Bienvenue à Marly-Gomont

A great family movie to depict a very difficult start for this family. Great writing to describe humble pride, lightness and forgiveness. The lead character is excellent. The build-up of his emotions is very well built. I just shouted of rage at the same as he did in complete symbiosis with his struggles! Haha

This film is based on the real story of Seyolo Zantoko, a doctor of Congolese origin who installed his doctor's office in the village of Marly-Gomont amnd stayed there with his famille from 1970 to 2009. A touching story telling the integration of this family in this village with humour (the white cows looking at Anne , the man explaining what is a leek): little by little the family begins to be accepted and appreciated by the people of Marly-Gomont. The performances of Marc Zinga (Seyolo Zantoko) and Aïssa Maïga (Anne Santoko) are excellent, so as the performances of the French actors and actresses.

A film for our times, though based on true story decades ago. A black Congolese doctor relocates to French countryside with his family and face racial distancing by the locals. It's an uplifting story on how the father and the kids turn both the locals and their mother too with their talents and unconditionality. In current times when divisive tendencies are on the upswing, we need more such reinforcements.

The movie is a simple one, perhaps made with modest means. But it is highly effective at what it attempts.

The acting, especially of the female lead is very good. And the kids as well as the male lead are delightful. The villagers all play their role well.

Summary: A medical student in Paris, originally from Africa (Zaire/Congo, to be specific), turns down the opportunity to return to his homeland and work for the ruling kleptocracy. Instead, in pursuit of French residency, he agrees to set up a practice in a small town in rural France. Hilarity ensues.

No, really. Believe it or not, the film is largely a comedy. The writers (including the real-life son of the main character) made a clear choice to make this film as light-hearted as possible. Frankly, that was a stiff challenge. The film could easily have been far darker. Perhaps it should have been - but that would be a different film.

Dr. Zantoko (Marc Zinga in an impressive, enjoyable performance) takes on xenophobia, racism, annoying in-laws, marital strife, parenthood, unpaid bills, and small-town politics, rarely letting any of it get him down.

Zantoko's family (Aissa Maiga, Bayron Lebli, and Medina Diarra) also turn in winning performances.

I was less enamored with the performances of the townspeople. But that is probably colored by the negative characteristics they were called on to exhibit. So maybe they gave great performances??? (FWIW, Jonathan Lambert did a great job as the smarmy, back-stabbing politician.)

If I'm going to criticize something, it's the redemption arc for the town itself. This film tries to pull that off, with some unlikely deus-ex-machina events bringing everyone together for the happy ending.

I get it - the makers wanted an upbeat, feel-good film. Thing is, I've seen plenty of films where the charming, off-beat townsfolk eventually come together with the heroic outsider. Here, the film only made half the sale - I bought the family, but not the town.

The townspeople here aren't charming or off-beat - they're just xenophobic imbeciles. And frankly, if they were anything close to what was shown here, they DIDN'T deserve Dr. Zantoko, in the film or in real life.

But don't let that criticism steer you away. All in all, this was an enjoyable view into worlds that you don't see in American cinema at all, and only rarely in French cinema.

This movie was heart-warming, funny, sad, and eye-opening, all at once. Showing the difficulties faced by an African family in rural France, in being accepted into the community. It's been on my watch list for a long time, and I'm glad I finally took the time to get around to watching it! Relatively clean, so would be appropriate for children who are old enough to have discussion and understanding of the themes in the movie.