La petite Jérusalem (2005)

Director:

Karin Albou

Writer:

Karin Albou (writer)

Release Date:

14 December 2005 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A beautiful Jewish young woman still living with her orthodox family in a Parisian suburb, falls in love with a Muslim co-worker.

Plot Keywords:

Jewish | Muslim | Apartment | Paris France

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Fanny Valette	...	Laura
Elsa Zylberstein	...	Mathilde
Bruno Todeschini	...	Ariel
Hédi Tillette de Clermont-Tonerre	...	Djamel
Sonia Tahar	...	The Mother
Michaël Cohen	...	Eric
Aurore Clément	...	Woman at Mikva
François Marthouret	...	The Philosophy Professor
Salah Teskouk	...	Djamel's Uncle
Saïda Bekkouche	...	Djamel's Aunt
Marlon Altiparmakian	...	Mickael
Michel Hadjadj	...	Michel

Also Known As:

Little Jerusalem (International: English title)

Runtime:

Japan:94 min | Canada:96 min (Vancouver International Film Festival)

Country:

France

Language:

French | Arabic | Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Sarcelles, Val-d'Oise, France

Company:

Gloria Films

Bringing the conflict to France

La Petite Jérusalem (2005), written and directed by Karin Albou, was shown at the Rochester High Falls Film Festival as "Little Jerusalem." The title refers to the section of suburban Paris that is inhabited by first-generation Jewish immigrants--most of them from North Africa.

The Muslim-Hebrew conflict has apparently been transported to France, where each group is suspicious of--and hostile towards--the other.

Two Jewish sisters are trapped in conflicts. The older, Mathilde (Elsa Zylberstein), is a wife and mother residing in a modern, developed country, but still living under marital rules and customs brought from her native Tunisia. She realizes that there are problems in her marriage, but doesn't know where to turn for help. Seeking formal therapy would be out of the question. Instead, she receives counseling from the attendant at the mikva--the ritual bath. (This pivotal supporting role is portrayed beautifully by Aurore Clément. Another brilliant supporting actor is Sonia Tahar, who plays the girls' mother.)

The part of the younger sister, Laura, is played by Fanny Valette. Laura is a brilliant philosophy student who works at night as a cleaner at a school. She falls in love with a young co-worker from the Muslim community, with predictably problematic results.

This film could not be more timely--as I write this review, the immigrant communities in France (primarily Muslim), have risen in revolt against what they perceive as discrimination and prejudice against them within French society. Being an immigrant can never be easy. What makes it so hard is portrayed very well in this movie.

La Petite Jérusalem offers a glimpse of a world most of us will never know. The district isn't very attractive, and it's certainly off the beaten path for tourists. The people who live in Petite Jérusalem have to cope as best they can. This film shows how they go about this precarious balancing act. It's a wonderful movie, and is definitely worth seeking out. (In French, Arabic, and Hebrew, with English subtitles.)