01 August 2009

Book Review: Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qu'ran, by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, ****

Synopsis
Internationally acclaimed play of cross-cultural friendship Paris in the 1960s. Thirteen-year-old Moses lives in the shadow of his less-than loving father. When he's caught stealing from wise old shopkeeper Monsieur Ibrahim, he discovers an unlikely friend and a whole new world. Together they embark on a journey that takes them from the streets of Paris to the whirling dervishes of the Golden Crescent. This delightful, moving play has already been a huge hit in Paris and New York. Performed in thirteen countries and published in twelve languages, it is also an award-winning film starring Omar Sharif.Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur'an received its UK premiere at the Bush Theatre on 17 January 2006.

Review
A journey by car is the epilogue of this book, a journey that ends a man's life and starts that of a boy, making him a man. A journey that binds Europe to the near East, Islam and Judaism and Christianity. From the modern city of Paris that belongs to our collective imagination to traditional Turkey, we see cultures coexist and conflict.

A gripping story, and a strong moral: human relationships, when based on respect and love, are priceless, they are worth more than cultural and even family ties.




You can buy the DVD (US version) of the movie here:

No comments:

Post a Comment

All relevant comments are welcome and will be published asap, but offensive language will be removed.