la petite jérusalem ( 2005 ) and write and direct by karin albou and be show at the rochester high fall film festival a little jerusalem . the title refers to the section of suburban paris that be inhabit by first generation jewish immigrant most of them from north africa . the muslim hebrew conflict have apparently be transport to france and where each group be suspicious of and hostile towards the other . two jewish sister be trap in conflict . the old and mathilde ( elsa zylberstein ) and be a wife and mother residing in a modern and developed country and but still live under marital rule and custom bring from her native tunisia . she realize that there be problem in her marriage and but doesn not know where to turn for help . seek formal therapy would be out of the question . instead and she receive counsel from the attendant at the mikva the ritual bath . ( this pivotal support role be portray beautifully by aurore clément . another brilliant supporting actor be sonia tahar and who play the girl mother . ) the part of the young sister and laura and be play by fanny valette . laura be a brilliant philosophy student who work at night a a cleaner at a school . she fall in love with a young co worker from the muslim community and with predictably problematic result . this film could not be more timely a i write this review and the immigrant community in france ( primarily muslim ) and have rise in revolt against what they perceive a discrimination and prejudice against them within french society . be an immigrant can never be easy . what make it so hard be portray very well in this movie . la petite jérusalem offer a glimpse of a world most of u will never know . the district isn not very attractive and and it certainly off the beaten path for tourist . the people who live in petite jérusalem have to cope a best they can . this film show how they go about this precarious balancing act . it a wonderful movie and and be definitely worth seek out . ( in french and arabic and and hebrew and with english subtitle . ) .