FRANCOIS DUPEYRON

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB.5.  

Original title:  Monsieur Ibrahim Et Les Fleurs Du Coran

France, 2003.  ARP Sélection, France 3 Cinema.  Screenplay by Francois Dupeyron, from the screenplay Coran by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, based on his novel Monsieur Ibrahim et Les Fleurs Du Coran.  Cinematography by Remy Chevrin.  Produced by Laurent Petin, Michele Petin.  Music by Valerie Lindon.  Production Design by Katia Wyszkop.  Costume Design by Catherine Bouchard.  Film Editing by Dominique Faysse.  

Sweet, syrupy little film about a pubescent Jewish boy living in 1960s Paris who lives an emotionally orphaned life without any guidance. He finds it in the least likely place, coming under the wing of a caring Muslim grocery store owner (Omar Sharif) who grows to genuinely love the boy and treat him like a son. Gorgeously photographed to look like the nostalgic traces of a faraway memory, it’s not a ground-breaking or awe-inspiring film (its storyline is far too slim for it to be particularly weighty), but it is affecting and genuine. Its timely message tells us that connection can be made between any two willing humans on this planet, and the simplicity of the story only serves to emphasize this. Sharif is fantastic, his best work in years, plus there’s a hilarious cameo by Isabelle Adjani as a gorgeous movie star (which, as I’m sure you could imagine, she doesn’t have much difficulty in portraying).

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Foreign Language Film

Toronto International Film Festival:  2003