Hey ardent readers! :-p
I hope you are all doing fine. Here is an interesting review for you. A remarkable movie
is showing at cinemas across Turkey, “Monsieur Ýbrahim and the Flowers of the Koran”
(“Monsieur Ýbrahim et les Fleurs du Coran”).
In director François Dupeyron’s “Monsieur Ýbrahim,” we see unconditional affection
between Moses, a young Jewish boy (Pierre Boulanger), and an elderly Turkish Muslim
grocer, Monsieur Ýbrahim (Omar Sharif). I think the film derives its heart and soul from
this unlikely friendship.
The movie unfolds in the 1960s in a back street of Paris, Rue Bleue, where Moses’ house
and Ýbrahim’s grocery are located. Rue Bleue is also a place dominated by prostitutes.
Moses, who is in his teens, has a depressed father and an absent mother. In such a chaotic
atmosphere, the boy spends most of his time listening to British rock 'n' roll music and
checking out the local hookers through his bedroom window. Living in such a neighborhood
results in Moses’ discovering his sexuality through having intercourse with the hookers.
Surprisingly, after Moses has sex with most of these women, a humanistic friendship forms
between them and the boy. (The director here seems to be emphasizing how nonsensical such
social restrictions are. It isn't common to be friends with hookers, is it?)
Then the movie focuses on the most important character, Monsieur Ýbrahim. Moses always
shops at Monsieur Ýbrahim's grocery. For Moses, the elderly man is a silent and
mysterious character who barely stirs from his seat at the cash register. However, for Ýbrahim,
Moses represents youth, innocence and more importantly friendship. The more Moses comes to
the grocery, the more he begins to know Ýbrahim. Ýbrahim, who shows him the kindness and
friendship he never knew, becomes a father image to the boy. Events take a somber turn
when Moses’ real father abandons him. Ultimately, Ýbrahim leads Moses on a
mind-expanding road trip through Europe to Istanbul, where the movie's least predictable
moments unfold.
I believe the movie catches the spirit of real life and has a good central message. When
people are open and curious and overcome the strictures of religion, cross-cultural ties
can flourish.
P.S.1: Throughout the movie, Ýbrahim is represented as a very kind and
paternal character who always says, “I am trying to behave as the Koran recommends.”
At this point in time, it is interesting to see a positive rather than a negative view of
Islam from a French perspective.
P.S.2: A funny but realistic observation from the director: In one scene
of the movie, Ybrahim blindfolds Moses and leads him into different places of worship.
When Moses enters a synagogue, he says, “I smell incense.” When he comes into a
church, he says, “I smell candles,” and when he is led into a mosque, he says,
“Oohhh! I smell feet.” It is funny but true. :-D
P.S.3: It is very nice that rock 'n' roll music accompanies most of the scenes of the
movie. Music gives vivacity to the story and prevents it from being overly serious.
Atilla Karakurum (IE/IV)
Atilla Karakurum (IE/IV)
