The Immigrant – Monday 22nd December 2025

I like Marion Cotillard; she has great screen-presence, imbuing her characters with more than just her exquisite beauty. Joaquin Phoenix is also compelling to watch, so how did I miss this film that features the two of them?
I’d literally never even heard of it until someone mentioned it to me.

Was it any good? No. It was slow, drab and featured a plethora of unlikeable characters, including the heroine of the movie, who takes to her fate as woman of the night far too readily. There doesn’t seem to be much of a struggle on her part to escape; yes her sister is being held captive, but even on an emotional level, she just accepts her circumstances without much conflict, which makes her less heroic.

As an audience member, I lose sympathy with her because she’s not fighting with everything she’s got.
Her situation is tragic and despicable, and the men that abuse her are the scum of the Earth; but highlighting a story like this doesn’t automatically make for a great viewing experience. For the most part, I was bored, and couldn’t wait for the film to end.

If you want to watch a film about the ‘curse of beauty’ and a woman that’s exploited / abused because of it, then skip this, and watch ‘Malena’ instead!