Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Monsieur Ibrahim

Original title: Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran
  • 20032003
  • RR
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Omar Sharif and Pierre Boulanger in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
In Paris, a Turkish shop owner befriends a Jewish boy in his mid-teens.In Paris, a Turkish shop owner befriends a Jewish boy in his mid-teens.In Paris, a Turkish shop owner befriends a Jewish boy in his mid-teens.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • François Dupeyron
  • Writers
    • François Dupeyron
    • Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt(novel "Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran")
  • Stars
    • Omar Sharif
    • Pierre Boulanger
    • Gilbert Melki
Top credits
  • Director
    • François Dupeyron
  • Writers
    • François Dupeyron
    • Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt(novel "Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran")
  • Stars
    • Omar Sharif
    • Pierre Boulanger
    • Gilbert Melki
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 56User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 8 nominations

    Photos34

    Anne Suarez and Pierre Boulanger in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif and Pierre Boulanger in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif and Pierre Boulanger in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif and Pierre Boulanger in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Mata Gabin and Pierre Boulanger in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif at an event for Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif at an event for Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif at an event for Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Omar Sharif at an event for Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Omar Sharif
    Omar Sharif
    • Monsieur Ibrahim Denejias Monsieur Ibrahim Deneji
    Pierre Boulanger
    Pierre Boulanger
    • Moses 'Momo' Schmittas Moses 'Momo' Schmitt
    Gilbert Melki
    Gilbert Melki
    • Le père de 'Momo'as Le père de 'Momo'
    Isabelle Renauld
    Isabelle Renauld
    • La mère de 'Momo'as La mère de 'Momo'
    Lola Naymark
    Lola Naymark
    • Myriamas Myriam
    Anne Suarez
    Anne Suarez
    • Sylvieas Sylvie
    Mata Gabin
    • Fatouas Fatou
    Céline Samie
    Céline Samie
    • Evaas Eva
    Isabelle Adjani
    Isabelle Adjani
    • La staras La star
    Guillaume Gallienne
    Guillaume Gallienne
    • Le vendeur voitureas Le vendeur voiture
    Guillaume Rannou
    • Le realisateuras Le realisateur
    Manuel Le Lièvre
    • Le moniteur auto-écoleas Le moniteur auto-école
    • (as Manuel Lelièvre)
    Daniel Znyk
    • Le gendarmeas Le gendarme
    Françoise Armelle
    • La maitresse d'écoleas La maitresse d'école
    Sylvie Herbert
    • L'eximinateuras L'eximinateur
    Claude Merlin
    • Le notaireas Le notaire
    Pascal Vincent
    • Le bouquinisteas Le bouquiniste
    Tessa Volkine
    • Myriam's Motheras Myriam's Mother
    • Director
      • François Dupeyron
    • Writers
      • François Dupeyron
      • Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt(novel "Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran") (screenplay "Coran")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Doctor Zhivago
    7.9
    Doctor Zhivago
    Hollow Reed
    7.2
    Hollow Reed
    Rumor of Love
    8.0
    Rumor of Love
    Funny Girl
    7.3
    Funny Girl
    Cezanne et Moi
    6.0
    Cezanne et Moi
    The Secret Life of Words
    7.4
    The Secret Life of Words
    The Puppeteer
    6.5
    The Puppeteer
    My Life Without Me
    7.4
    My Life Without Me
    Adou el maraa
    6.1
    Adou el maraa
    1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham
    8.7
    1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham
    The Sum of Us
    7.3
    The Sum of Us
    El Noom fi el Asal
    6.3
    El Noom fi el Asal

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Having appeared in too many less than mediocre films, actor Omar Sharif had decided no longer to appear in films, because he didn't believe that he would be offered another meaningful role. He did, however, still read any scripts that were sent to him. And when he read the script for Monsieur Ibrahim, he immediately knew that he wanted to make the film.
    • Quotes

      Monsieur Ibrahim: Slowness is the key of happiness.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Sweet Little Sixteen
      Written by Chuck Berry

    User reviews56

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Charming and subtle; a fabric woven from childhood memories.
    "Monsieur Ibrahim"

    I'd read some user comments and external reviews; the view of some that it's anti-Semitic almost made me skip it. However, unless you'd see the sympathetic portrayal of a Muslim man (Ibrahim/Sharif) as being anti-Semitic, it's unlikely you'll be bothered.

    I don't know what the thrust of the book is, but movies rarely literally translate books; the book may suggest but the film moves in its own direction -- even, at times, contrarily.

    This film reminded me a great deal of "Le mari de la coiffeuse/The Hair Dresser's Husband") directed and co-written by Patrice Leconte. That film also has a coming of age boy; getting haircuts, he's enthralled at having his head pressed against the bosom of his female barber. When his father questions his son about what he wishes to do when he's grown up and is displeased with the answer, he sends him to bed without his supper. The rest of the film (without any clear transition) deals with the boy's fantasy about someday marrying a lady barber and what their life would be like. It's a realistic portrayal of an adolescent boy's fantasy.

    On the surface this film recounts the development of a mutually satisfying father-son type relationship that develops between a Turkish shopkeeper and a coming of age boy (MoMO/Boulanger) who is Jewish, by the way.

    I say "on the surface" because most films try to tell a story in a way that we experience, see and live the story from a fly on the wall perspective.

    Ahh-h, but not THIS film.

    While you COULD view it that way, it's really far better understood if viewed from a different perspective.

    Let's say you wandered in to the shop on this Parisian street one afternoon and heard the owner called "the Arab." You wonder why and also how he got into this particular trade. You start asking and he starts telling you the story of his life.

    And that's what this movie tells us -- HIS version of HIS story as experienced through HIS eyes and ears growing up. So it's a realistic portrayal of that collection of childhood memories, assumptions, distortions, and causes.

    As a child, do we see things the way we'd see them as an adult? Never, and so it is with this version. Everything is somewhat overdrawn, not quite a caricature but somewhat that way. All the streetwalkers are attractive, 21-31 years old, well dressed, and kind. None middle-aged, trashy, disturbed, or predatory. As we recount the story of our lives, we frequently expand the highs and lows and are liberal in delegating blame to those who disappoint us as well as credit to those who serve as heroes. And that's what this movie does.

    Seen from this frame of reference, not all events make logical sense. So we never know for sure what happened to his father, or mother, or brother. We have his sometimes conflicting memories and versions, his suppositions that substitute for reality and which leave us wondering, "Golly, I wonder what really happened?"

    Some things, of course, we'll never know. But it was fun finding out what we did. We had an interesting afternoon with the guy and he had a remarkable story to tell.

    One of the best pictures of all time? No. But a thoroughly entertaining one most especially for those of us interested in family dynamics.
    helpful•29
    3
    • Bob Pr.
    • May 5, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 9, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Official site (Germany)
      • Official site (Italy)
    • Languages
      • French
      • Turkish
    • Also known as
      • Mr. Ibrahim and the Blossoms of the Koran
    • Filming locations
      • Turkey
    • Production companies
      • ARP Sélection
      • France 3 Cinéma
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,823,890
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,364,836
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital EX
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Omar Sharif and Pierre Boulanger in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Monsieur Ibrahim (2003) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.