This film was first shown in San Francisco during the 31st San Francisco International Jewish Film Festival last month. His name is Arthur Martin, the most common name in France. Her name is Baya Benmahmoud, and she's the only person in France with that name. His mother is a Holocaust survivor, the daughter of immigrant Greek Jews who were deported to Auschwitz and killed. His father was in the French army fighting to quell the Algerian revolt for independence. Her father is an Algerian immigrant, many of whose family were killed during the Algerian War. Her mother is still a hippie and political activist who loves her father for his immigrant innocence, Both Arthur and Baya consider themselves half breeds who practice neither Judaism nor Islam. They are quirky extremists on opposite ends of the pole of propriety. Such serious subjects, yet so much authentic humor in this love story. Neither can deny the mutual attraction even in the face of her whorish political practices or his respect for taboos and letting sleeping family dogs lie. Much is revealed in this love story about self-identity, stereotypes, prejudice, painful family histories and how to live with them. Albert and Baya represent the generation the world has been waiting for -- a true blending of races, religions and national background -- a recipe to end of war. This was one of my favorites in the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival this year.
The Names of Love
Director: Michel Leclerc
Writers: Baya Kasmi, Michel Leclerc
Cast: Jacques Gamblin, Sara Forestier
Time: 102 min.
Rating: R
Playing at the Clay Theatre in San Francisco
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