Analysis of Monsieur Ibrahim Film - Movie Review Example

Film review: Monsieur Ibrahim Introduction The film Monsieur Ibrahim is filmed in a Paris neighbourhood with the main character being a Jewish teenager named Moise. The teenager is nicknamed ‘Momo’. The teenager lives in an apartment with his depressed father after the death of his mother. Across the street facing their apartment is a grocery shop owned by Monsieur Ibrahim, who is a Turkish businessman in Paris. Ibrahim is a strong Muslim believer who abides by the Quran teachings and enjoys reading the holy book. Though the two are from totally different worlds, the film brings them together and they are able to relate well despite their cultural and religious differences. Mormon desires a better life, but they cannot afford it thus is fond of shoplifting in Ibrahim’s shop. Even with this knowledge, Ibrahim does not condemn the boy but rather befriend him and undertake the task of teaching him the Quran. With time, the boy is transformed to better morals than before. After the death of Momo’s father, Ibrahim is able to adopt the boy and the two plan a trip to Turkey in a new car bought by Ibrahim. The boy is able to learn the culture of his adopted father and soon converts to muslim. Ibrahim later dies in a road accident and Momo returns to his homeland to take over Ibrahim’s business. Through the unconditional love of Ibrahim, the boy is able to achieve his childhood dreams of living a better life. Film review This film highlights the unconditional love of an old man to a teenager who is leading a miserable life. Through this love, the teenager is transformed to be a better person in the society. Though Ibrahim was aware of Momo’s habit of shoplifting in his shop, he did nothing to punish him but rather showed him unconditional love. Though the two are of totally different age, the old man is able to attract the attention of the teenager through offering friendship and love and soon the boy is closer to him more than the way he is closer to his father. With the cold attitude of his father, the boy had no other refuge apart from his only friend Ibrahim. Through the teachings of Quran, Ibrahim is able to offer both friendship and guidance to the teenager without feeling any pinch. He spends time teaching him on good morals and religion through reading and quoting from the Quran. The unconditional love may have been inspired by the teaching of the Quran since the two had no prior relationship. On the contrary, the habit of Momo of shoplifting ought to have made them enemies but this did not happen. Ibrahim was able to understand the helpless situation of the boy and devoted himself to help him. Religion as a source of comfort to believers is clearly highlighted in the film. For Momo’s father, who suffers from depression, there is no comfort zone since the film does not portray him as being religious. His lack of faith may have contributed to his bad condition and he shows no hope of improving. Soon, he commits suicide and leaves his son to the mercy of this world. Left alone in the world as an orphan, Momo sought other sources of comfort, for example he was sexually involved with Sylvia, but did not get that much satisfaction as he may have desired in life. His only true comfort was with his friend Ibrahim who was a religious man and spent his time reading the Quran. Through following the teachings of the holy Quran, Ibrahim is able to guide the teenager into the Muslim religious teachings thus improving the life of the teenager. Through religion, the boy is able to mend his ways without being forced to or being compelled by anybody. The good character of Ibrahim is appealing to the teenager due to Ibrahim’s religious way of life. Moreover, religion is a uniting factor for both the young and old alike without discrimination of favor. Despite his tender age, Momo is able to learn the Quran from Ibrahim. He is able to understand the religious teachings with the guidance of his old friend without much trouble. This can be interpreted to mean that the religion is for both the old and the young alike without discrimination or favor. Despite their different background and huge age difference, Ibrahim’s religion appeals to the young teenager and he willingly makes up his mind to convert to Islam without being compelled by his mentor, Ibrahim. Though a business person, Ibrahim did not forsake his belief in the Quran teachings and is able to utilize the opportunity in his business to mentor and guide Momo to abandon his unpleasant way of life and be a better person in future. Through his wisdom drawn from reading the Quran, Ibrahim is able to appeal to Momo with his religious quotes and teachings which he himself followed in his way of life. Purity of intention is also featured in the film with Ibrahim showing the best intention for the teenager. With the teenager fond of shoplifting in Ibrahim’s grocery shop, the old man had all the rights in secular law to report him to the authorities for punishment or worse still go the illegal way; take the law into his own hands and teach the boy a lesson of his lifetime. That is the expectation of human beings as to how thieves like Momo should be handled. However, Ibrahim does not go the earthly way but rather takes a different approach to it. Seeing the helpless situation of the boy, Ibrahim preferred that the boy shoplifts in his shop instead of doing it in other shops where he risks being manhandled if caught. He pittied the boy and desired to give him a good life thus instead of punishing him, he took it upon himself to guide the boy to good morals and soon the boy was able to rehabilitate by himself. Even after the death of Momo’s father, Ibrahim adopts the boy and is able to give him a good life without asking for anything in return. When the two travels to Turkey, Ibrahim does not harm the boy in any way despite the distance from the boy’s homeland. The boy soon converts to Muslim religion willingly. Though Ibrahim finally dies through a road accident, his mission is complete; he has been able to guide Momo to the right path in life. Momo has not only acquired a good religious standing and believe but also gets the life he so desired from his child hood. Momo is able to return to his homeland and takes over the shop left by Ibrahim. Conclusion The film is an eye opener to the importance of religion for a better life. This does not necessarily mean gaining worldly wealth but refers more to the peace of mind and comfort derived from the believe. The unconditional love of the old man to the teenager is in line with the religious teachings of love for a brother. This love leads one to do the best for a brother in need without expecting any reward on earth. Through following the teachings of the Quran, one is able to lead a life desired by many thus being a good example to follow. With religion, there is purity of intentions and no evil deed is desired as portrayed in the film. Among the questions raised in the film is the role of religion in shaping one’s life. The religious teachings of unconditional love are also a question clearly addressed in the film. The film thus is not just for entertainment, but has moral and religious lessons to its viewers. Work cited Youtube 2013. Monsieur Ibrahim film. Read More