Dheepan

Dheepan is a 2015 French drama film written and directed by the eminent Jacques Audiard. It is an incisive exploration of the immigrant experience and a biting commentary on the aftermaths of war and displacement. The film won the Palme d’Or, the premier award at the 68th Cannes Film Festival, underlining its critical success and its impactful portrayal of political refugees striving for normalcy in unfamiliar territories.

Dheepan's plot is centered around the life of its eponymous character, portrayed convincingly by Jesuthasan Antonythasan, a former Tamil Tiger soldier from Sri Lanka. Dragged into the civil war at a tender age, Dheepan has experienced years of violence and bloodshed but decides to flee as the conflict wraps up to find safety and peace. He then embarks on an unexpected journey to start anew, as a political refugee in France.

In the chaotic refugee camp where identities are as fluid as borders, Dheepan links up with a woman, Yalini (Kalieaswari Srinivasan) and a nine-year-old orphan girl, Illayaal (Claudine Vinasithamby). They form a makeshift ‘family’ to escape the war-torn Sri Lanka, utilizing the passports of a dead family to reach Europe. Now the newly formed 'family' must navigate the intricate maze of cultural assimilation, learning new languages, and familiarizing themselves with a different way of life.

Upon their arrival in France, Dheepan finds work as a caretaker in a rough housing project on the outskirts of Paris named Le Pré, which characterizes its societal unrest and gangland troubles. All the characters grapple with their roles within the 'family,' with Dheepan and Yalini trying to maintain an appearance of matrimonial harmony for Illayaal’s sake and their collective safety.

Through Dheepan, Audiard cleverly uses a domestic lens to reflect the more significant struggles of integration. Dheepan, Yalini and Illayaal individually cope with their new environment each day. Dheepan occupies himself with work, Yalini finds employment with an elderly invalid man, while Illayaal tackles schooling in a foreign land. The bond between the trio, initially formed out of convenience, evolves into a more profound and impassionate relationship as they endure communal violence and unrest.

The film's strength lies in its ability to depict the sustained fight for survival and the universal longing for tranquility. Dheepan's breathtaking cinematography aids this, capturing the harsh realities of a city suburb while balancing the simmering tension of the story. It simultaneously enriches the narrative by juxtaposing the characters' mundane lives with their traumatic pasts, constantly reminding us of their near-constant fight for normalcy or a semblance of it.

The powerhouse performances by the leading stars of Dheepan form the backbone of this extraordinary film. Antonythasan, an ex-child soldier and political refugee himself, sends chills down the spine with a performance that is compelling and harrowing. He brings authenticity to the character, navigating Dheepan's world of persistent turmoil with profound dignity and tenacity. Srinivasan's portrayal of Yalini is equally moving. She overcomes the character's hesitance and fear with a firm, brave front, illuminating Yalini's determination and complex emotional struggle. Vinasithamby's Illayaal is endearing in her innocence and resilience, effortlessly stealing scenes with her silent but powerful performance.

Dheepan is a searing depiction of the immigrant's plight, packaged in a gripping narrative and backed by masterful performances. It delves deeply into the humanistic portrayal of refugees in modern society, offering neither sentimental simplifications nor borrowed complexities. The film does not shy away from the inherent violence in such tales, and Audiard manages to blend the possibilities of reinvention and the inevitability of the past haunting the present with masterful precision.

The film ends with a tentative note of optimism, which does not dampen the sting of reality it delivers throughout its runtime. Its close examination of socio-political issues, combined with the inherent dramatic tension, makes Dheepan an exceptional film worth every bit of the acclaim it received. While it operates on a small scale with regards to its main characters, Dheepan provides a thought-provoking gaze into the larger refugee crisis and the need for peace, making it more than just a movie but rather an impactful statement on humanity.