This story about love which, even in today’s France, has to face religious prejudice, describes the relationship between the Arab Ismaël and the Jewish girl Clara. In spite of the fact that they love each other, they are increasingly drawn into a dispute which simmers under the surface, providing fodder for those closest to them.
Guess who’s coming to dinner? This might be good as the title for the romantic drama about two young people whose relationship is frowned upon by both their families. The lovers from Verona once had to face the fact that they belonged to two hostile families. Fifty years ago, it was enough if the two lovers didn’t have the same colour skin. Today, Arab Ismaël and the Jewish girl Clara are very much in love and are expecting a baby. But while both consider themselves to be French first and foremost, and while religion plays a negligible role in their lives, it doesn’t take much for the first conflicts to arise, fanned by unhappy relatives. They each belong to the “other side”. It only takes an ironic comment, a spiteful little joke, a well-meant piece of advice from family and friends. The first clashes between Arabs and Jews probably started out in a similar way, but then ultimately led to war. Is it possible for religious prejudice in the 21st century to have such destructive powers?
88 min / Color, 35 mm
Director Roschdy Zem
/ Screenplay Roschdy Zem, Pascal Elbé
/ Dir. of Photography Jérôme Alméras
/ Music Souad Massi
/ Editor Monica Coleman
/ Producer Philippe Godeau
/ Production Pan Européenne
/ Cast Cécile de France, Roschdy Zem, Pascal Elbé, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Martine Chevallier, Bérangère Bonvoisin
/ Contact Studiocanal
Roschy Zem (b. 1965, Gennevilliers) has appeared in main and supporting roles in a number of films, e.g. My Little Business (Ma petite enterprise, 1999), Alias Betty (Betty Fischer et autres histoires, 2001), 36 Quai des Orfèvres (2004), Le petit lieutenant (2005), La Californie (2006) and Days of Glory (Indigènes, 2006), for which he won Best Actor at the Cannes IFF in 2006. This time Roschdy Zem stood behind the camera and, as a director, debuted with a film which is another contribution to the French (and international) discussion on how religious extremism affects life in modern Western communities. The film was nominated for a César in 2006.
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