Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

This Is Our Land (2018) movie poster

Characters & Themes

This Is Our Land (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 117 min · French
Echo score 70
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Lucas Belvaux
Starring
Émilie Dequenne, André Dussollier, Catherine Jacob, Guillaume Gouix, Patrick Descamps, Corentin Lobet
Budget
$5.8M

A compassionate nurse, seeking connection and purpose, becomes entangled with a far-right political movement. Drawn in by their promises, she explores their ideology but soon faces a disturbing reality, challenging her beliefs and forcing her to examine the dangerous allure of extremism and the potential consequences of belonging.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

4 main characters · contains spoilers

This Is Our Land Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of This Is Our Land (2018), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Pauline Duhez (Émilie Dequenne)

    Pauline is a devoted home nurse, embodying compassion and resilience. Her strong desire to support her family drives her towards a tumultuous political path, as she grapples with the implications of her candidacy for mayor. As the story unfolds, her idealism clashes with harsh realities, forcing her to confront difficult choices about her relationships and beliefs.

    • 💪 Strong-willed
    • 🏥 Caregiver
    • 💔 Torn
  • Philippe Berthier (André Dussollier)

    Dr. Philippe Berthier is a right-wing physician entangled in political complexities. His initial support of Pauline's campaign stems from strategic interests, but his methods reveal a darker side as he threatens to unveil secrets that could harm her. Berthier represents the morally ambiguous influences of politics.

    • ⚖️ Manipulative
    • 📈 Ambitious
    • 🏥 Doctor
  • Stéphane Stankowiak (Guillaume Gouix)

    Stéphane is a former schoolmate who becomes entangled in Pauline's life, symbolizing both hope and danger. His past affiliations with extremist groups contrast sharply with his desire to support Pauline’s political ambitions. His character serves as a catalyst for tension, highlighting the blurred lines between love, loyalty, and the consequences of past choices.

    • 🔗 Troubled
    • ❤️ Supportive
    • ⚡ Conflict
  • Jacques Duhez (Patrick Descamps)

    Jacques is Pauline's father, a retired worker with strong convictions shaped by his history in the French Communist Party. His disapproval of Pauline's political pursuits reflects generational divides and complicates their relationship, as he struggles to reconcile familial loyalty with ideological beliefs.

    • 🗣️ Opinionated
    • 👴father figure
    • ⚒️ Working-class

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:08

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does This Is Our Land Take Place?

The setting of This Is Our Land (2018): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

While the specific time period is not stated, the film reflects contemporary societal issues, including political polarization and the challenges faced by working-class individuals in modern France. The story addresses themes relevant to current political climates and the ongoing struggle against extremism and division.

Location

Pas-de-Calais, Northern France

The story unfolds in a quaint village in the Pas-de-Calais region of Northern France, known for its picturesque landscape and small-town charm. This area symbolizes the struggles of working-class families, reflected in Pauline's life as a home nurse. It is a close-knit community where relationships and political affiliations deeply impact daily life.

  • 🇫🇷 France
  • 🏡 Village
  • 🏥 Healthcare

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:08

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

This Is Our Land Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is This Is Our Land (2018) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Politics

    The film explores the complexities of political affiliation and the impact of nationalism on individual lives. Pauline's candidacy highlights the tension between her personal values and the political landscape, showcasing the community's split loyalties. As Pauline navigates her new role, the challenges of maintaining one's integrity in a polarized environment become apparent.

  • Isolation

    Isolation emerges as a prevalent theme in Pauline's journey. Despite her compassionate nature and dedication to her community, she finds herself increasingly alienated from loved ones and friends. The emotional toll of her political aspirations and the societal divisions lead her to confront her vulnerabilities and search for genuine connections amidst chaos.

  • Love and Betrayal

    The film delves into the complexities of love intertwined with betrayal, as Pauline's relationship with Stéphane unveils painful truths. Their bond becomes a battlefield, where feelings clash with convictions, causing Pauline to reevaluate her position in both her political life and her personal relationships. The heart-wrenching choices she faces frame the core of her emotional struggle.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:08

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

This Is Our Land Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about This Is Our Land (2018): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story takes place in a quaint village in the Pas-de-Calais region of Northern France. This area is known for its picturesque landscape and small-town charm, symbolizing the struggles of working-class families in a close-knit community where relationships and political affiliations deeply impact daily life.

  • pas-de-calais
  • northern france
  • setting
  • village
  • france
Q2

What time period does the film take place in?

The film reflects contemporary societal issues in modern France, though no specific year is stated. It addresses current political climates, including political polarization and the challenges faced by working-class individuals, making it relevant to today's social landscape.

  • contemporary
  • modern france
  • time period
  • political climate
Q3

What are the main themes in the movie?

The film explores three interconnected themes: Politics, examining how nationalism impacts individual lives and the tension between personal values and political landscapes; Isolation, showing how Pauline becomes increasingly alienated from loved ones despite her compassionate nature; and Love and Betrayal, depicting how her relationship with Stéphane becomes a battlefield between feelings and convictions.

  • politics
  • isolation
  • love
  • betrayal
  • themes
  • extremism
Q4

Who is Pauline Duhez?

Pauline Duhez is the film's protagonist, a devoted home nurse known for her compassion and resilience. Her strong desire to support her family leads her into a tumultuous political path as she considers running for mayor. Throughout the story, her idealism clashes with harsh realities, forcing her to confront difficult choices about her relationships and beliefs.

  • pauline duhez
  • main character
  • nurse
  • protagonist
Q5

Who is Philippe Berthier?

Philippe Berthier is a right-wing physician who becomes involved in Pauline's political campaign. While initially supporting her candidacy for strategic reasons, his methods reveal a darker side as he threatens to expose secrets that could harm her. He represents the morally ambiguous influences of politics and those who exploit idealistic candidates for their own purposes.

  • philippe berthier
  • doctor
  • politician
  • supporting character
Q6

Who is Stéphane Stankowiak?

Stéphane Stankowiak is Pauline's former schoolmate who becomes romantically involved with her. His past affiliations with extremist groups contrast sharply with his desire to support Pauline's political ambitions. His character serves as a catalyst for tension, highlighting the blurred lines between love, loyalty, and the consequences of past choices.

  • stéphane stankowiak
  • extremist
  • past
  • love interest
Q7

Who is Jacques Duhez?

Jacques Duhez is Pauline's father, a retired worker with strong convictions shaped by his history in the French Communist Party. His disapproval of Pauline's political pursuits reflects generational divides and complicates their relationship, as he struggles to reconcile familial loyalty with his ideological beliefs.

  • jacques duhez
  • father
  • communist
  • family
  • generational divide
Q8

What does the title "This Is Our Land" refer to?

The title reflects the film's exploration of nationalism and ownership of national identity. It refers to the claims made by far-right movements that certain territories and populations belong to specific groups, a concept Pauline encounters and grapples with as she becomes involved with the political movement.

  • title meaning
  • nationalism
  • our land
  • identity
Q9

How does the film portray political extremism?

The film examines the dangerous allure of extremism through Pauline's journey, showing how promises of purpose and belonging can draw vulnerable individuals into ideological movements. It illustrates the psychological manipulation involved and the challenges of maintaining one's integrity in a polarized environment, while also revealing the violent undercurrents that can exist beneath political rhetoric.

  • extremism
  • far-right
  • political extremism
  • manipulation
  • ideology
Q10

Why is the village setting important to the story?

The small village in Pas-de-Calais serves as a microcosm of larger societal tensions. Its close-knit nature means political affiliations deeply impact daily relationships and community dynamics. The setting highlights how working-class communities become battlegrounds for ideological conflict, and how personal bonds are tested when neighbours hold opposing political views.

  • village
  • community
  • working class
  • pas-de-calais
  • social tension
Q11

What does the film say about isolation?

Isolation emerges as a central theme showing how Pauline, despite her compassionate nature and dedication to her community, finds herself increasingly alienated from loved ones. The emotional toll of her political aspirations and the societal divisions around her lead her to confront her vulnerabilities and search for genuine connections amidst the chaos of political upheaval.

  • isolation
  • alienation
  • loneliness
  • community
  • disconnection
Q12

What role does love and betrayal play in the story?

Love and betrayal become intertwined as Pauline's relationship with Stéphane reveals painful truths. Their bond becomes a battlefield where personal feelings clash with political convictions, causing Pauline to reevaluate her position in both her political life and personal relationships. This theme frames the core of her emotional struggle throughout the film.

  • love
  • betrayal
  • relationship
  • stéphane
  • emotional conflict

Movie threads

More Movies Like This Is Our Land, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes This Is Our Land tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about ideological descent like This Is Our Land

Characters drawn into extremist movements, facing moral rupture and disillusionment. Discover films similar to This Is Our Land, where relatable protagonists are drawn into extremist groups. If you were intrigued by the exploration of radicalization, moral conflict, and the cost of belonging, these movies offer similar tense and thought-provoking drama.

  • tense
  • unsettling
  • introspective
  • divided
  • melancholic
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, unsettling
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a character seeking purpose or community, who is gradually indoctrinated into a rigid ideology. The narrative tension builds as the character confronts the gap between their initial ideals and the movement's disturbing reality, culminating in a crisis of conscience and a break from the group, often at great personal cost.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on a specific character arc: the journey into and out of a radicalizing ideology. They create a similar viewing experience of psychological tension, moral unease, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from broken ideals and fractured relationships.

Somber dramas of social division like This Is Our Land

Tense stories where personal lives are fractured by broader social and political rifts. Explore movies like This Is Our Land that capture the tension of social and political division. If you appreciated the film's somber mood and its focus on how community conflict forces personal moral choices, these similar stories will resonate with you.

  • somber
  • tense
  • melancholic
  • divided
  • anxious
  • disillusioned
  • Tone: dark, somber, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often use a community or family as a microcosm for larger societal conflicts. A central character, often initially apolitical or seeking connection, is forced to take a stand as ideological lines are drawn, leading to betrayals, strained family bonds, and a bittersweet personal realization about the world.

Why they belong together: These movies share a cohesive, heavy atmosphere built from themes of social fracture, betrayal, and disillusionment. They are united by a dark, steady tone, a focus on working-class struggles or community dynamics, and an emotionally resonant, often bittersweet, conclusion.

Every angle

This Is Our Land (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about This Is Our Land in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app