This Is Our Land

In the quiet villages of Pas‑de‑Calais, the rhythm of daily life is marked by the hum of factories, the chatter of market stalls, and the steady, caring presence of Pauline, a home‑nurse whose compassion has become a lifeline for the locals. Juggling the demands of a modest salary, her two children, Tom and Lili, and the weight of an aging father, Jacques, she embodies the resilience of the working‑class family striving to keep hope alive amid economic strain. The film’s tone balances the warmth of intimate domestic moments with an undercurrent of unease, hinting that even the most familiar streets can conceal shifting loyalties.

When the charismatic right‑wing physician Philippe Berthier approaches her with an unexpected opportunity, Pauline finds herself drawn into the orbit of a nationalist movement led by the compelling Agnès Dorgelle. The promise of community renewal and a platform to amplify her caring nature teases a new sense of purpose, while the political undercurrents of the region begin to swirl around her. Alongside her reappears Stéphane Stankowiak, an old school friend who now coaches her son’s soccer team, and whose ambiguous past adds a layer of tension to her budding involvement.

Family ties and friendships become a delicate balancing act. Jacques, a former communist, reacts with alarm to his daughter’s potential alignment with a cause that feels antithetical to his lifelong convictions. Meanwhile, the village itself fractures into camps: some patients rally behind Pauline’s newfound visibility, while others, including Nathalie Leclerc and Nada Belisha, voice concerns about the moral price of such affiliation. These interpersonal frictions underscore the broader societal discord, painting a portrait of a community at a crossroads.

The film moves with a restrained, contemplative style, letting the stark beauty of the northern French landscape echo the internal conflict of its protagonist. As Pauline navigates the lure of political belonging against the backdrop of her caring vocation, the story invites viewers to ponder how easily empathy can be reshaped into something far more complex, and whether the search for purpose can lead one into unexpected and unsettling territories.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 02:40