Dheepan 2016

Sivadhasan, a soldier of the Tamil Tigers, grapples with the aftermath of the Sri Lankan Civil War during its final days. Following the defeat of his faction, he is compelled to seek refuge in a camp, where he devises a bold plan for a new beginning in France. Yet, to gain political asylum, he must fabricate a credible backstory. He takes on the identity of a deceased individual, Dheepan Natarajan, and teams up with strangers, pretending they are his family. He boards a ship towards Paris with his supposed wife, Yalini, and their presumed 9-year-old daughter, Illayaal.

Upon reaching Paris, Sivadhasan secures a position as a caretaker in a dilapidated housing project known as Le Pré. Unfortunately, this new environment soon reveals itself to be fraught with danger, as it is dominated by local drug dealers. The location was filmed in the tranquil estate of La Coudraie, situated in suburban Poissy, yet it unfolds into yet another battleground for Sivadhasan. As rival gangs wage violent confrontations, Yalini and Illayaal are left terrified while grappling with their new roles as mother and daughter. In this tense atmosphere, Yalini faces pressure to accept a job as a maid for the father of a prominent drug lord.

Despite the chaos that engulfs their lives, Sivadhasan diligently fulfills his responsibilities, but soon finds himself entangled in the conflict. In a pivotal moment, he is thrust into a fierce gunfight that rekindles his dormant combat instincts. Armed with only a handgun, a machete, and a screwdriver, he valiantly dismantles an entire gang, showcasing his formidable skills. In a heart-stopping rescue mission, he saves Yalini from the horrific clutches of her employer’s apartment, stained with blood.

Together, they ultimately manage to immigrate to England, a journey that finally leads them to a semblance of genuine peace and security.