La petite Jérusalem (2005)

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

Director:

Karin Albou

Writer:

Karin Albou

Stars:

Fanny Valette, Elsa Zylberstein, Bruno Todeschini

8 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fanny Valette	...	Laura
Elsa Zylberstein	...	Mathilde
Bruno Todeschini	...	Ariel
Hédi Tillette de Clermont-Tonerre	...	Djamel (as Hédi Tillette de Clermont Tonerre)
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
Anaël Cohen-Skalli	...	Anaël
Chana Cohen-Skalli	...	Chana
Esther Chekroun	...	The Woman Talisman

Storyline

The Tunisian-French Laura is a young woman that lives with her Orthodox Jewish family in the Jewish community in the suburbs of Paris. Her mother is a widow that left Tunisia; her sister Mathilde is having troubles in her marriage because she repressed her sexual desire based on her misunderstandings of the principles of her religion. Laura is an open minded student of philosophy and works cleaning a school in the nightshift. While Laura feels a strong passion and desire for her Muslin Algerian colleague, her sister finds that her husband had an affair with a woman and looks for an advisor that helps her to interpret the true meaning of love and the duties of a married woman.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | topless female nudity | undressing | jewish | religion | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Océan Films [France]

Country:

France

Language:

French Arabic Hebrew

Release Date:

14 December 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

A Pequena Jerusalém

Filming Locations:

Sarcelles, Val-d'Oise, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,649, 29 January 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$50,126, 20 August 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gloria Films, Film Par Film, Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite premiering at the Cannes Film Festival and being director Karin Albou's first feature film the movie was disqualified from being eligible for the Camera d'or, awarded to any debut film playing at the festival, because Albou had previously directed a made for TV movie.

User Reviews

Religion, Intolerance, Philosophy and Repressed Desire

The Tunisian-French Laura (Fanny Valette) is a young woman that lives with her Orthodox Jewish family in the Jewish community in the suburbs of Paris. Her mother is a widow that left Tunisia; her sister Mathilde (Elsa Zylberstein) is having troubles in her marriage because she repressed her sexual desire based on her misunderstandings of the principles of her religion. Laura is an open minded student of philosophy and works cleaning a school in the nightshift. While Laura feels a strong passion and desire for her Muslin Algerian colleague, her sister finds that her husband had an affair with a woman and looks for an adviser that helps her to interpret the true meaning of love and the duties of a married woman.

"La Petite Jerusalem" is a sensitive film about religion, intolerance, philosophy and repressed desire. The story exposes how religion may affect relationships through the dilemma of two sisters raised a conservative community. The older one misunderstands and is confused about the limits of intimacy of a couple, and the younger feels how prejudice and intolerance may affect relationships even of those that are less religious or more open-minded. The magnificent performances are very realistic and Fanny Valette is an extremely beautiful woman. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Pequena Jerusalém" ("The Little Jerusalem")