Stranger in Paradise (2016)

Stranger in Paradise: Directed by Guido Hendrikx. With Valentijn Dhaenens. In a classroom newly arrived refugees learn a lesson about multifarious Europe. Operating at the intersection of fiction and documentary, Stranger in Paradise reflects on the power relations between Europeans and refugees in a candid fashion.

“A sort of documentary, almost entirely set in a classroom, full of refugees, recently arrived in Europe after a dangerous sea crossing. Just over an hour, mostly English, some Dutch with subtitles.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe premise is interesting – the u0026#39;teacheru0026#39; (with the film makeru0026#39;s agenda) is an actor, the refugees are real.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film starts with an (to me, rather indulged) arty montage of historic clips with a voice-over, about Europe, Africa, and refugees. The film lost me here.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the first u0026#39;classu0026#39;, the u0026#39;teacheru0026#39; explains to the refugees why they arenu0026#39;t welcome – a left winger playing devilu0026#39;s advocate. This part didnu0026#39;t work for me.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the second u0026#39;classu0026#39;, he explains why they should be welcome, and then interviewed them, going through the u0026#39;economic or asylum seekeru0026#39; acceptance procedure. The u0026#39;interviewu0026#39; process was interesting, and the most thought provoking part of the film. The subtle but very life changing distinction between the two seemed rather arbitrary. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film was made with a grant, it didnu0026#39;t need to be commercial and to a certain extent, it showed. It didnu0026#39;t look into the refugees plight very deeply (in the credits, only their first names appeared, not their surname). Being set mainly in a classroom, it didnu0026#39;t take advantage of the medium of film.”