Fascinating French film

The French certainly know how to make fascinating films.

Adopt A Daddy tackles a controversial subject, yet it still manages to put a smile on your face as it confronts a dire situation, lathering it with dollops of innate humour.

Xavier de Choudens’s amusing production tests the French social justice system by tackling a scenario that deals with the hordes of refugees living illegally in the country.

The key character is Damien (Franck Gastambide). He and his sister, Melanie (Camille Lellouche), grew up in Paris in a family of diehard activists. After their mother dies, they lose their passion for social justice.

They live their respective lives but this changes dramatically when Damien becomes a teacher at a public school and meets little Bahzad (Jessim Kas) and his mother, Selma (Melisa Sözen), who are refugees and about to be deported because they don’t possess legal documents.

In order to keep his bright little student in France, Damien claims to the authorities to be Bahzad’s dad. His brave decision opens the floodgates as an array of refugee moms begin lining up at his doorstep.

Together with his best friend and other, unlikely heroes, Damien – who is gradually falling for Bahzad’s mom – sets in motion an outrageous scheme to save the children.

The subject is handled with deep understanding of human nature. This is an appealing little film that makes you think more seriously about life and living.