Monsieur Ibrahim tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a young Jewish boy and an elderly Muslim shopkeeper during the sixties in Paris.

Moses, or Momo (Pierre Boulanger) as he is called, is a teenager who lives in a working class neighborhood with his father. He has no memory of his mother and his dad unfavorably compares him to a brother that no longer at home. The relationship between father and son is, at best, strained. The son fails to meet his father’s ideals.

Left to his own devices during the day, Momo spends time with the local prostitutes; you could say he receives an education of sorts. He builds friendships with each of them and the ladies come to adore the young Don Juan.

Part of his daily routine is to purchase items for the evening meal from the local shopkeeper, Ibrahim (Omar Sharif). Although he pays for most of the items, he also pockets a few thinking the shopkeeper doesn’t know. Ibrahim is aware of Momo’s ‘extra’ items and teaches the young man ways to make supplies last longer. He also imparts tips to deal with his overbearing father.

The duo forms a bond as Ibrahim gives Momo the guidance he lacks and becomes a father figure. After Momo is orphaned, Ibrahim battles a great deal of red tape to adopt him. The adoption liberates Ibrahim and he takes Momo to Turkey to meet his family; the trip has a dramatic effect on them both.

Monsieur Ibrahim goes beyond religious differences and shows the reality of people in every day life and how they can help each other. It’s a charming story with interesting characters and while the beginning of the film sets up an intriguing premise it loses steam during the middle; the effect isn’t a less enjoyable film, it’s just longer than necessary.

Sharif gives a splendid performance as a wise old sage guiding the young Momo towards manhood. Pierre Boulanger is wonderfully talented and brings believability to the character of Momo; he’s also very easy on the eyes. Were I a teenager, I would collect every image and poster of the young actor and hang them on my bedroom walls.

This movie is in French with English subtitles and is rated 'R' for some sexual content. Sharif and Boulanger both won awards for their performances and the film received several nominations from a multitude of film festivals.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older