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The Names of Love

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Overview

Baya Benmahmoud, a young, extroverted liberal, lives by the old hippie slogan: “Make love, not war” to convert right-wing men to her left-wing political causes by sleeping with them. She seduces many and so far has received exceptional results – until she meets Arthur Martin, a Jewish middle aged, middle-of-the road scientist. Bound by common tragic family histories (the Algerian War and Holocaust under Vichy), the duo improbably falls in love. Amid the bubbly amour, humorous lasciviousness and moments of sheer madness, filmmaker Michel Leclerc injects satirical riffs on such hot-button sociopolitical issues as Arab-Jewish relations, anti-Semitism, immigration, and racial and cultural identity.

Reactions, Awards & Festivals

"Critic's Pick! Wildly funny setpieces…Sara Forestier is cheeky and incandescent!"

Stephen Holden

The New York Times

Winner! César Awards 2011 - Best Actress, Sara Forestier

Winner! César Awards 2011 - Best Original Screenplay

César Awards 2011 Nominee - Best Actor, Jacques Gamblin

César Awards 2011 Nominee - Best Film

Winner! Étoile d'Or 2011 - Best Actress, Sara Forestier

Cast & Crew
  • Baya Benmahmoud : Sara Forestier
  • Arthur Martin : Jacques Gamblin
  • Cécile Benmahmoud : Carole Franck
  • Mohamed Benmahmoud : Zinedine Soualem
  • Annette Martin : Michèle Moretti
  • Lucien Martin : Jacques Boudet
  • Director : Michel Leclerc
  • Screenplay : Baya Kasmi and Michel Leclerc
  • Producers : Caroline Adrian, Antoine Rein and Fabrice Goldstein-Delante Films/Kare Productions
  • Cinematography : Vincent Mathias
  • Editor : Nathalie Hubert
  • Original Music : Jérôme Bensoussan and David Euverte
Technical Info
  • Production Year : 2010
  • Release Date : June 24, 2011
  • Countries of Production : France
  • Languages : French
  • Running Time : 102 minutes
  • Screen Ratio : 1.85:1
  • Sound : Dolby Digital
  • Color : Color
  • Rating : R For Sexual Content Including Graphic Nudity and Some Language
DVD/Blu-Ray Special Features

Making of The Names of Love| Deleted Scenes

I Could Have Been A Hooker – a short film