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‘Let’s All Become Jews’ ‘Let’s All Become Jews’
(about 7 hours later)
PARIS — There’s a scene in the new French film “The Jews” — a comedy about anti-Semitism — in which a fictional president describes his plan to rescue France’s economy.PARIS — There’s a scene in the new French film “The Jews” — a comedy about anti-Semitism — in which a fictional president describes his plan to rescue France’s economy.
“Since Jews are rich and they stick together,” he tells his cabinet, “let’s all become Jews!”“Since Jews are rich and they stick together,” he tells his cabinet, “let’s all become Jews!”
Ministers declare the plan “brilliant,” and the government calls a referendum on whether to make France Jewish. When the population overwhelmingly votes “oui,” hora dancing erupts in the Place de la République, and a TV anchorwoman tells the nation, “Shalom, mes frères!”Ministers declare the plan “brilliant,” and the government calls a referendum on whether to make France Jewish. When the population overwhelmingly votes “oui,” hora dancing erupts in the Place de la République, and a TV anchorwoman tells the nation, “Shalom, mes frères!”
Yvan Attal, the French movie star who co-wrote, directed and starred in the film, said he made it “in response to a malaise I feel, as a Jew, in my country.”Yvan Attal, the French movie star who co-wrote, directed and starred in the film, said he made it “in response to a malaise I feel, as a Jew, in my country.”
This malaise is based, in part, on some terrible events: the four people murdered inside a kosher supermarket in Paris last year; the 2014 shooting by a Frenchman at a Jewish museum in Brussels; the 2012 attack on a Jewish school in Toulouse; the roughly 800 anti-Semitic incidents reported annually in France recently.This malaise is based, in part, on some terrible events: the four people murdered inside a kosher supermarket in Paris last year; the 2014 shooting by a Frenchman at a Jewish museum in Brussels; the 2012 attack on a Jewish school in Toulouse; the roughly 800 anti-Semitic incidents reported annually in France recently.
In the film, Mr. Attal plays an urbane, secular Jewish actor named “Yvan” whose wife thinks he’s overly concerned about anti-Semitism. His therapist asks: “You know the number of Jews in every country in the world? And you’re telling me that your wife said you’re obsessed?”In the film, Mr. Attal plays an urbane, secular Jewish actor named “Yvan” whose wife thinks he’s overly concerned about anti-Semitism. His therapist asks: “You know the number of Jews in every country in the world? And you’re telling me that your wife said you’re obsessed?”
“Yvan” frets that he doesn’t know what being Jewish means, let alone why someone would despise him for it.“Yvan” frets that he doesn’t know what being Jewish means, let alone why someone would despise him for it.
A series of sketches play on the absurdity of this. In one, the husband of a far-right politician discovers on the eve of elections that his maternal grandmother was Jewish. Examining his nose in a bathroom mirror, he spits at his reflection, and calls himself a “vermin.” In another, an unemployed man living in public housing declares to his elderly parents that they can’t possibly be Jewish, because they’re not rich.A series of sketches play on the absurdity of this. In one, the husband of a far-right politician discovers on the eve of elections that his maternal grandmother was Jewish. Examining his nose in a bathroom mirror, he spits at his reflection, and calls himself a “vermin.” In another, an unemployed man living in public housing declares to his elderly parents that they can’t possibly be Jewish, because they’re not rich.
Mr. Attal was born in Israel to Algerian-émigré parents who moved to France when he was an infant. He grew up in a housing project in Créteil, a suburb of Paris, where his Jewish education consisted mostly of eating couscous with his family on Friday nights. “My parents always repeated to me that our Judaism was a private and intimate story,” Mr. Attal said. In public, you were supposed to integrate and act “French.”Mr. Attal was born in Israel to Algerian-émigré parents who moved to France when he was an infant. He grew up in a housing project in Créteil, a suburb of Paris, where his Jewish education consisted mostly of eating couscous with his family on Friday nights. “My parents always repeated to me that our Judaism was a private and intimate story,” Mr. Attal said. In public, you were supposed to integrate and act “French.”
Now 51, Mr. Attal says that — worryingly, and without his consent — other people have started pointing out his Jewishness, or seeing it as central to his identity. Journalists have lately described him as Franco-Israeli, “ because they can’t say I’m a Jew,” he tells me.Now 51, Mr. Attal says that — worryingly, and without his consent — other people have started pointing out his Jewishness, or seeing it as central to his identity. Journalists have lately described him as Franco-Israeli, “ because they can’t say I’m a Jew,” he tells me.
At dinner parties, he says he’s found himself the “designated Jew,” called upon to justify actions by Israel’s government. “They said to me, ‘How you irritate us,’ and I asked them, ‘Who’s the you? Who’s the ‘us?’ ”At dinner parties, he says he’s found himself the “designated Jew,” called upon to justify actions by Israel’s government. “They said to me, ‘How you irritate us,’ and I asked them, ‘Who’s the you? Who’s the ‘us?’ ”
It’s a very French concern. Here, pointing out someone’s religion or ethnicity can come across as questioning whether they’re fully French. Jews are especially sensitive to this; they remember that “Juif” was stamped across people’s passports during World War II, a first step before they were deported and killed. (The movie’s French title, “Ils sont partout” — they are everywhere — is a reference to the collaborationist newspaper Je Suis Partout.)It’s a very French concern. Here, pointing out someone’s religion or ethnicity can come across as questioning whether they’re fully French. Jews are especially sensitive to this; they remember that “Juif” was stamped across people’s passports during World War II, a first step before they were deported and killed. (The movie’s French title, “Ils sont partout” — they are everywhere — is a reference to the collaborationist newspaper Je Suis Partout.)
And yet, while anti-Semitic acts have become more common, so has tolerance of Jews. (A government report says racist acts are probably carried out by “particularly active violent minorities.”) In a 2014 Pew poll, 89 percent of French people said they had a favorable view of Jews, more than in any other European country surveyed. When a Jewish social center in my Paris neighborhood was burned and covered in anti-Semitic graffiti, both the prime minister and the mayor came and made speeches. (It later turned out that a disgruntled Jewish man had done it.) Even the far-right National Front can’t get away with espousing anti-Semitism anymore — though its supporters are less circumspect. And yet, while anti-Semitic acts have become more common, so has tolerance of Jews. (Racist acts are probably carried out by a small segment of the population, a government report says.) In a 2014 Pew poll, 89 percent of French people said they had a favorable view of Jews, more than in any other European country surveyed. When a Jewish social center in my Paris neighborhood was burned and covered in anti-Semitic graffiti, both the prime minister and the mayor came and made speeches. (It later turned out that a disgruntled Jewish man had done it.) Even the far-right National Front can’t get away with espousing anti-Semitism anymore — though its supporters are less circumspect.
One of the few places anti-Semitism really thrives in France is among some Muslims. In one French poll, 44 percent said there was a “global Zionist conspiracy,” and 67 percent said that Jews had too much economic power. Still, 85 percent of Muslims said that when they discover that someone is Jewish, “I do not care.” Most Muslims have bigger problems: They are themselves one of France’s least accepted minority groups.One of the few places anti-Semitism really thrives in France is among some Muslims. In one French poll, 44 percent said there was a “global Zionist conspiracy,” and 67 percent said that Jews had too much economic power. Still, 85 percent of Muslims said that when they discover that someone is Jewish, “I do not care.” Most Muslims have bigger problems: They are themselves one of France’s least accepted minority groups.
Nevertheless, Jewish stereotypes can have tragic consequences. Members of the gang that kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered 23-year-old Ilan Halimi in 2006 were surprised to find out that Mr. Halimi’s family, though Jewish, wasn’t wealthy. Their leader, the son of immigrants from the Ivory Coast, demanded a ransom from a French rabbi instead.Nevertheless, Jewish stereotypes can have tragic consequences. Members of the gang that kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered 23-year-old Ilan Halimi in 2006 were surprised to find out that Mr. Halimi’s family, though Jewish, wasn’t wealthy. Their leader, the son of immigrants from the Ivory Coast, demanded a ransom from a French rabbi instead.
There’s a paradox here: French Jews fret that they are not considered fully French. But some French Muslims resent them for being exceptionally integrated and powerful.There’s a paradox here: French Jews fret that they are not considered fully French. But some French Muslims resent them for being exceptionally integrated and powerful.
That’s an old resentment. Like Mr. Attal’s parents, many French Jews and Muslims have roots in Algeria, which was under French rule until 1962. France granted citizenship, with all its privileges, to Algeria’s Jews, but not to most of its Muslims. The attackers in Toulouse and at the Jewish museum in Brussels were both the French-born children of Algerian immigrants.That’s an old resentment. Like Mr. Attal’s parents, many French Jews and Muslims have roots in Algeria, which was under French rule until 1962. France granted citizenship, with all its privileges, to Algeria’s Jews, but not to most of its Muslims. The attackers in Toulouse and at the Jewish museum in Brussels were both the French-born children of Algerian immigrants.
On a daily basis, one of the main effects of anti-Semitism is to make Jews feel uncomfortably visible. Armed soldiers patrol Jewish schools and synagogues. Some Jews, like Mr. Attal, worry that the French majority isn’t sufficiently concerned.On a daily basis, one of the main effects of anti-Semitism is to make Jews feel uncomfortably visible. Armed soldiers patrol Jewish schools and synagogues. Some Jews, like Mr. Attal, worry that the French majority isn’t sufficiently concerned.
In the film, Mossad agents conspire to stamp out the root of anti-Semitism: the accusation that Jews killed Jesus. They send a handsome agent back in time to kill Jesus as a baby, before he can preach. (Spoiler alert: The agent ends up falling in love with Mary, and being crucified himself.)In the film, Mossad agents conspire to stamp out the root of anti-Semitism: the accusation that Jews killed Jesus. They send a handsome agent back in time to kill Jesus as a baby, before he can preach. (Spoiler alert: The agent ends up falling in love with Mary, and being crucified himself.)
At the end, Mr. Attal’s character says he wants the freedom to be a person, full stop. Can’t everyone just start from scratch? “I’m Jewish, I apologize, excuse me, there, mea culpa,” he says. Then a missile lands on newly Jewish France.At the end, Mr. Attal’s character says he wants the freedom to be a person, full stop. Can’t everyone just start from scratch? “I’m Jewish, I apologize, excuse me, there, mea culpa,” he says. Then a missile lands on newly Jewish France.