This film could only have been made in France because in any other country it would have been very difficult to find any backer for this foolish tale about tolerance and friendship.
Francois Dupeyron, its director, wants us believe this young man, Momo, living with a distant and sick father, wakes up one day with the firm purpose of losing his virginity with anyone of the prostitutes he watches from his balcony. The cliche of finding the 'putaine' with a heart of gold, who will give Momo a beautiful experience in the sack, materializes in the form of Sylvie, a woman who knows a thing or two about young French men with very high libido.
When the father deserts him, Momo, is left alone to fend for himself. In comes M. Ibrahim, a Muslim grocer who can see inside the young man's head and becomes his mentor. Then, the film turns into a road movie. It seems very unlikely that these two souls would ever embark in this adventure that turns badly at the end.
Omar Sharif, who played some romantic leads in the early part of his career, doesn't have much to do. As Momo, Pierre Boulanger, kept reminding this viewer as a teen age version of Alain Delon. He has good looks and hopefully he will find another vehicle to make a name for himself in the near future.
Francois Dupeyron, its director, wants us believe this young man, Momo, living with a distant and sick father, wakes up one day with the firm purpose of losing his virginity with anyone of the prostitutes he watches from his balcony. The cliche of finding the 'putaine' with a heart of gold, who will give Momo a beautiful experience in the sack, materializes in the form of Sylvie, a woman who knows a thing or two about young French men with very high libido.
When the father deserts him, Momo, is left alone to fend for himself. In comes M. Ibrahim, a Muslim grocer who can see inside the young man's head and becomes his mentor. Then, the film turns into a road movie. It seems very unlikely that these two souls would ever embark in this adventure that turns badly at the end.
Omar Sharif, who played some romantic leads in the early part of his career, doesn't have much to do. As Momo, Pierre Boulanger, kept reminding this viewer as a teen age version of Alain Delon. He has good looks and hopefully he will find another vehicle to make a name for himself in the near future.