La Petite Jérusalem (2005) - film review

Laura, 18, lives with her sister Mathilde in a housing estate in a Jewish immigrant part of Paris.  A philosophy student, Laura is torn by conflicting feelings, unable to reconcile her desire for freedom with the dictates of her religion.  Meanwhile her elder sister, Mathilde, has problems of her own, and fears that her marriage may be failing.

Karin Albou’s first full length film is this sombre cinema vérité portrait of a pair of Jewish sisters living in Paris in the 1990s.  Whilst the film should be commended on its striking sense of realism – achieved largely through moody handheld camerawork in some gloomy real locations – Albou concentrates a little too much on style, to the detriment of the narrative.  There’s not a great deal by way of plot to sustain a full length film and what there is is hardly likely to win an award for originality.  Fortunately, Albou has a first rate cast who are capable of delivering some intense and thoughtful performances that draw both our attention and our sympathy.

© James Travers 2007

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