Tombés du ciel (1993)
Directed by Philippe Lioret

Film Review

With its unusual setting, off-the-wall plot and bizarre mix of characters, Tombés du ciel is an unsettling black comedy.  Based on a true story, the film shows a slice of life which only an unfortunate minority of souls see or endure - indeed one which is so unfamiliar to most people's everyday experience that it seems downright surreal.  A solid performance from Jean Rochefort adds to the quirky appeal and humanity of the film, which marks the directorial debut for Philippe Lioret.  The latter's inexperience shows up in the film's painfully static second half and some awkward moments of contrived sentimentality.  The film is most memorable for the tender rapport which Rochefort's character strikes up with a small black boy (played by Ismaïla Meite).   For an even darker view of the hidden airport sub-culture, see Roch Stéphanik's 2000 film, Stand-by.  The film was remade in 2004 by Steven Spielberg as The Terminal.

Film Synopsis

Arturo Conti's plans for celebrating the New Year in France with his Spanish wife go seriously awry when he arrives at Roissy airport in Paris without any form of identification.  His misfortunes began just before he caught his plane in Montreal, when a thief ran off with all of his money and his passport.  Now, unable to identify himself, he finds himself stuck at immigration control, and the fact that he has dual nationality doesn't help matters.  It will be some time before the matter can be resolved and he can be allowed into the country - and the fact that he has arrived just before a national holiday is only likely to delay things further.

For the time being, as the wheels of bureaucratic inefficiency creek lethargically in the background, Arturo is stranded at the airport for an indefinite period.  Accepting the situation as stoically as he can, the 60-year-old man begins to look around the area that has been set aside for illegal immigrants and people in his unfortunate predicament.  He strikes up an acquaintance with a black child, Zola, and several other curious individuals.  This is definitely not how Arturo envisaged spending the last few days of the year, but he welcomes the opportunity to explore a strange new world...