Dans la vie (2007)

Director:

Philippe Faucon

Writers:

Philippe Faucon
William Karel
(more)

Release Date:

12 March 2008 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Jewish | Arab | Wheelchair | Loneliness | Handicapped

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Houria Belhadji	...	Danseuse
Sabrina Ben Abdallah	...	Sélima
Mohamed Chabane-Chaouche	...	Frère Sélima
Ariane Jacquot	...	Esther
Oumria Mouffok	...	Soeur Sélima
Zohra Mouffok	...	Halima
Hocine Nini	...	Ali
Philippe Faucon	...	Elie - Esther's son (uncredited)

Directed by
Philippe Faucon

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Amel Amani
Philippe Faucon
William Karel
Sarah Saada

Produced by
Philippe Faucon	....	producer
Yasmina Nini-Faucon	....	producer

Cinematography by
Laurent Fenart		(as Laurent Fénart)

Film Editing by
Sophie Mandonnet

Production Design by
Valérie Strano

Production Management
Nicolas Devillers	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marc Atgé	....	first assistant director
Marie Fischer	....	second assistant director
Carole Henry	....	third assistant director

Sound Department
Jean-Luc Audy	....	sound
Régis Boussin	....	boom operator
Valérie Deloof	....	sound editor
Suzanne Durand	....	sound
Thomas Fourel	....	trainee assistant sound editor
Christophe Gagnot	....	post-production sound
Laurent Lafran	....	sound
Agnes Ravez	....	sound editor
Nathalie Vidal	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Marc Dupuy	....	grip
Mohamed Khaznadji	....	key grip
Gilles Vacar	....	gaffer
Laurent Van Eijs	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Francine Lemaitre	....	assistant editor

Production Companies

• Istiqlal Films
• arte France Cinéma

Distributors

• Filmfreak Distributie (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• TV5 Monde (2008) (worldwide) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Two Ladies" - Canada (English title)
"Två kvinnor" - Sweden
"Wie das Leben spielt" - Germany (imdb display title)

Runtime:

Canada:73 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

France

Language:

French | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:AL

Company:

Istiqlal Films

The Short Relationship of Two Ladies

Dans La Vie is one of the French comedy selected under the screening of Singapore French Film Festival 2009. The 73 minutes comedy directed by Philippe Faucon is short, simple yet interesting. Compared to other commercial French comedies, Dans La Vie tackles race and religion, and using it as a main selling point of the film.

Dans La Vie surrounds three characters: Esther (Ariane Jacquot), Selima (Sabrin Ben Abdalla) and Halima (Zohra Mouffok). Esther is a middle-aged Jewish handicapped woman, who was nursed by Selima, a Arabic nurse. When Esther's eccentric behavior drives her former caretaker away, Selima introduces her mother, Halima,a Muslim, to work as the caretaker. When Esther's only son is committed to work that forces Esther to stay with Halima under one roof, conflict arises that bonds both Esther and Halima together.

Dans La Vie tackles the conflicts between the Jews and Muslims without hurting one another's race and religion. It is a simple story that sends a message to the audience that there are differences in every race and religion, but with tolerance and acceptance, it creates harmony. And it is true that the message is spread to the audience.

With the cast mainly consist of females, it seems to be more of a weekday matinée soap comedy on the TV. With only 73 minutes, there are many more issues that has yet to be covered, such as how the bonds between Esther and Halima were formed, why Halima insisted in going to Mecca for pilgrim without the assistant of her children and more. As a audience, one might feel short charged for paying a full price ticket to Dans La Vie. It is good that Dans La Vie gets a release in theater, but it seems to be more suitable for DVD release.

Give it a try if you are looking for a comedy with a new angle and you do not have much time to spare.