Last Updated on April 3, 2021 by themigrationnews
‘Welcome to Marly-Gomont’ is a comedy movie based on a true story about the difficult process of integration of an African family in a small French community.
The story takes place in the 70s. At the Lille Faculty of Medicine, students are celebrating their graduation ready to practice the profession of a doctor. Among these students, SeyoloZantoko, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire governed by the eternal dictator President Mobuto), has the intention of refusing the opportunity of becoming Mobuto’s personal doctor. His dream is to continue to live in his adopted country, but this time together with his family: his wife Anne and his two children Sivi and Kamini.
Not having French nationality yet, Seyolo takes advantage of the first and only job offer submitted to him by the mayor René Ramolluof the remote village Marly-Gomont, in the northern countryside of Paris, a place where no French doctor is willing to go. The doctor’s family thus arrives in France, convinced that they are going to live in Paris. However, they find themselves in a peasant village with more cows than inhabitants, where no one has ever seen the shadow of a black man before. Consequently, it will be very challenging for the Zantoko family to be accepted in the village, and for Doctor, Seyolo to gain the trust of his patients.
The beauty of this film lies precisely in identifying the cold reception of citizens with an innocent ignorance due more to geographical than mental closure. As much as Seyolo tries to get into the good graces of the community, the inhabitants continue to go to the doctor of the nearby village, and the few who go, claim not to pay since they do not consider him a real doctor. The distrust of fellow citizens is then pushed and increased by Jean-Marc Lavigne, the opposing candidate for the municipality elections against the more welcoming and tolerant Ramollu.
The climate of indifference and distrust changes after the Doctor helps a woman, who had always considered him a dirty monster, to give birth to her child. However, the accomplishment gained by the confidence of the village’s citizens does not last long. After his wife finds out that he has declined to be President Mobuto’s personal doctor, she decides to leave Seyoloand moves to Brussels with her cousin.
In the end, the day of the municipal elections will be decisive for the permanence of the Zantoko family in Marly-Gomont and, in general, in Europe. With Ramollu’s victory, Seyolo can continue to be a doctor and will remain in the little village with his family for life.
One of the peculiarities of the film is that it is based on a true story. In fact, the screenplay was also written by Kamini Zantoko, one of Seyolo’s sons, who is now a famous rapper and comedian. The movie does not only deal with racism, stereotypes, and prejudices. The theme of the story is more nuanced and complex, but the director Julien Rimbaldi has been able to describe it in a very funny way which hits at the heart of every person regardless of the political, religious, and cultural belonging. It is never too excessive and, at times, moving. He has superbly depicted how a traditional community in Europe has managed to break down barriers and to welcome a foreign family, despite the solid prejudices and stereotypes.
The performance delivered by the actors is remarkable. The cast playing the family is composed of Mark Zinga (SeyoloZantoko), AïssaMaïga (Anne, Seyolo’s wife), BayronLebli (Kamini), MédinaDiarra (Sivi). In addition to the principals, there is a superb cast of local characters. The ability to make people smile while dealing with important issues such as discrimination and integration, which for the current times remains a significant problem in Europe, is outstanding.
However, the movie does not only tell the story of a foreign family in another country, it also shows how to reach a peaceful integration in a foreign community. An impressive scene is that when the young Kamini refuses to go to school on account of being the only black boy. His father Seyoloadvices him with the following words: “Only education matters. Especially when you’re black”. He demonstrates to his son how education, hard work, and respect may help him in every context and situation. Another touching scene is represented at the end of the movie, which displays Sayolo’s funeral and his son Kamini saying: “At his funeral when I saw his patients arrive… it was like he’d given us all the same appointment. This last appointment was the proof of what he always wanted, something that had transformed into love. A simple love that said here we were at home”.
Furthermore, the representation of distrust and racism that characterize the inhabitants of a little European village are dictated more by excessive stereotyping than by malice. It is just ignorance that separates the Zantoko family from the small and isolated community. Just imagine what would have happened if the story had taken place in a multicultural city like Paris or Brussels.
Finally, one of the most impressive and hilarious moments of the movie is the portrayal of the mixture between the varied and bizarre personalities of the village’s inhabitants and the Zantoko’s family relatives’ explosive extravagance. The grey village becomes slowly lighted up with bright colors. The union between the two cultures produces a wonderful story of true humanity, mutual friendship, and respect.
I think the seriousness and the funniness of the movie make it adaptable to be watched by all people of different ages. I strongly recommend you watch it with your children, and I recommend all schools in Europe to show this movie to their students to discuss racism and integration. It is only in this way that the hope of a multicultural society will take shape.
Fabrizio Parrilli, 24, Master’s degree Student of International Cooperation on Human Rights at the University of Bologna, Italy. My areas of interest are mainly focused on international issues, contemporary history, protection of human rights, political and cultural dynamics. I love traveling, discovering new cultures and having fun. My motto is live, love, laugh. E-mail:parrillifabrizio@gmail.com