M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran
Encyclopedia
Mr. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran is a novel by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
, originally published in French
, in 2001.
In some respects, the book closely resembles the novel "La Vie devant soi" (Life before you) by Romain Gary
under the pseudonym Emile Ajar. In that book, a young Muslim
boy, also called Momo (here a nickname for Muhammad), lives with an old Jewish woman, Madame Rosa. Momo often goes to visit an old Muslim man, Monsieur Hamil, who teaches him about the religion, subsequently entering into a grandfather-grandson relationship, quite similar to that of Momo and Mr. Ibrahim in Schmitt's novel.
open, takes his money, and heads outside to the Rue du Paradis (Paradise Street, or Heaven Street), to find a prostitute. The book is set in a real district of 1960s Paris
, which is described in detail. Momo always stops by the shop of the Arab grocer, Mr. Ibrahim, and often shoplifts. After his stop in this small shop, he sets out to find a prostitute, but is turned down several times for lack of identification. Finally, he finds one who will offer her services, and they head off together. Momo forgets to bring a gift for the girl, and runs home to get his teddy bear
, a final link to his childhood.
As the book progresses, Momo speaks to Mr. Ibrahim more and more. Mr. Ibrahim shows Momo how to save the precious little money his father gives him, by buying day old bread and reheating it, filling bottles of Bordeaux
with a cheaper variety, buying cheaper ingredients, etc. and also teaches him the art of smiling, which subsequently gets him out of trouble quite often. Momo's father hardly notices a difference in these new ingredients.
Momo becomes closer to Mr. Ibrahim, who eventually takes him to see the "real" Paris, where the famous landmarks are. Shockingly, one day, his father, a struggling lawyer, decides to run off, leaving about one month's worth of money for Momo. He also left a note with a list of people whom Momo should contact. It is later revealed that he has committed suicide. After this incident, Momo becomes even closer to M. Ibrahim, who takes him on a vacation in Normandy
, which Momo believes is too beautiful, bringing him to tears. Mr. Ibrahim is slowly teaching Momo the ways of Sufi Muslims, in an attempt to help the boy.
Finally, Mr. Ibrahim purchases a car, and the two travel to his native Turkey
, where they get in an accident, killing Mr. Ibrahim. The book ends with the small store being handed over to Momo, who is now much older.
, but without obviously making religion essential to the plot. The principal plot aspect is Momo starting to break free of the prison of an increasingly absent father, a mother who left at birth, and constant inferiority to an older brother who is never seen, but to whom his father always compares him.
Nonetheless, there is a religious aspect:
. Omar Sharif
was awarded the César Award
for Best Actor
in 2004 for his portrayal of Mr. Ibrahim. See: Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran
.
In 2004, the book was published in an edition for schooling, at the 3rd Level of Collège
and also in the Professional Lycée. In Germany
, it has been published with vocabulary annotations, making it a candidate book for French education, in the French as a second language courses.
Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt
Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is a French dramatist, novelist and fiction writer. His plays have been staged in over fifty countries all over the world.- Life :...
, originally published in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, in 2001.
Origins
Mr. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran was originally written in French as a play, based upon the life of Schmitt's friend, Bruno Abraham Kremer. Kremer had asked Schmitt to write a play based upon his life growing up in Paris, specifically the relationship with his grandfather, Mr. Abraham. The play was written with only one character, Moïse (Moses), referred to as "Momo" an adult, who reflected upon his childhood. In 2001, it was rewritten, and was printed as a short novel by publisher Albin Michel, the second in the religious series "Cycle de l'Invisible" (Cycle of the Invisible).In some respects, the book closely resembles the novel "La Vie devant soi" (Life before you) by Romain Gary
Romain Gary
Romain Gary was a French diplomat, novelist, film director, World War II aviator. He is the only author to have won the Prix Goncourt twice .- Early life :Gary was born in Vilnius under the name Roman Kacew...
under the pseudonym Emile Ajar. In that book, a young Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
boy, also called Momo (here a nickname for Muhammad), lives with an old Jewish woman, Madame Rosa. Momo often goes to visit an old Muslim man, Monsieur Hamil, who teaches him about the religion, subsequently entering into a grandfather-grandson relationship, quite similar to that of Momo and Mr. Ibrahim in Schmitt's novel.
Plot summary
The book begins with a young Moïse, commonly referred to as Momo, preparing to search for a prostitute. It is written as a reflection of his childhood, and he notes that he was only eleven years old at the time, but his height and his weight made him look older. He breaks his piggy bankPiggy bank
Piggy bank is the traditional name of a coin accumulation and storage receptacle; it is most often, but not exclusively, used by children. The piggy bank is known to collectors as a "still bank" as opposed to the "mechanical banks" popular in the early 20th century. These items are also often used...
open, takes his money, and heads outside to the Rue du Paradis (Paradise Street, or Heaven Street), to find a prostitute. The book is set in a real district of 1960s Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which is described in detail. Momo always stops by the shop of the Arab grocer, Mr. Ibrahim, and often shoplifts. After his stop in this small shop, he sets out to find a prostitute, but is turned down several times for lack of identification. Finally, he finds one who will offer her services, and they head off together. Momo forgets to bring a gift for the girl, and runs home to get his teddy bear
Teddy bear
The teddy bear is a stuffed toy bear. They are usually stuffed with soft, white cotton and have smooth and soft fur. It is an enduring form of a stuffed animal in many countries, often serving the purpose of entertaining children. In recent times, some teddy bears have become collector's items...
, a final link to his childhood.
As the book progresses, Momo speaks to Mr. Ibrahim more and more. Mr. Ibrahim shows Momo how to save the precious little money his father gives him, by buying day old bread and reheating it, filling bottles of Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
with a cheaper variety, buying cheaper ingredients, etc. and also teaches him the art of smiling, which subsequently gets him out of trouble quite often. Momo's father hardly notices a difference in these new ingredients.
Momo becomes closer to Mr. Ibrahim, who eventually takes him to see the "real" Paris, where the famous landmarks are. Shockingly, one day, his father, a struggling lawyer, decides to run off, leaving about one month's worth of money for Momo. He also left a note with a list of people whom Momo should contact. It is later revealed that he has committed suicide. After this incident, Momo becomes even closer to M. Ibrahim, who takes him on a vacation in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, which Momo believes is too beautiful, bringing him to tears. Mr. Ibrahim is slowly teaching Momo the ways of Sufi Muslims, in an attempt to help the boy.
Finally, Mr. Ibrahim purchases a car, and the two travel to his native Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, where they get in an accident, killing Mr. Ibrahim. The book ends with the small store being handed over to Momo, who is now much older.
Analysis
Through this book, Schmitt wanted to show the history of a young Jewish boy and the Muslim grocer of their neighbourhood in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, but without obviously making religion essential to the plot. The principal plot aspect is Momo starting to break free of the prison of an increasingly absent father, a mother who left at birth, and constant inferiority to an older brother who is never seen, but to whom his father always compares him.
Nonetheless, there is a religious aspect:
- The two protagonists have religious names, the PatriarchPatriarchOriginally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
AbrahamAbrahamAbraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, which is "Ibrahim" in Arabic, and Moïse (MosesMosesMoses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
). This shows the connection between these two religions. - The second major religious aspect is reflected in Mr. Ibrahim's knowledge of the Koran, at one point, he affirms "Je sais ce qu'il y a dans mon Coran," (I know what is in my Koran) which in the then (2001) social context of France could have expressed the downturn occurring in the religion. However, the character of M. Ibrahim is shown to be quite open minded, in the neighbourhood via his grocery store, in his choice of less common things in his private life, including vacations in NormandyNormandyNormandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, and the purchase of a car, and to the world, shown in his adoption of Momo and his trip through the multi-confessional BalkansBalkansThe Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
to arrive in his native Turkey. Despite the final exclamation of "what there is in [his] Koran," the character clearly has a religious belief that brings peace to himself, regardless of the conflict in the world, a peace which he passed on to Momo, SufismSufismSufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
.
Adaptations
In 2003, the book was adapted for film by François DupeyronFrançois Dupeyron
François Dupeyron is a French film director and screenwriter. He has directed 17 films since 1977. His film La chambre des officiers was entered into the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:...
. Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif is an Egyptian actor who has starred in Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won two Golden Globe Awards.-Early life:...
was awarded the César Award
César Award
The César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma....
for Best Actor
César Award for Best Actor
This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor .-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
in 2004 for his portrayal of Mr. Ibrahim. See: Monsieur Ibrahim et les Fleurs du Coran
Monsieur Ibrahim
Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran , also known as Monsieur Ibrahim in English, is a 2003 French movie starring Omar Sharif, and directed by François Dupeyron. The movie is based on a book and a play by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt.-Plot:...
.
In 2004, the book was published in an edition for schooling, at the 3rd Level of Collège
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and also in the Professional Lycée. In Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, it has been published with vocabulary annotations, making it a candidate book for French education, in the French as a second language courses.