There is an edge of comedy throughout ‘Meet the Barbarians’, it’s got a documentary style similar to ‘This is Spinal Tap!’ and ‘Best in Show’ that keeps even the heavier conversations at the heart of it feeling light and breezy. And I think that’s to it’s benefit! It rarely feel accusatory, and while there are levels of depravity to each, it holds up a mirror to Proud Boys and “limosine liberals” alike.

The film takes place in an idillic Breton village in the west of France. The village believes they are about to receive some Ukrainian refugees and is abuzz to be doing the right thing. At the last minute it’s revealed that they are instead receivng Syrian refugees and the town immediately sours on the idea. The film balances the humor and drama of the situation while, and places the family of refugees at the center of itself. It’s a light hearted affair that knows that it has to keep the reality of what these people are going through at a relatable level. Very smart scripting from Julie Deply and her writing team.

Julie Delpy also stars in the film, as a do gooder teacher trying to fight against the tide of growing resentment towards the refugees. Even as she tries to do the right thing, it’s evident that a lot of her actions are at least partly selfish. She wants the glory of doing the right thing, and the credit. She wants to parade the family around so that everyone can see her doing it. It’s smart biting commentary on the limitations of liberalism, even as it tries to act in the moral best for humanity. One of the harshest criques her chracter gets is “if you want to help the refugees why aren’t you over in Syria?”

Most of the critiques are left for the townsfolk that turned heel when they realized they were getting Syrians instead of Ukrainians. And this small town realizing that they are not perhaps as civilized as they thought they were is the centerpiece of the film. The butcher concerned that he won’t be able to include Andouille sausage in the care package got a riotous laugh from the audience.

The primary antagonist is a local plumber, Herve Riou (Laurent Lafitte), who comes up with the normal tired anti immigration talking points to attempt to oust the refugee family. He frames his attacks as trying to protect his tax dollars, but the fact that he was for the Ukrainian refugees, and anti Syrian underlines the heart of his internal racism. At one point he even alerts the Proud Boys who come and disrupt a town meeting, chanting nationalistic slogans and scaring not just the Syrian refugee family, but the townsfolk in general.

If there’s criticsim for ‘Meet the Barbarians’ it’s that perhaps it’s light tone undercuts it’s most provocative messaging. And while it almost certainly does it’s easier to get audiences to grapple with their own interal biases when presented in a genuinely fun and warm movie. I think my biggest issue is that in the end the movie glosses over the biggest most egregious acts and ends happily without a lot of strenuous character development. I get that having someone combat their issues would have dramatically changed the tone of the film, but it’s still a little simplistic and the end of the day.

Still, it’s a delightful little movie, and easily presenting an important concept to audiences. It’s a little bit like a comedic ‘Remember the Titans’ in that it’s easily digestible content about an increidbly front of mind issue that relates just as much to a small midwestern American city, an idllic Breton village, or really any urban center you could think of. After all, it’s important to realize when we’re othering people, perhaps we ourselves are the “Barbarians” we should meet.

4/5