Here is the sunniest film I've seen by Aki Kaurismaki, and he reveals a lot of sunshine inside for a director whose world is usually filled with deadpan losers.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Jan 7, 2020

It's pure Kaurismäki, a graceful, deeply humanist work, and very tough despite its limpid beauty...

Full Review | Aug 27, 2019

Le Havre is brought to life by its raw, hopeful humanity; it feels close and real despite its deliberate distance.

Full Review | Jul 9, 2018

We are so held by the film's impact that its ending, surprise or not, is like a bonus.

Full Review | Jun 19, 2013

The result is both charming and purposeful.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 6, 2012

No other director could maintain this degree of optimism while telling such a superficially grim story.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 5, 2012

It's a satisfying and distinctively lovable film.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 5, 2012

Kaurismki clearly knows this is a fantasy, and it's a perfectly pleasant one at that.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 5, 2012

A gorgeous hymn to the struggles of the working man.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 5, 2012

I was on cloud nine throughout the film: that place of Technicolored rapture where Kaurismki fans dwell, and where past, present and oneiric future are rolled celestially into one.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 4, 2012

Endearingly quirky, just this side of precious, but so warm and deftly executed that you go along with it.

Full Review | Mar 7, 2012

"Le Havre" is a passing fancy of a film, but it passes quite nicely indeed.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jan 13, 2012

'Tis the season, so the saying goes. And when it comes to Aki Kaurismki, it holds true. The Finnish writer-director arrives bearing a gift wrapped in a contemporary immigration fable.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Dec 2, 2011

If the bummers and ambiguity of some of this season's movies are getting you down - or, hey, just the bummers and ambiguities of life - make your way to Le Havre. You won't be sorry.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 25, 2011

The Finnish director's sense of humor is dry and dark as pitch, as he consistently finds moments of absurdity in the midst of strife and tragedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 10, 2011

You almost become a citizen of Le Havre, watching this film and rejoicing at the end as two newfound, unexpected friends share a drink.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 10, 2011

Kaurismki wrote the script, I think, with secret credit from Mother Goose and some fabric softener.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 10, 2011

"Le Havre" is a small bit of movie magic, a story that plays more as a fable even as it deals with something as topical as immigration.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 10, 2011

Le Havre is not the filmmaker's best work (see La Vie de Bohme for that), but no matter the storm, we should be grateful to dock in this port.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 4, 2011

The film is especially comforting if you love old movies, as Kaurismaki does.

Full Review | Nov 3, 2011