Le jeune Ahmed

While the main character could have a used a bit more character development, once we know his goal and his different attempts the suspense becomes riveting.

Knowing quite well the events in France and Belgium of the past year I'd say that the film is a strong realistic representation of fanatism in a miniature setting.

I don't really understand why this brilliant film was seen by critics as a minor piece of work by the brilliant two time Palm D'or winning Dardenne brothers. I was hooked throughout. Their last two films, The Unknown Girl and Two days, one night were almost universally seen as amongst their best work. Whilst I enjoyed both of those films, they didn't hit me emotionally like others Dardenne films, such as the kid with a bike or L'enfant. Young Ahmed did. Young Ahmed - superbly played by Olivier Bonnaud - is clearly a complex character caught in the middle between Western norms and his interpretation of Allah. He's certainly been led astray by the most fundamentalist of interpretations of the Quran, but you never quite know if he's playing the game, or is genuinely sorrowful for his actions. And the result is a quietly disquieting portrayal of what, for him, is right and wrong, loyal and disloyal, life and death. And, as is oft the case with the Dardennes, there's no obvious answers. A return to form from my go to European auteurs. 8 and a half out of ten.

In Belgium, the teenager Ahmed (Idir Ben Addi) lives with his family and has classes of French and Arabic languages with his teacher Inès (Myriem Akheddiou). However, he has been brainwashed by his Imam Youssouf (Othmane Moumen) with a wrong interpretation of the Koran, despite the warnings of his mother (Claire Bodson). Ahmed decides to kill Inès but fails and is arrested. While under the care of the State, he works at a farm and meets the young Louise (Victoria Bluck), who has a crush on him. But she is not Muslin, and Ahmed scorns her. The radical Ahmed has an agenda and flees from his social worker.

"Le jeune Ahmed", a.k.a. "Young Ahmed" (2019), is a Franco-Belgian production with a simple story of hatred. The movie shows an impressive demonstration of how teenagers may be manipulated and become fanatic by radicals. This is the case of the lead character Ahmed, who received and adopted a wrong interpretation of the Koran and is destroyed by his belief. My only question is why fanatics stay in the Western civilization, instead of returning to their home countries. This is the same case of fanatic racists that praise their mother land. Why they do not move back? My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Jovem Ahmed" ("The Young Ahmed")

Le Jeune Ahmed is not just another movie about radicalism, misogyny, or going down the wrong path. As in life, the reality is far more complex and the Dardenne brothers understand that deeply. They are masters at portraying subtle, everyday life; not overly dramatic, but rich in nuance and emotional truth.

It's no different here. The film begins with the deeply unsettling unraveling of a boy who believes he must hate his teacher. Brainwashed by his imam, he follows a path of destruction. Yet when he's caught and placed under the care of the state, a shift begins. Removed from his known environment, he's sent to work on a farm, where he meets a girl his own age. What begins as a typical "girl-meets-boy" situation takes an unexpected turn: unlike the usual teenage story, Ahmed is torn between the hate he was conditioned into, and the unfamiliar feelings of mutual attraction and connection.

Le Jeune Ahmed is far too subtle and socially engaged to become a simplistic tale of good versus evil. Life isn't simple and this film doesn't pretend it is. This is no Hollywood redemption arc. The Dardenne brothers deliver a beautifully restrained yet emotionally charged drama that lingers long after it ends.

The Dardenne brothers linger, during 80 minutes, to a subject as cleaving as delicate: obscurantism and radicalization. Although the atmosphere is neat, the psychology of the characters is not elaborate enough. Thus, the character of Ahmed interpreted by Idir Ben Addi is definitely not credible: he looks like a harmless kid with a baby face. I can not believe such a child might fool adults so easily. As a matter of fact, the film is essentially based on this character who may then be considered as the keystone of a cinematographic structure. This keystone being defective, the structure collapses! Moreover, the rhythm of the film is a bit sluggish, even if this feeling is possibly due to my global lack of interest for the movie. In short: disappointing! 4/5 of 10.