Shouf shouf habibi!

Although I normally do not like comedies (I prefer subtle humor in films that are about something else then just making jokes), Shouf Shouf Habibi definitely put some smiles on my face. Some subtle, intelligent jokes, some tougher. Good acting, interesting actors. To me this film showed that the general image about Moroccans that is spread in Holland can be true, but isn't always, and that there are always different stories for different people. Good humor, making you think, what else does a comedy want?

Shouf Shouf Habibi is a film about a Moroccan Family trying to find their way in the Dutch society. With that they regularly clash with the established Western culture, from generation to generation.

The cynical treatment of the collision between two cultures that has been applied earns respect. Ter Heerdt emphasizes both the Dutch and the Moroccan attitude, which results in a very funny story. Rightly, there is no side chosen or judgement cut down; it remains merely analysing and thereby funny. It functions as comic relief to a subject which has become considerably hot in the Netherlands; integration. As I've said before, therefore this movie earns his credits.

It gave a lot of noise when this film was released in Holland. In the cinemas where it was shown, Moroccan youngsters claimed that the movie was 'theirs'. They thought that the film didn't have the intention to enjoy native Dutch people also, and as a consequence little riots broke out. Unfortunately, the Moroccan youngsters who did this never got the spirit this movie actually tries to promote....

I had an excellent time watching this movie. It's a great lighthearted Dutch comedy about mostly the second generation of Maroccan immigrants in The Netherlands. It deals with multiple prejudices about both the Dutch and Marrocan immigrants. Maybe far in the inside "Shouf shouf habibi!" is a serious movie but all the layers around it make it a very fun one that is filled with some good laughs. Finally a Dutch movie that dares to handle the subject of immigrants, in a fun and yet also critic way.

Granted that not every element and plot line in the movie works out fine and in some ways the movie goes over-the-top with its story but mostly "Shouf shouf habibi!" remains a perfectly good and watchable movie throughout. It handles some delicate matters and prejudices in a good and subtle way without making the movie ever 'heavy' to watch.

The movie has a great fact pace, which makes this movie perfectly watchable for its targeted audience; Teenagers. It's very direct in its storytelling and it also doesn't hold back. This movie will certainly appeal to most Dutch-teenagers, as well as the second generation of Marrocan immigrants and immigrants of different descents of course. Everybody will recognize some of the situations and story lines that are present in this movie. Will persons outside of The Netherlands appreciate this movie as well? Hard to say. It's a fun movie to watch but I'm not to sure if anyone without any knowledge of the situation in The Netherlands will find this movie as fun and entertaining to watch.

The acting is above average, although it's quite obvious that the Maroccan actors in this movie aren't very experienced yet, with the exception of Touriya Haoud maybe. The movie is filled with some well known actors but yet all of the Marrocan characters are played by unknown actors. The reason for this is of course very simple, there aren't really that many Marrocan actors around in the business. It does give the movie a sort of natural feeling at times but also at times the weak acting worked distracting.

Simply a must-see for the youngsters here in The Netherlands. Also certainly watchable to those who don't live in The Netherlands and aren't familiar with the culture and situation here but those persons will probably experience this movie differently as it was intended to.

A surprising good comedy about a serious subject.

8/10

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"Shouf shouf habibi" is a comedy about the Moroccan family Bentarek, whose kids are integrated in the Dutch society to a varying degree.

The interpretation of the movie cannot be seperated from the Dutch political situation of that time, not long after the murder in 2002 on the politician Pim Fortuyn, the first politically oriented murder in Holland since a long time.

Before that time criticism on immigrants was frequently interpreted as a sort of racism. Immigrants were mainly seen as victims. At that time immigrants were all too often stereotyped as maladjusted and causing problems. At the present day, with the woke movement, a return to the initial situation seems to be occuring.

At the time of release there was criticism on the film from the Moroccan community. The film should be politically incorrect (or, at that time, it was maybe better to call the film politically too correct). This criticism is correct if we just look at the main character Abdullah, who isn't the ideal son in law, too say the least. The criticism is incorrect if we look at the whole Bentarek family.

The film would have been more balanced if for example Samir (the oldest brother of Abdullah) or Leila (his sister) had had an equally important role as Abdullah. In that case the film however would have also been less funny. With Abdullah in the lead the Bentarek family sort of becomes a multi cultural "Flodder" (1986, Dick Maas).

According to Shakespeare "all''s well that ends well" and in the end Abdulah is a railway guard with a permanent position. A more assimilated job is hardly conceivable. The transition from a a bridegroom on the run to this permanent position does however happen a bit suddenly.

Albert Ter Heert does a marvelous job in showing the viewers the inside of a sensitive issue in the Netherlands - integration. A heart warming and funny, bitter-sweet story with high-octane entertainment; Shouf Shouf Habibi enriches the viewer with insight into the struggle of a traditional Moroccan family trying to integrate into Dutch society, while maintaining their "identity" as well. An all-too-familiar scenario that occurs in every nation on earth; integrating into a society that neither understands nor fully accepts you is a challenge that every immigrant must face. The Dutch and Moroccan actors in this movie were most genuine in their presentation of the topic. It's an eye-opener to the ubiquitous intolerance of the unfamiliar in every society, but is presented in a light-hearted, enjoyable way that both educates and entertains. A delight to the senses.