film component of the night as seats are limited to 160 people. Tickets are available from the council by emailing cmclaren@wodonga.vic.gov.au with your name, email address and phone number or by phoning Chelsea McLaren on (02) 6022 9223.
