Lila Says

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Lila Says

R

2004

1h 30m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Chimo (Mohammed Khouas), age 19, lives with his mother. Rather than taking advantage of a Paris writing school scholarship, the unemployed aspiring writer kills time with his friend Mouloud (Karim Ben Haddou) on the streets of Marseilles. Chimo develops a crush on Lila (Vahina Giocante), a sexually experienced 16-year-old who moves into the neighborhood. They begin spending time together, alarming both Lila's possessive aunt (Edmonde Franchi) and Mouloud, who's jealous of his friend.

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Critics Consensus

Lila Says is a vibrantly told coming-of-age story, helped by the sultry charisma of Giocante.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Sep 24, 2005

2/5

Just because a cupcake looks like a tart doesn't mean it'll taste like one. Big lesson.

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

Aug 25, 2005

As sweet as it is dirty.

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Jul 29, 2005

2/4

Though beautifully photographed, there's something creepy at the heart of Lila Says.

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Doris Toumarkine

Film Journal International

Mar 1, 2007

Induces a rare kind of cinematic immersion and nervous intimacy, thanks to its deft treatment of sexual confusion and awakening.

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MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

Jan 3, 2006

It's sort of Romeo & Juliet, but with the same kind of urgency the story of star-crossed lovers must have had for the Bard's first audience...

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Sean P. Means

Salt Lake Tribune

Nov 18, 2005

2.5/4

Director/co-writer Ziad Doueiri captures the tenderness of young love and the volatility of Lila's sexual openness -- a bottle of nitro that even Doueiri can't handle.

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Nov 22, 2017

Lila Says [Ziad Doueiri, 2005, France] Anything involving cross-culture captures my attention intently. 6/10

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Feb 15, 2013

A very well scripted film. Others have said it all here...

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Nov 26, 2012

Saw this on late night and was disappointed. You can talk all you want, but if nothing is gonna happen, then I am on my way. You know what I mean?

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Aug 8, 2012

I found the story interesting, but I have seen better movies on the thme.

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Mar 2, 2012

Very cool style and excellent writing. Good music, too!

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Jan 27, 2012

nice strange romantic movie

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Ziad Doueiri

Director

Vahina Giocante

Lila

Mohammed Khouas

Chimo

Karim Ben Haddou

Mouloud

Lotfi Chakri

Bakary

Hamid Dkhissi

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Synopsis

Chimo (Mohammed Khouas), age 19, lives with his mother. Rather than taking advantage of a Paris writing school scholarship, the unemployed aspiring writer kills time with his friend Mouloud (Karim Ben Haddou) on the streets of Marseilles. Chimo develops a crush on Lila (Vahina Giocante), a sexually experienced 16-year-old who moves into the neighborhood. They begin spending time together, alarming both Lila's possessive aunt (Edmonde Franchi) and Mouloud, who's jealous of his friend.

Director: Ziad Doueiri
Producer: Marina Gefter
Screenwriter: Ziad Doueiri, Mark Lawrence, Joelle Touma
Distributor: IDP Distribution
Production Co: Canal+
Rating: R (Brief Violent Images|Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 2004, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2005
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $121.2K
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Surround

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