Samba

In filmmakers Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache's Samba, charismatic actor Omar Sy stars as the title character, a gentle Senegalese man who has been living in France illegally for a decade and is now threatened with expulsion. But the plight of undocumented workers plays second fiddle here to the conventions of romantic comedy after Samba is committed to a detention camp, where he is offered help by an immigrants' aid group represented by nervous Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a mousy woman who immediately forms an emotional bond with Samba that will naturally blossom into full-fledged romance. Of course, no rom-com would be complete without colorful supporting characters, so Samba supplies not only a vivacious colleague for Alice but also a reckless Brazilian lothario who is one of Samba's homeless friends; the pair provide many of the film's most overtly comic moments (including an impromptu dance on a window-washing platform that wouldn't be out of place in Magic Mike). But these humorous bits are juxtaposed, rather uncomfortably, with increasingly intense dramatic episodes revolving around Samba's imminent deportation, and the mixture is jarring. Toledano and Nakache obviously decry the harsh approach that France—and other European nations—has taken to immigration policy, but they've chosen to send their message in a lightweight format that ultimately compromises their good intentions. Even so, this often entertaining film should be considered a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette (46 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven but engaging film.] (F. Swietek)