God Is Great, I'm Not
Release Date:
November 8, 2002
Limited release
Trying to capitalize on the success of Audrey Tautou in Amelie, the studio has decided to release this film, which was filmed earlier. Pascale Bailly makes her feature directorial debut with this film. She also co-wrote the screenplay along with Alain Tasma, who also makes his feature debut. Bailly is an admirer of Woody Allen and it shows in this movie. There is a focus on preoccupation with religion and there is a neurotic tone to the character’s relationships in the film.
Tautou plays Michele, a 20-year old model that has just had some bad times with relationship breakup and a subsequent abortion. These experiences have made her take a step back and look at her life. She decides to turn to religion to give her life meaning. But which religion is right for her? She tries the Catholicism of her childhood. Nope. How about Buddhism? No, she falls asleep during meditation.
Then she meets Francois (Edouard Baer) and asks him what religion he practices. She finds out he’s a “closet” Jew. In other words, he’s Jewish, but doesn’t openly or regularly practice it. She reads up on the subject and decides this one is for her. Francois isn’t very willing to assist in her studies. But his parents, who have just flown in from Israel, are more than happy to help.
The film had its debut in France on September 26, 2001. The film has been fairly well received by critics and audiences. The main concern has been that characters other than Michele and Francois aren’t developed and they should be. Michele’s mother and Francois’s parents weren’t used to their full potential. Keep an eye out for this film at your local independent film venue in the near future. (Marty Doskins/BOP)
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