User Reviews

An epic story of an arabic family in France, how France kept this family for better and for worse, and the dream of going home that suffocates qader all the time, he always feel that he doesn't belong to this place, on the the other hand his family became a part of this place, and won't leave it under any circumstances.

And ever time he tries to go home France sucks him more deeply, and the time he was this close to see his land he was dead on the land where he didn't even want to live on it. It is so touching 3-hour film describes the lives of millions of immigrants all over the world.

I recommend it very badly.

Another title taken from the french singer Renaud which is the proof of his talent to feel the french society. All his lyrics from this funny song depict the way of life in social housing with the multitude of next door neighbors and thus it's also a brilliant resume of this TV movie.

Actually, it has two episodes and i have seen only the last. I suppose that in the first, the family arrives in France and participates in the dramatic and shamefully kept hidden demonstration of 17 October 1961 (the one in which our democratic and unpunished state has killed at least 30 opponents). So, now, the family gets old and the future of the kids is the main question.

With this angle, the movie is actually excellent as it encompasses all the facts that could arise. I can talk in full knowledge because I knew a family with this same past: they emigrated from Moroco in 1968, the illiterate husband working sites, the housewife looking after the children who slowly and surely adopts a new way of life as they better understand this new culture. Beyond them, this movie fits indeed the opinions saying those years time were better: those social buildings were shining new then, unemployment, xenophobia, community demands were less strong and neighbors stood together.

Maybe the movie seeks too much to bring tears but at least, it's honest and has sincere values. In addition, the cast is really talented, from the kids to the parents. Maybe Leila appears too young to be the mother or she seems to be as old as her daughter but their fate quickly grips you and you forget this.

It would be great if a sequel could be made because as i have told, french society has dramatically evolved in the 80s, 90s and the new millennium and this family would have face new challenges.