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Lila Says

Play trailer Poster for Lila Says R Released Sep 11, 2004 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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Lila Says

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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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Critics Reviews

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Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Just because a cupcake looks like a tart doesn't mean it'll taste like one. Big lesson. Rated: 2/5 Sep 24, 2005 Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post As sweet as it is dirty. Aug 25, 2005 Full Review Moira MacDonald Seattle Times Though beautifully photographed, there's something creepy at the heart of Lila Says. Rated: 2/4 Jul 29, 2005 Full Review Doris Toumarkine Film Journal International Induces a rare kind of cinematic immersion and nervous intimacy, thanks to its deft treatment of sexual confusion and awakening. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review MaryAnn Johanson Flick Filosopher 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... Jan 3, 2006 Full Review Sean P. Means Salt Lake Tribune 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. Rated: 2.5/4 Nov 18, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Lila Says [Ziad Doueiri, 2005, France] Anything involving cross-culture captures my attention intently. 6/10 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A very well scripted film. Others have said it all here... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member 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? Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member I found the story interesting, but I have seen better movies on the thme. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Very cool style and excellent writing. Good music, too! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member nice strange romantic movie Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Ziad Doueiri

Director

Vahina Giocante

Lila

Mohammed Khouas

Chimo

Karim Ben Haddou

Mouloud

Lotfi Chakri

Bakary

Hamid Dkhissi

Grand Jo

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Lila Says

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Movie Info

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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