FILMS

Bahia, a young Algerian extrovert, believes in “making love, not war” and attempts to convert conservatives by sleeping with them in this saucy French romcom. When she meets Arthur Martin, a 40-something, Jewish scientist, he’s just another one of her conquests. However, the two find bonds through common tragic family histories (the Algerian War and Holocaust under Vichy), and improbably fall in love. Amidst the spirited romance, humorous lasciviousness and moments of sheer craziness, are satirical riffs on hot-topic issues like Arab-Jewish relations, anti-Semitism, immigration, and racial and cultural identity. A smash at the Cannes Film Festival, “The Names of Love” is an enjoyable romp through contemporary French-Jewish life. (Adult content)