The Monsieur Ibrahim - Movie Review Example

Movie Review: Monsieur Ibrahim The movie Monsieur Ibrahim can be characterized as a film that has been used to enhance religious themes especially in a Muslim perspective. This film was set in a France, Paris of 1960, which is in West Europe where the world of today has “Eurocentric prejudice against Islam needs to be understood as a historical justification for colonialism.” (Ernst, 5). The specific area where the movie is set is on the Rue Bleue, which is comprises a neighborhood of working class Jewish. People in this area know each other in all aspects, starting from business and family. This movie narrates thelife of a young Jewish boy, Moise and an old “Arab” ma M. Ibrahim. The theme of hope is well enriched in many religion around the globe, Ibrahim throughout the movie has given hope to the Moise. Moise was abandoned by his mother and brother while he was 16 years, after living with his father for some time he also left. The life that he lived was an epitome of poverty, the apartment that the young boy lived in could attest to that. In order to survive he opted to shop lift in Mr. Ibrahim’s grocery shop, luckily he was kind and open minded. He believed in all the virtues that were presented in the holy book ‘Quran.’ “Virtue does not demand you of you to turn your face eastwards or westwards. Virtue rather is… who dispenses money, though dear, to kinsmen, orphans, the needy, the traveler, beggars and for ransom” (Khalida, 44). The movie has tried to develop the theme of religious tolerance, which is not so practical in the modern world. Ibrahim who was a Muslim helped Moise by giving guidance that any parent would give to his own child. Jews and Muslims have different religious movie and there is no single side that tolerates each other. “Religious tolerance is a secular attitude stemming from the Enlightenment’s resentment against the abuse of religious authority’” (Ernst, 34). Sources of information whether in through the internet is biased in a particular towards a certain religious movement, which can be compared to the racial prejudice is in existence among millions of people (Ernst, 36). Each religion is thought to be the best religion in the eyes of those who practice it, the Quran also proclaims that the right religion is Islam (Khalida, 83). The question as to which religion is superior is likely to rise among different religions, each trying to argue proficiently that their religion is superior (Ernst, 44). The movie trying to depict that religious tolerance is nor realistic since today’s contemporary society is not characterized by religious tolerance. Muslim emphasize on legal and ethical practice as compared to theology and doctrine (Ernst, 45), yet the movie Monsieur Ibrahim emphasizes on doctrines and theology. M. Ibrahim. Is quoted on many occasions saying “Je sais ce qui c’est dans mon Coran”—“I know what is in my Quran.” He is so concerned about the doctrines of Quran rather than the legal and ethical perspective. Shoplifting is a form of theft which should be legally handled in a Muslim perspective, Moise is only guided by M. Ibrahim instead of punishing him. It is not a religious theme in whether Islam, Christianity or Jew to promote promiscuity in terms of prostitution. This theme of promiscuity is developed by Moise where he hires the service of a prostitute as a way to transit to manhood. The Quran condemns this act, it advocates for polygamy with a condition that one should be able to satisfy all the women. Prostitution is a an immoral in Gods eyes “as for you women who commit adultery,… confine them in their homes until death overtakes them or else God provides another way for them.” From a religious perspective the concept of Maiden is advocated for, a woman is supposed to remain chaste till she is married. This was the not the case with the movie, all those women who are portrayed practicing prostitution illustrate that these religious theme is not enhanced in the movie. It is quite interesting to note that the movie is even rate (R), due to the sexual content that it possesses. A woman is prohibited from prostitution at all means, if she has to prostitute then it should be with his husband. Moise’s mother abandoned the family while Moise was 11, it is not a religious theme to advocate for separation or divorce in family. The fact that the mother left them seems as if it is a normal phenomenon. There is a conflict of conjugal love in the movie, the teachings of Muhammad advocates that it is the responsibility of women to be submissive to their husbands. Though many questions are raised about how and when Muhammad responded to theological questions. The movie goes against the Qur’an’s essential message which call for mutual love and understanding in marriage, where husband and wife should be like ‘garments for each other’ (Q2:187). It is commendable in Quran that wife and husband should stick together at all times, whether in times of happiness or sorrow. Quran does not advocate for a wife to leave his husband. Faith is a ritual as told in Quran but it is not developed in the movie, faith as an aspect of ritual is very plain in the movie. There are pillars that should be practiced to bring one close to God, if they are properly observed with a right intention one will be self-transformed. This was not the case, and it can be said from an Islamic perspective nobody was transformed. The worship of God, through obeying ritual and observing the law. The second pillar, Salat, which is the performance of regular prayer is also not well manifested in the movie. Prayers should be performed regularly, it is even recorded in Quran the number of time a believers should pray (Q17:1). Prayers are not performed in the movie with as it would be required from a religious theme. Men are given the responsibility to maintain the affair of women, which is not the case in the movie women are free and don’t consider their affairs to be maintained by men. The last decade has seen gender seen gender discourse to be a very controversial aspect of Qur’anic? This is something that could be developed as one of the themes in the movie but it wasn’t developed. These raises questions such as; is the movie aimed to offer religion another perspective viewing the world? What was the role of Moise as a character to develop the theme of religion? The theme of hope that the movie has tried to develop is not convincing enough since hope is lost at the end of the movie. Hope should last forever, and the despair that one had should never befall again. As the movie is about to end Ibrahim dies, which leave Moise alone once again. He was left by his mother, brother, father and now his only friend that had rescued him from everything, this hope was not eternal. Work Cited Ernst, Carl W, Following Muhammad: rethinking Islam in the contemporary The University of North Carolina Press: chapel Hill & London. 2003. Print. Tarif Khalidi, The Qur’an: translated with an Introduction, Penguin Books. 2009. Print. Read More