Les mains en l'air (Hands in the Air) (2010)

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A band of youngsters join forces to protect one of their own in this comedy-drama from writer and director Romain Goupil. Milana (Linda Doudaeva) is a ten-year-old girl who calls Paris home. However, she and her mother (Malika Doudaeva) are Chechen exiles living in France illegally, and though… More A band of youngsters join forces to protect one of their own in this comedy-drama from writer and director Romain Goupil. Milana (Linda Doudaeva) is a ten-year-old girl who calls Paris home. However, she and her mother (Malika Doudaeva) are Chechen exiles living in France illegally, and though Milana barely remembers living anywhere else, she's in danger of being sent away when another family of illegals living nearby is discovered by the authorities. One of Milana's best friends, Blaise (Jules Ritmanic), doesn't want to see her deported, so he persuades his mother (Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi) to take her in and have her live as part of the family. Before long, Milana's classmates and the other kids in Blaise's building are in on the plan, and protecting Milana from the immigration police turns into a big game of cat and mouse, albeit one with serious implications. Les Mains en l'Air (aka Hands Up) was an official selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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