Click here for the Official Site

Like Candide dreaming of Eldorado, Jallel (Sami Bouajila, Funny Felix) poses as a political refugee from Algeria to get a temporary visa to stay in France, and is given a bed in a hostel. He earns money by illegally selling fruit and flowers in the passages of the metro.

Jallel wanders through the Paris of outcasts, and while he is unable to satisfy his hopes of fortune, he discovers and shares in the solidarity of the underprivileged. At a bar he meets (and falls in love with) a single mother, but after she leads him on and then unceremoniously dumps him, he ends up hospitalised with depression. There he mets a pregnant nymphomanic, Luci (Elodie Bouchez, The Dreamlife of Angels), who becomes his new partner.

La Faute à Voltaire is the first film by Abdellatif Kechiche and is a deeply affecting depiction of the social phenomenon of immigration. It won the Golden Lion for a First Work and the Young Public Award at the Venice Film Festival. Fans of the gorgeous Bouchez will be enraptured by her brave, stunning performance in this film - one that rewards the adventurous viewer and is drenched in humanity.

"A glorious first film." (Philippe Paumier - Cine Live).
"One of the most impressive and touching films I've seen in years." (IMDB)

2000 France (130 min.)

Directed by Abdel Kechich
Writing Credits: Abdel Kechich
Cast: Sami Bouajila, Elodie Bouchez, Aure Atika, Bruno Lochet, Virginie Darmon
Distributed by: Rezo Films.