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Overall I felt that this was an extremely well written movie. I had not heard of it the first time it came out, but a friend recommended it to me and I just loved it. I even suggested it to my in-laws who loved it as well, and they don't like anything. I loved the angle the writer used. The plot is not like all the other boring ones seen in the theaters today. You are never quite sure what will happen next, because everything that happened was not expected. The dialoge is smart and quick bringing in a plethora of one liners that provoke laughter. Best part....see Diane Lane at such a young age and still giving a great performance. This is a great date movie too because the sexual tension is done extremely well.

France has been making the same old films: Group of close friends or people going through ups and downs. That's it. Such as "Le gout des autres", "Les Bronzés", and "Mille Millièmes".

As a Linguist, I found Helena Bonham Carter fairly good in this film. Her french was good but not excellent. There is something about actors that I find pitiful when playing in foreign films or speak a second language; They don't truly speak it fluently and so therefore when playing a role such as Carter's, one can tell that she hasn't truly digested the French language and the consequences are that when one hasn't perfected a certain language, one becomes over the top. One can see that Carter is a bit self-conscious about her linguistic skills and in this case she ends up being theatrical and clownish. I admire and revere her as an actress but stick to english speaking films.

The whole cast does fairly well but it's the plot that doesn't fare well. Marie Trintignant shines and look for Jean Claude Brialy as the fed up fashion designer. If you watch "Robert & Robert" you will see how truly gifted this actor is.

This overly ambitious and presumptuous film is attempting to answer the Arab/israeli desire for light to be instantly answered.. Cheap propogandas don't fare well and this film is an insult to avid movie-goers and the public. Starring Omar Sharif needs more than a forgotten movie star from the 60's to keep it intriguing. Plots like this suggest nothing new and for those who have seen Madame Rose with Simone Signoret (A jewish prostitute who adopts a muslim boy in Paris) will be sick and tired of regurgitated themes such as this piece of provincial rag.

An Arab (Omar sharif) takes a jewish boy (Pierre Boulanger) under his wing and teaches him about the simplicity of life. Very Predictable and you all know the rest. The plot is too self-consciously cute and tries not to be political but it bubbles beneath the surface attempting to send a message to the world. This offers too little for the average audience and extremely little entertainment value. Movie buffs: this film is ultimately offensive and a waste of time.

I myself am not a fan of Sharif and find him over-rated and personally he drives me to drink. His perfume line years ago was a desperate stunt to pay his debts after gambling his entire money away in casinos.. this film yearns to be provocative especially after 9/11 but it won't succeed and will not re-catapult Sharif back in the hollywood scene again.

This movie should come with a warning: Turn off brain before viewing and get ready to revisit your dinner.

1/2 a * out of *****