This film is so exquisitely simple that it bears only a short recommendation. Set in an impossibly gorgeous Montmarte in a sultry summer in the early '60s, this fable tells the familiar story of a picaresque journey, as the lapsed Jewish boy Moise goes from awkward, horny adolescent to a capable, enlightened young man under the guidance of the Turkish shopkeeper of the title. It's shot with wit and charm, in glorious rosy colors and with a great jazz/ oldies soundtrack. The later part of the film moves from Paris to Istanbul, and while this travelogue sequence is somewhat incongruous with the rest of the film, it is completely enthralling. This movie isn't really showing us anything new (strains of "Amelie" and "Malena") but its subtlety and sincerity make it a must-see for arthouse movie fans.
Review of Monsieur Ibrahim
