Lila (Vahina Giocante) is a blond bombshell who lands in a poor Arab neighborhood. Chimo (Moa Khouas) is a teenage Muslim destined to be a loser like his three shiftless pals. Chimo turns down an opportunity to study at a writers school in Paris, opting for a life of mediocrity. He feels he will look less like a loser amongst his total loser friends. It is a defeatist attitude that will prevent him from exploring his horizons.
From the moment Lila and Chimo meet, there is an odd chemistry. Lila says things that you just don't say in public. Especially to someone you barely know. She does more than just talk about "showing her kitty" treating Chimo to rare exposure that releases a dam inside him. The dam is not sexual, it is mental. Chimo is inspired by Lila, expressing his experiences with her in writing. The love story has little chance of survival with a mother (Carmen Lebbos) who sees the girl as disgraceful and friends who are jealous of Chimo's relationship. The situation ends tragically for their relationship, but provides the seed of inspiration that moves Chimo to pursue his calling.
Lila Says is blunt. If you don't like explicit dialogue, you won't like this film. It is that forward. Lila talks with a sensuality that makes her appear to be far too learned in matters of sexuality. The film has a strong sensual current that is all talk. While there are a couple of brief peeks, the relationship between Lila and Chimo is more emotional and intellectual than sexual. The story does a good job of creating obstacles for a star-crossed lovers theme that includes a mix of cultures, poverty and friendship. The dialogue is raunchy, but sharp. It has an edginess that gives the story meaning. The characters are well drawn with intriguing characteristics that make them unique yet still believable.
Giocante is a beautiful girl. The role that she plays is a tease. There is an undercurrent that she maintains, keeping the audience off balance regarding her character. Giocante did a nice job of keeping the story off balance. Khouas had great chemistry with Giocante and came across as a fundamentally good person. His subtle performance allowed his character to make poor decisions that the audience can relate to. The casting was well done.
Lila Says deserves the R rating applied by the MPAA. This film has explicit language that boldly covers a broad swath of sexual experiences. In addition to the language is a fair amount of nudity. The lead character shows her genitals twice, while never engaging in sex. However, there is a sex scene in a brothel that also included nudity. There is also a rape scene. The content in this film is designed for mature audiences. Seventeen is a good starting place. This film has a run time of one hour, 29 minutes.
I enjoyed Lila Says. The story was warm, which was a stark contrast to some of the subject matter. The blatant language and sensuality of the film was a cover for the more tender, emotional aspect of the film. The dramatic elements were not overplayed and may have even fallen a bit short for me. However, I enjoyed the story and the performances that brought the story to life. I am right in line with IMDb. Not exceptional, but solid. 7/10.
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