LE PARADIS/LOST BOYS
Belgium, 2023, 83 minutes, Colour.
Kahlil Ben Gharbia, Julien de Saint Jean, Eye Haidara.
Directed by Zeno Graton.
A French language enigmatic title, touches of irony, for a film about Belgian youth in juvenile detention.
The film is brief, sets the atmosphere for a group of young male adolescents, crimes not explained, living in the community, sharing much with their supervisors, meals, sport, practical skills like welding. However, there is certainly a strong discipline. But, interestingly, the high walls of the detention centre are transparent, the outside world showing through.
The film focuses on one young man, Arab background, Joe, a very effective performance, intense, from Kahlil Ben Gharbia. He is quiet, introspective, escapes to a walk along the beach, is interrogated by a supervisor as regards his future, participates in all the activities with the other young man. The group is presented interestingly, distinctive characteristics for each of them, especially a short one with glasses who is often at breaking point.
Another young man comes into the centre, William. Joe is fascinated, and a revealing of his emotions and sexual orientation. Has his own story, the two bonding, even to a kiss and embrace, Joe holding his radio close to the wall for William to hear it…
A film of interactions, the role of the supervisors and authorities, the various activities for the young men, a more positive kind of juvenile detention centre – but with an escape attempt, and the consequences for Joe.
Interesting to compare this film of some kind of juvenile delinquency, very moderate in comparison with some British and American stories of gang members in detention.
- A topical film? Youth, youth detention, crimes, care, rehabilitation?
- A Belgian film, Belgian society, the picture of the youth in detention, the carers, those in authority, comments about judges, cases, difficult relationships with parents?
- The setting, the centre, the transparent wall (contrasting with the enclosed wall at the end of the film)? The conditions, the rooms, meals, recreation, sport, the welding jobs? Creating the atmosphere? The musical score?
- The focus on Joe, his age, Arab background, his life, in juvenile detention, comments about his family? A loner, quiet? His going out, walking along the seafront? With the rest of the young men, interactions? With Sophie and the other members of the staff? Conversations, meals together, strict discipline? The encounter with William, the attraction?
- William, the contrast with Joe, his background, family? Attitudes? Interactions with Joe, the mutual attraction? The radio, Joe holding it to the wall? Together, the kiss, the reactions? William and the regime, interactions with the others? Work?
- The portrait of the of the boys, their ethnic backgrounds, their ages, interactions, friends, playful, intense, the boy with the glasses, sometimes at boiling point? The meals and interactions, jokes, dancing, sport…? The prospects? Planning for the future?
- Joe, sometimes morose, his emotions, Sophie warning him about his emotions and relationships? The fireworks, the painting of the faces, going outside, the return at the gate, the rain, raucous?
- Joe and William, running away, pursued, caught? The repercussions for each? Joe and his frustration, the hearings, the woman in judgement, keeping him for another three months?
- Joe and his final transfer, the new centre, like the present, in the yard, smile, his beginning to run? His future?
