Bye-Bye (1995)

In Paris, Ismaél, a young Tunisian, cares for two brothers, Nouredine, a cripple, and streetwise Mouloud, 14. In haste, Ismaél and Mouloud go to Marseilles where an uncle lives. Nouredine ... See full summary »

Director:

Karim Dridi

Writer:

Karim Dridi

Stars:

Sami Bouajila, Nozha Khouadra, Philippe Ambrosini

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sami Bouajila	...	Ismael
Nozha Khouadra	...	Yasmine
Philippe Ambrosini	...	Ludo
Ouassini Embarek	...	Mouloud
Sofiane Madjid Mammeri	...	Rhida (as Sofiane Mammeri)
Jamila Darwich-Farah	...	La tante
Benaïssa Ahaouari	...	L'oncle (as Benhaïssa Ahouari)
Moussa Maaskri	...	Renard
Frédéric Andrau	...	Jacky
Christian Mazucchini	...	Yvon
Bernard Llopis	...	Popaul
Marie Borowski	...	Bobo
André Neyton	...	Marcel
Emmanuel-Georges Delajoie	...	Mabrouk
Bakhta Tayeb	...	La grand-mère

Storyline

In Paris, Ismaél, a young Tunisian, cares for two brothers, Nouredine, a cripple, and streetwise Mouloud, 14. In haste, Ismaél and Mouloud go to Marseilles where an uncle lives. Nouredine has died in a fire, and Ismaél feels guilt on top of grief. Ismaél becomes friends with Jacky, a white man whose father and brother hate immigrants. Mouloud hangs out with cousin Rhida who breaks Islamic rules and deals hash. Ismaél decides Mouloud must return to Tunisia, but the boy runs off, becoming an acolyte to Rhida's supplier. Ismaél and Jacky's Arab girlfriend start an affair, friends betray friends, and the racism gets ugly. Can Ismaél rescue himself and Mouloud or will life in France crush them?

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Plot Keywords:

racism | ghetto | drugs | gay | youth | 

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Taglines:

Letting go doesn't mean forgetting.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France Belgium Switzerland

Language:

French

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bye-bye

Filming Locations:

Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

ADR Productions,La Compagnie Méditeranéenne du Cinéma (CMC),La Sept Cinéma

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Ramadan
Written by Jimmy Oihid (as Oihid) - Zaghouani
Performed by Jimmy Oihid

User Reviews

Ismael & Mouloud

This is an extremely well-made and intimate look at a Tunisian family living in France. The story focuses on Ismael, and his little brother Mouloud. Their strong, intense bond is the centerpiece of the film. Ismael lives with a crushing pain and guilt over his handicapped brother, Nouredine, who died in a fire while he was out. The two boys leave their home in Paris, and travel to Marseilles, hoping to start over. But problems catch up with them when they move in with their uncle and his own wife and son, Rhida. Temptations of the street, as well as the sexy girl who seduces the young Ismael into an affair. she is the girlfriend of his new-found French companion, and this adds to the guilt he already is carrying inside him. It doesn't help that his best friend's father and brother are racists against Arabs living in "their country."

"Bye-Bye" is a very effective portrait of family bonds, as well as a look at racism and life for Arabs living inside France. Atmospheric and gritty, dark; but not without it's spots of humor and optimism. The performances from the cast of beautiful actors is all around impressive, and this film marks the debut of the French Algerian actor, Ouassini Embarek, who is somewhat well-known inside France. People have tried to compare this film to Hector Babenco's "Pixote," but this is not a fair or accurate comparison. This is a film about family bonds; these are not displaced/homeless kids. They have families and are loved and cared for. Their problems don't arise from poverty, but from cultural clashes that make their lives a struggle. This is a worthy and important work, in the tradition of films by Andre Techine, another French filmmaker who deals with the similar theme of young French Arabs and their struggle to find their identity in a foreign land.