Skunkeye needed some cinema therapy so he caught Monsieur Ibrahim last night at E Street cinema. Let me just say once again that although the theater is much welcomed and needed, it has got to be the most poorly designed venue. I’m not just talking about the small, boxy theatres, the mile-long trek to the banyo, lack of security, and the crowd unfriendly box office – but the design scheme overall. Surely they could have done a better job with the marquee- especially if they want to spruce up the area. And the design elements in the theater remind me of a late-eighties can of cherry coke.
So I was prepared for the film to be sentimental and “cute,” and thus somewhat annoying. The experience was aggravated by the fact that all the middle age “titterers” in DC decided to see that particular show. You know, the kind, the nervous types, that just have to make some kind of noise – a chortle, guffaw, or squeal – after every bit of dialogue or action remotely amusing. Or after a sad moment go “awww.” Silencio, please, shut the fuck up.
That said, the movie wasn’t that bad. Monsieur Ibrahim, directed by Francois Dupeyron, is based on a book and play by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. I’ve seen too many of these young boy/old guy friendship movies – no, not L.I.E. – so much Monsieur Ibrahim borders on cliché. Omar Sharif does what he can with some really barfy dialogue - "You have only one pair of feet - take care of them," "When you want to learn, you don't pick up a book, you talk to somebody," and "A man's heart is like a caged bird - when you dance, your heart sings." Apparently he made the film because he has both Muslim and Jewish grand children (it is no secret that Shariff has gotten around). Suppose he’s paying for his gambling debts with Disney’s Hidlago. Sharif plays the title character. Although Ibrahim is actually a Sufi from Golden Crescent area of Turkey, his store is known in Parisian argot as "the Arab's store," and he is called “the Arab,” because only Arabs will keep their stores open at night and on Sundays. Kinda like of our Korean stores.
Pierre Boulanger plays Moses, re-(christianed?) “Momo,”a lonely, street-smart Jewish kid who is left on his own by distant parents, and seeks amusement and inspiration in the streets. Momo reminds me a bit of young Antoine Doinel, who first appears in Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows. Newcomer Boulanger is charming and open and wise beyond his years – certainly one young actor to watch.
Shot with hand-held camera, director Dupreyron really brings to life his Rue Bleue, a bustling working-class Jewish neighborhood in Paris and, apparently, the city's prostitution district. Set in the 1960’s, costume and especially music color the mood but its not too cartroony or stagey.
Sex kitten Brigit Bardot, looking very Les Mepris, with striped top (the look Kylie is going for now) and red convertable, even makes a brief appearance to add to the celebration of the period. She’s played by Isabelle Adjani, who, in her late forties at least, is looking more and more like a blow-up doll these days.
Skunkeye especially appreciated the sweet stylish putaines. Meow. Always had a thing for Irma La Douce. For a kid with some hard knocks, Momo sure has it lucky with these dames.
In the mid-1960's, more than half of all French teens listened to an after-school radio program (and read the teen magazine), Salut Les Copains, digging American and English rock 'n' roll and its French counterpart "le yeye." Period hits, such Johnny Hallyday’s “Excusez-moi Partenaire (Cuttin' In)” and Frank Alamo’s Allo… Maillot 38-37” are used to wonderful effect and symbolize the wave of changes happening to Momo and the neighborhood. Skunkeye especially enjoyed hearing Richard Anthony’s classic “Nouvelle Vague.” Timmy Thomas's "Why Can't We Live Together" opens the film, a great song, granted, but not one Momo would be listening to on Salut Les Copains. It came out in 1972, and is used at the predictable closing of the film more appropriately. With lyrics like "All we want is some peace in this world" and "No matter what color, you are still my brother", gives overkill to the film’s theme of universal love and brotherhood and ebony and ivory and all that.
Without going into the story, Ibrahim and Momo leave Paris and end up trekking to Turkey, Koran in tow, on a Religion 101 sensory walking tour, stopping by Orthodox Churches and Mosques and checking out Dervishes. This footage is quite beautiful and fascinating as well. Skunkeye knows what its like to mobbed by village children wanting their picture taken. And there’s a bittersweet ending. Nice but a bit cringey this film.
Speaking of Salut Les Copains… it is also the name of my Typelist where I list friends and other bloggers I read or have linked me. I’ve been bad about updating. Today Skunkeye received a lovely note from sweet hip Sarah whose bursting-at-the-seams blog chronicles her wild life playing with the bright young rock things in NYC. Such wit and stamina – check it out.
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