Tea in the Harem (1985)
Directed by Mehdi Charef
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Synopsis by Eleanor Mannikka
In a probing, autobiographical look at two impoverished teen buddies, director Mehdi Charef sketches a lucid cross-section of life on the wrong side of the tracks. Pat (Remi Martin) and Madjid (Kader Boukhanef) live in the squalor and isolation of a housing project -- neither wants a "respectable job," and so they pimp, steal, pick up women, and nurse their dreams. Pat's dream is to live off a rich woman in a warm climate, but Madjid has a desire much closer to home -- he has a crush on Pat's attractive sister, at least until she shatters his illusions. This film won the 1985 Jean Vigo prize, and was also given special attention (Un Certain Regard) at the Cannes Film Festival in that year.
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Keywords
adolescence, Arab, boy, burglary, criminal, crush, employment, France, friendship, gigolo, hope, life, love, plans, prostitute/prostitution, robbery, romance, sister, slice-of-life, teenagers, truth, woman, youth
