Chez nous

Seen at the Rotterdam film festival 2017 (website: www.iffr.com/en), where it was part of the Big Screen Award competition. It is a documentary in the good sense of the word, showcasing all sides and pro/con arguments, in a dramatized way, such that we can remember all the relevant issues better. Nevertheless, it still offers edible human drama and a consistent story line.

At the same time we obtain an insightful picture how difficult it is to keep your hands clean when getting involved in politics, and how sneaky it can happen that you alienate family and friends by taking a stance where nuances are bound to get lost in translation. This is especially the case when the party line takes over, needed some of the time in the interest of the greater good (they say), and to keep their long-term goals upright (they say). A candidate running for office may thus seem to change into a mere puppet on a string, hiding her own opinion where that may differ from the official program of the party she represents.

What we also see here are the side effects on her family and relationships. None of them are prepared to be thoroughly screened. Most notable are the cases of her father, who was a former communist, and her lover who is (in secret) a member of sort of a "security force" (mind the quotes). Her children are forewarned that remarks against their mother are bound to be made, and that they better ignore them. Also, while still working as a nurse before she was elected and loved by everyone, she suddenly was not welcome anymore in some of the areas where she worked before.

All the different plot lines are mixed together and combine splendidly into the overall story. Her daily work as a nurse is portrayed very well too, also showing how things change after her face appeared on TV and she became sort of tainted. Of course, nothing of what is presented in this movie is new or unexpected, but the showcase is still interesting and remains relevant nowadays. I like this category of documentaries, much better than the ones where a scholarly voice-over tells us what we should think.

All in all, a good overview of pro/con arguments around "Our land first" issues in combination with hatred against all foreign elements, be it fugitives from abroad, people with a different (non-Christian) religion, or any lifestyle out of the ordinary. I gave the maximum score 5 for the audience award when leaving the venue, as many others must have done, because it ranked 19th (out of 172 movies) with an average score of 4.306 (out or 5).

The filmakers and actors handle the subject with empathy, subtleness and a genuine care for the common people who are presented in the movie. It is refreshing viewpoint on the rise of the far right in Europe, that does not vilify the "little people" who are victims of a system that downgrades them , before falling victims the propaganda of the far right

I am European and in my mid 40s. So i know that was is said in this movie, is 100% true. In France, in Italy, in my own country Greece, hardcore racists and neonazi types transformed themselves from skinheads and weirdos wearing nazi uniforms in secret, to "proper" politicians who wear expensive suits and never use racist words. I don't think the fact that the Greek neonazi flag of Golden Dawn is shown in a scene here, is pure luck. All these racists in Southern Europe work as one. In my own country the Golden Dawn dropped the skinhead approach, entered the parliament thanks to the crisis and the anger votes, but soon saw all it's members and leaders imprisoned for running a murderous criminal organization.

In France, Le Pen is way smarter.

But she is no different. All these so called patriotic movements, are ex ultra fascists and neonazi people. And they prey upon the common folk for their votes.

Yes, Europe is confused, there are cultural clashes, but all these white knights hide a lot of their crimes from their past. Crimes against other white Europeans. Leftists, gay people, atheists, millions of white Europeans fought for centuries towards a free Europe. And always, it was the fascists who helped the tyrants against the common man and woman.

The film manages to show enough about the hypocrisy and the true character of all these white christian so called liberation movements.

It does not go deep, so i think it could be better.

But i rate it with an 8 because it is edicational.

Blind hate can never be the solution.