Monsieur Ibrahim
Encyclopedia
Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran (məsjø ibʁaim e le flœʁ dy kɔʁɑ̃, Mister Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur'an
), also known as Monsieur Ibrahim in English
, is a 2003 French
movie
starring Omar Sharif
, and directed by François Dupeyron
. The movie is based on a book
and a play
by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
.
of the 1960s
. The main character, Moїse Schmidt (Momo), is a young Jewish boy growing up without a mother and with a father afflicted by crippling depression
. Momo is fascinated by the elderly Turkish
Muslim
man, Ibrahim Demirci (demiɾˈdʒi), who runs a grocery store across the street from his apartment
(where Momo often shoplifts). Their relationship develops and soon Momo feels closer to Ibrahim than to his father. Ibrahim affectionately calls Moїse Momo, and adopts him when his father leaves and commits suicide
. Momo and Ibrahim go on a journey to Turkey
, Ibrahim's homeland
, in their new car (a Simca Aronde Océane
).
Also nominated for several awards, including the 2004 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
), also known as Monsieur Ibrahim in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, is a 2003 French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
starring Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif is an Egyptian actor who has starred in Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won two Golden Globe Awards.-Early life:...
, and directed by François Dupeyron
François Dupeyron
François Dupeyron is a French film director and screenwriter. He has directed 17 films since 1977. His film La chambre des officiers was entered into the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:...
. The movie is based on a book
M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran
Mr. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is a novel by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, originally published in French, in 2001.-Origins:Mr. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran was originally written in French as a play, based upon the life of Schmitt's friend, Bruno Abraham Kremer...
and a play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is a French dramatist, novelist and fiction writer. His plays have been staged in over fifty countries all over the world.- Life :...
.
Plot
The film begins in a working-class neighborhood in the ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
of the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. The main character, Moїse Schmidt (Momo), is a young Jewish boy growing up without a mother and with a father afflicted by crippling depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. Momo is fascinated by the elderly Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
man, Ibrahim Demirci (demiɾˈdʒi), who runs a grocery store across the street from his apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
(where Momo often shoplifts). Their relationship develops and soon Momo feels closer to Ibrahim than to his father. Ibrahim affectionately calls Moїse Momo, and adopts him when his father leaves and commits suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Momo and Ibrahim go on a journey to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Ibrahim's homeland
Homeland
A homeland is the concept of the place to which an ethnic group holds a long history and a deep cultural association with —the country in which a particular national identity began. As a common noun, it simply connotes the country of one's origin...
, in their new car (a Simca Aronde Océane
Simca Aronde
The Simca Aronde was a family car manufactured by the French automaker Simca from 1951 to 1963. It was Simca's first original design , as well as the company's first unibody car...
).
Cast
- Monsieur Ibrahim – Omar SharifOmar SharifOmar Sharif is an Egyptian actor who has starred in Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won two Golden Globe Awards.-Early life:...
- Momo – Pierre BoulangerPierre BoulangerPierre Boulanger is a French actor. He is known for 2003's film Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran, where he played a young Jewish boy, Moises "Momo" Schmidt. And also 2008's film Nos 18 ans where he played Richard. The young actor was then reported to be concentrating on his studies, thus...
- Momo's father – Gilbert MelkiGilbert Melki-Biography:Nephew of actor Claude Melki , Melki grew up in a Jewish family in Algeria. His father, an antiques dealer, came from Khenchela in Algeria and his mother was from France. Both hid during the war: his father in Lyon and his mother in NormandyHis father sent him to a woodworking school,...
- Momo's mother – Isabelle RenauldIsabelle RenauldIsabelle Renauld is a French actress.-Selected filmography:- External links :...
- Myriam – Lola Naymark
- Sylvie – Anne Suarez
- Fatou – Mata GabinMata GabinMata Gabin is an actress, author, and actress of theatre, born in 1972 in Toulépleu, Côte d'Ivoire.- Biography :She was born on the border of Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, to a Liberian-Guinean mother and a father from Martinique. She was adopted at three years of age by her uncle and her aunt from...
- Eva – Celine Samie
Awards
- César AwardCésar AwardThe César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
, Best Actor 2004: Omar Sharif
- Chicago International Film FestivalChicago International Film FestivalThe Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
, Silver Hugo for Best Male Performance 2003: Pierre Boulanger
- Venice International Film Festival, Audience Award, Best Actor 2003: Omar Sharif
Also nominated for several awards, including the 2004 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.