Episode Details

(2010/France, 110 min., color, drama/ in French, Kurdish and English with English subtitles) Dir.: Philippe Lioret. Cast: Vincent Lindon, Firat Ayverdi, Audrey Dana, Derya Ayverdi. Bilal, a 17-year-old Kurdish refugee, has struggled his way through Europe for the last three months trying to reunite with his girlfriend, who recently emigrated to England. But his journey comes to an abrupt halt when he is stopped by authorities in Calais, on the French side of the Channel. Left with no other alternatives, he decides to swim across. Bilal goes to the local swimming pool to train, where he meets Simon, a middle-aged swimming instructor in turmoil over his imminent divorce. Simon agrees to help Bilal, hoping to win back the affection of his wife, who does volunteer work helping immigrants. But what begins as a relationship based on self interest, develops into something much bigger than Simon could ever have imagined, as he too will ultimately risk everything to reach happiness.

Discussion guest: Michelle Stewart, Purchase College.

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