MONSIEUR IBRAHIM
(and the flowers of the Koran)
Omar Sharif is the title character, "Monsieur Ibrahim," a wizened Arab storekeeper who befriends Momo (Pierre Boulanger), a thirteen year old Jewish boy in much need of a role model. Momo has a father bur he’s too busy eking out a living at a job he feels is beneath him. Left to his own devices, Momo roams the streets of Paris, ogling the good hearted hookers who befriend him in more ways than one, and survives by his wits. Aware of his circumstances, Ibrahim overlooks Momo’s occasional pilfering of food. When tragedy strikes Ibrahim takes Momo into his home and heart. He begins to teach the boy that there is more to being a man than bedding every female that crosses his path. He guides him in love - Momo has a crush on a sweet red head closer to his age - and tries to give Momo’s life some moral purpose with the teachings of the Koran to guide him. In the end, Monsieur Ibrahim gives Momo a love for life he never had and a future he never imagined.
"Monsieur Ibrahim," adapted by writer/director Francois Dupeyron from a novel by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt strikes a perfect balance between sentiment and pathos. Often humorous but never maudlin, he treats tragedy as an equal partner with all the joys of life. Omar Sharif makes you feel Ibrahim’s pleasure at passing on a way of life to Momo. Boulanger captures all the naivete of an aimless child who eventually finds his footing in the world. He gives a guileless performance that is never overshadowed by Sharif’s charismatic presence.
"Monsieur Ibrahim" has an underlying theme of racial and religious tolerance that runs throughout the film without beating you over the head with it. It is just one film’s many attributes that should make it appeal to a broad audience.
Copyright 2004
Omar Sharif was a major star in his native country, Egypt, when David Lean cast him as the second lead in "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962. Lean used him again, this time in the lead as "Doctor Zhivago" in 1965. His appeal and good looks allowed him to play an characters with a variety of nationalities.
Russian: "Doctor Zhivago" (1965)
Mongolian: "Genghis Khan" (1965) as Khan
German: as a Nazi officer in "The Night of the Generals" (1967) - Great book-not a great
movie. The idea of teaming Sharif with Peter O’Toole again after "Lawrence of
Arabia."
Jewish: gambler Nicky Arnstein in "Funny Girl" (1968) and "Funny Lady" (1975)
Austrian: the Prince in "Mayerling" (1969)
Cuban: "Che" (1969) as Che Guevera