Cannes favourites stick up for migrant kids in EU / Photo: Valery HACHE - AFP
-
China property giant Vanke reports annual loss of $6.8 bn
-
World economies brace for Trump tariffs ahead of deadline
-
Myanmar declares week of mourning as quake toll passes 2,000
-
Japan leads hefty global stock market losses on tariff fears
-
Yes, oui, Cannes! Glamour name eyes place in French Cup final
-
'Different energy' at Man Utd after mini-revival, says Amorim
-
Fear of aftershocks in Myanmar forces patients into hospital car park
-
Far-right leaders rally around France's Le Pen after election ban
-
Renault and Nissan shift gears on alliance
-
Hard-hitting drama 'Adolescence' to be shown in UK schools
-
Primark boss resigns after inappropriate behaviour allegation
-
Myanmar declares week of mourning as quake toll passes 2,000, hopes fade for survivors
-
Mbappe can be Real Madrid 'legend' like Ronaldo: Ancelotti
-
Saka 'ready to go' for Arsenal after long injury lay-off: Arteta
-
Aston Martin to sell stake in Formula One team
-
Three talking points ahead of clay-court season
-
French court hands Le Pen five-year election ban
-
Probe accuses ex J-pop star Nakai of sexual assault
-
Japan leads hefty global stock market losses on tariff woes
-
Saka 'ready to go' after long injury lay-off: Arteta
-
Ingebrigtsen Sr, on trial for abusing Olympic champion, says he was 'overly protective'
-
Tourists and locals enjoy 'ephemeral' Tokyo cherry blossoms
-
Khamenei warns of 'strong' response if Iran attacked
-
France fines Apple 150 million euros over privacy feature
-
UK PM urges nations to smash migrant smuggling gangs 'once and for all'
-
Thai authorities probe collapse at quake-hit construction site
-
France's Le Pen convicted in fake jobs trial
-
Chinese tech giant Huawei says profits fell 28% last year
-
Trump says confident of TikTok deal before deadline
-
Myanmar declares week of mourning as hopes fade for quake survivors
-
Japan's Nikkei leads hefty market losses, gold hits record
-
Tears in Taiwan for relatives hit by Myanmar quake
-
Venezuela says US revoked transnational oil, gas company licenses
-
'Devastated': Relatives await news from Bangkok building collapse
-
Arsenal, Tottenham to play pre-season North London derby in Hong Kong
-
Japan's Nikkei leads hefty equity market losses; gold hits record
-
Israel's Netanyahu picks new security chief, defying legal challenge
-
Trump says US tariffs to hit 'all countries'
-
Prayers and tears for Eid in quake-hit Mandalay
-
After flops, movie industry targets fresh start at CinemaCon
-
Tsunoda targets podium finish in Japan after 'unreal' Red Bull move
-
French chefs await new Michelin guide
-
UK imposes travel permit on Europeans from Wednesday
-
At his academy, Romanian legend Hagi shapes future champions
-
Referee's lunch break saved Miami winner Mensik from early exit
-
Djokovic refuses to discuss eye ailment after shock Miami loss
-
Mitchell magic as Cavs bag 60th win, Pistons and T'Wolves brawl
-
Mensik shocks Djokovic to win Miami Open
-
Duterte lawyer: 'compelling' grounds to throw case out
-
What happens on Trump's 'Liberation Day' and beyond?
NYSE - LSE
| RYCEF | -2.59% | 9.66 | $ | |
| CMSC | -0.21% | 22.415 | $ | |
| RBGPF | 1.47% | 68 | $ | |
| GSK | -1.77% | 38.065 | $ | |
| SCS | 0.27% | 11.13 | $ | |
| BCC | -0.66% | 97.655 | $ | |
| NGG | -0.06% | 65.53 | $ | |
| RIO | -2.74% | 59.4 | $ | |
| VOD | -0.69% | 9.385 | $ | |
| RELX | -0.08% | 50.12 | $ | |
| AZN | -1.71% | 72.55 | $ | |
| JRI | 0.46% | 12.93 | $ | |
| CMSD | -0.31% | 22.64 | $ | |
| BTI | 1.52% | 41.135 | $ | |
| BCE | 1.1% | 23.225 | $ | |
| BP | 0.37% | 33.985 | $ |
Cannes favourites stick up for migrant kids in EU
Two-time Cannes winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne said on Tuesday that their new film was a call for the EU to do a better job in protecting the most vulnerable child migrants.
"Tori and Lokita", one of 21 films competing for the festival's Palme d'Or top prize, tells the story of a boy and a girl from Benin who pretend to be siblings to help win asylum in Belgium.
It trains a harsh spotlight on the European system which leaves minors particularly vulnerable to exploitation and at risk of being separated from those they trust.
"These young exiles must be given the chance to study or pursue an apprenticeship at the same time, and also learn the languages of the countries which have taken them in," Luc Dardenne, 68, told AFP.
"They must be able to do this without having the sword of Damocles hanging over them -- meaning at 18 years old, you can be sent back to your country of origin."
In the movie, Lokita is a teenager who on the road to Europe meets Tori, a young boy who has been granted asylum in Belgium because he had been accused of "sorcery" at home.
The film shows many challenges faced by migrants, including extortion by people smugglers and a boss who demands sexual favours.
- 'Invent their own country' -
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, 71, told AFP that the cast of non-professional actors would help audiences to see the lives of two young migrants who have little defence against the "cruelty of domination".
"Their response to this cruelty and violence in the film is their friendship -- they invent their own country together."
Despite the ordeals they face, "they want to live and have ambitions and hopes and are resourceful and clever".
The Dardennes' hyperrealist, morally focused films have a strong track record at Cannes, scooping top honours in 1999 for "Rosetta" and in 2005 for "The Child".
They also took home the runner-up Grand Prix in 2011 for "The Kid with a Bike" and best screenplay for 2008's "Lorna's Silence".
"Tori and Lokita" was warmly reviewed after its red-carpet premiere, with Britain's Screen Daily saying the Dardennes' "empathy is undiminished and their taut, spare suspense sequences remain under-appreciated".
The Hollywood Reporter said it was the Dardennes' "most emotionally engaging film in a while -- a tragedy told with utter clarity, centered on protagonists entirely deserving of our sympathy".
The Cannes awards will be presented on Saturday.
O.Norris--AMWN
