This Is Our Land

Pauline, a devoted home nurse, lives in a quaint village in northern France’s Pas-de-Calais region with her children, Tom and Lili, as well as her father, Jacques Duhez, a retired worker and former member of the French Communist Party. Relying solely on her salary to support her working-class family adds an air of urgency to her daily struggles. Known for her compassionate nature, Pauline has gained a reputation as a kind and empathetic caregiver who is beloved by her patients.

One day, Dr. Philippe Berthier, a right-wing physician associated with the French Communist Party, approaches Pauline with an intriguing proposition from Agnès Dorgelle, the leader of a nationalist party. She has endorsed Pauline as a candidate for mayor, stating that her exceptional qualities as a nurse and her ability to connect with the community make her the ideal choice.

As Pauline’s journey progresses, she encounters Stéphane Stankowiak, an old school acquaintance who also coaches her son’s soccer team. Unbeknownst to her, Stéphane is entangled with a group of skinheads but is trying to separate himself from them to protect Pauline’s campaign. Dr. Berthier, however, threatens to reveal Stéphane’s past connections to Dorgelle’s party if he continues his relationship with Pauline, adding yet another layer of tension.

When Pauline informs her father, Jacques, about her decision to run, he is horrified and adamantly declares he cannot support a child who may align with fascist ideals. This decision splits the community starkly: conservative patients rally around her while progressive supporters withdraw. Among her friends, division simmers as the racist Nathalie Leclerc joins her campaign to sabotage it with misinformation, while Nada Belisha, a French woman of Slavic descent, accuses her of being a mere puppet for extremists.

With rising concerns for her safety, Stéphane takes proactive steps by discreetly engaging reliable friends to keep watch over her. However, chaos erupts when skinheads violently attack a protestor, leaving her gravely injured. In a desperate bid to help, Pauline faces hostility from nearby residents more concerned with their own affairs than the violence occurring before them.

Feeling increasingly isolated from her father, friends, and patients, Pauline seeks advice from Berthier, as the physical distance from Stéphane grows. During this turmoil, she uncovers Stéphane’s troubling history with violence, forcing her to confront that he may be intertwined with the worsening conflicts surrounding her. As her political dreams crumble and her personal relationships fray, Pauline makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave the party behind in favor of her feelings for Stéphane.

In her quest for comfort, Pauline reintegrates with Jacques and shares joyful moments with her loved ones, including an outing to the stadium with her children and Stéphane. The atmosphere is vibrant and filled with laughter, a temporary escape from their woes. However, the joy turns bittersweet when Stéphane unknowingly allows Lili to view photos he took with his friends—images that reveal an alarming narrative of aggression towards refugees.

Infuriated by this shocking discovery, Pauline confronts Stéphane with her fury, brutally unleashing her anger until Jacques and the children intervene. They navigate her back home, where the stark realities of Stéphane’s past and present loom ominously, threatening to dismantle everything she believed about their bond.

Last Updated: November 18, 2024 at 21:15