User Reviews

A gentle study of the conflicts that arrive for a family with North African roots settled in France. Fejria Deliba is charming as a beautiful widow who treads on many sensitive toes when she embarks on a romance with a 'Frenchman' at a time when her 20 year old daughter is on the point of marriage to a 'good prospect' in the local community.

For me, another very enjoyable french TV film that finished far too quickly. The French seem to be able to produce TV films on a very limited budget but which are frequently far more rewarding to watch than the multi million dollar outpourings from LA

I watched it on TV5 (FBS) with teletext subtitles in French which greatly helped my understanding.

I can't believe Charles Berling acted in this film. He's a good actor, like Comment j'ai tué mon père, Les Âmes fortes, and the superb Ridicule!

The daughter doesn't know how to act. She barely spatters her lines, moves like a robot, and her character development is 0 (she changes positions -from devoted daughter to loathsome defender of family values- only according to plot needs, alternating haphazardly). Basically the plot is so predictable, it's impossible to make a good film out of it. Corny at times, it's a pity because the sociological impressions here and there are indeed interesting. How the social influences the individuals, to the point of making individuals look like puppets in an age-old story, all this in the XXth century, is useful to be reminded of (even if not entirely enjoyable to watch). There are funny moments, like when "everybody" knows about her affair in the neighbourhood, and how that affects basically everything, even her daughter's marriage. The "neighbourhood friends" are interesting in their deviousness and "presence at all times". I liked a lot when the mum, who's not a weak character at all, tells them to "go home, for it's late" when she's got to scold the daughter. I suppose she meant: "It's a family affair".

The ending is particularly stupid.

All it all, it's a good film to understand a bit the weight of tradition on subjectivity. And working class life in France, for those of us who still idealize "Europe". But all this is hindered by, among many other things, obnoxious music, present at all times, pretending to give unity while only highlighting the "emotive moments".

A TV film to consume only in that medium.

PS: Fejria Deliba is nice as Malika.