DVD Review - Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi

Sixteen year old Shlomi is the caregiver of his family. When he gets home from school he has to bathe and take care of his elderly grandfather. He also has to prepare a meals for his family which also include his mother (who works as a nurse) and his soldier brother. Shlomi's parents are separated because of his father's dalliance with his mother's best friend. Shlomi's mother is just too bitter to accept his father's apology. Shlomi's grandfather speaks French to him and that is where the film gets its title from. Shlomi also has a married sister who has twins. Several times in the film she leaves her husband and then, of course, goes back to him.

It appears that Shlomi has a learning disability. However, one of his teachers and the school principal discover that he is highly intelligent but just has a different way of thinking than most people. The challenge is to get Shlomi's parents to see how special he is so that he can attend a school for gifted children in Haifa. Between his chaotic family and the feelings that he develops for the young woman (who happens to be a little older than Shlomi) who lives next store Shlomi has his hands full. But in the end Shlomi leaves the chaos to attend the school Haifa and live with his new girlfriend (who just got a job in Haifa).

Writer/director Shemi Zahir does a nice job of bringing this Israeli slice of life to the screen.
Since there is nothing political in the film the people could have lived anywhere. Oshri Cohen gives a fine performance as Shlomi and really makes you feel for the boy. This is a nice little film and although I thought the ending was a bit contrived I still think that it is well worth seeing.