About
Le Havre

One of the most clever pieces of Le Havre is the nationalist played by Jean-Pierre Léaud, with a stick up his ass calling the cops any time he sees Idrissa in the streets. Kaurismäki apes aspects of "french new wave" style to a beautiful effect, but uses its living symbol as a signifier of French racism - both separating himself from -- and re-appropriating -- a dated form. It makes for great parody.