Names of Love, The

About the Film

Baya Benmahmoud, a young, extroverted liberal, lives by the old hippie slogan: “Make love, not war” to convert right-wing men to her left-wing political causes by sleeping with them. She seduces many and so far has received exceptional results – until she meets Arthur Martin, a Jewish middle aged, middle-of-the road scientist. Bound by common tragic family histories (the Algerian War and Holocaust under Vichy), the duo improbably falls in love. Amid the bubbly amour, humorous lasciviousness and moments of sheer madness, filmmaker Michel Leclerc injects satirical riffs on such hot-button sociopolitical issues as Arab-Jewish relations, anti-Semitism, immigration, and racial and cultural identity.

Reactions

CRITICS PICK… Wildly funny setpieces…Sara Forestier is cheeky and incandescent! —Stephen Holden, The New York Times

Awards

• Winner! César Awards 2011 - Best Actress, Sara Forestier
• Winner! César Awards 2011 - Best Original Screenplay
• César Awards 2011 Nominee - Best Actor, Jacques Gamblin
• César Awards 2011 Nominee - Best Film
• Winner! Étoile d'Or 2011 - Best Actress, Sara Forestier

Cast & Crew

Cast

Baya Benmahmoud: Sara Forestier
Arthur Martin: Jacques Gamblin
Cécile Benmahmoud: Carole Franck
Mohamed Benmahmoud: Zinedine Soualem
Annette Martin: Michèle Moretti
Lucien Martin:Jacques Boudet

Crew

Director: Michel Leclerc
Screenplay: Baya Kasmi and Michel Leclerc
Producers: Caroline Adrian, Antoine Rein and Fabrice Goldstein-Delante Films/Kare Productions
Cinematography: Vincent Mathias
Editor: Nathalie Hubert
Original Music: Jérôme Bensoussan and David Euverte

Technical Info

Production Year: 2010
Release Date: 06/24/11
Countries of Production: France
Languages: French
Running Time: 1h 42m
Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: Dolby Digital
Color: Color
Rating: R

News & Press

Names of Love, The - Press Page

Awards

• Winner! César Awards 2011 - Best Actress, Sara Forestier
• Winner! César Awards 2011 - Best Original Screenplay
• César Awards 2011 Nominee - Best Actor, Jacques Gamblin
• César Awards 2011 Nominee - Best Film
• Winner! Étoile d'Or 2011 - Best Actress, Sara Forestier

Reactions

CRITICS PICK… Wildly funny setpieces…Sara Forestier is cheeky and incandescent! —Stephen Holden, The New York Times

Detailed Film Info

Baya Benmahmoud, a young, extroverted liberal, lives by the old hippie slogan: “Make love, not war” to convert right-wing men to her left-wing political causes by sleeping with them. She seduces many and so far has received exceptional results – until she meets Arthur Martin, a Jewish middle aged, middle-of-the road scientist. Bound by common tragic family histories (the Algerian War and Holocaust under Vichy), the duo improbably falls in love. Amid the bubbly amour, humorous lasciviousness and moments of sheer madness, filmmaker Michel Leclerc injects satirical riffs on such hot-button sociopolitical issues as Arab-Jewish relations, anti-Semitism, immigration, and racial and cultural identity.

Trailer

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