SYNOPSIS:
Shlomi
takes care of everyone. Most importantly, he makes sure to make everyone
happy by cooking their favourite dishes. Shlomi knows - they'll eat and
calm down. Because his home is a battlefeild and Shlomi runs around between
everyone, making peace. But no one really see Shlomi. Even Shlomi doesn't
see Shlomi. Untill one day a routine math test arouses the suspicions of
Shlomi's math teacher and school principal. After meeting and talking to
him, they realise that a very unique personality is hiding behind this neglected
and dormant boy. With their help and the help of Rona the gardener with
whom he falls head over heels in love, Shlomi discover himself.
"Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi" is a heartening family comedy, a surprising
love story, which forcuses on the captivating character of one boy blessed
with extraordinary cooking talets, who discovers through the power of love
that the sky is the limit.
MOVIE
REVIEW :
I
must admit that I have never seen an Israeli film prior to Bonjour Monsieur
Shlomi. But that’s the beauty of film, for, coming from a country
filled with political unrest, it transcends that very issue and makes us
believe that there is more to discover if we look deeper. And true enough,
this film is a gem. But if any comparisons are to be made with Hollywood,
this film would be a combination of Good Will Hunting and A Beautiful Mind
sans paranoid schizophrenia with the titular character played by a haunting
duplication of Joaquin Phoenix.
While the story revolves around the protagonist, Shlomi, writer/director,
Shemi Zarhin has created characters, when put together, would cause combustible
proportions. In doing this, Zarhin has allowed the audience to peer into
the life of a normally dysfunctional Israeli family.
To his family, Shlomi appears to be just the one who cooks and mediates
any arguments. In truth, no one realizes that the boy is actually highly
intelligent except for his pseudo-senile grandfather who steals every scene
he is in and actually leaves a surprise or two at the end. Soon enough,
his teachers and principal discover his uniqueness, suggesting that he be
sent to a better school in Haifa. While his mother disagrees, Shlomi finds
love in his next door neighbour, Rona, and soon realizes that there is more
to life than his hometown.
Bonjour
Monsieur Shlomi is a film that almost anyone could relate to. The story
is conventional, yes, but it reaches out universally. The film remains open
and never shies away from being sentimental or heartwarming. And perhaps,
you might just cheer for Shlomi at the end. This film is a recommended choice.
MOVIE
RATING:
B
DVD RATING: C-
Review by Mohamad Shaifulbahri
