100% Arabica (1998) *

Rai (i.e. Arabic rap) music sweeps across an immigrant neighbourhood in Paris, much to the chagrin of fundamentalist clerics from a local mosque. It's hedonism versus religious fanaticism, manichaen style. Predictably, the film praises the former, strongly condemns the latter, but offers no fresh insights. Director Zemmouri is probably hiding now under Salman Rushdie's bed.