The film was directed by Elmaleh, who also co-wrote the script with Benjamin Charbit and Eytan Saada. His own parents in real life star as themselves, Régine and David Elmaleh. They are charming and brilliant, of course, as one assumes it was not a stretch to reenact this moment in their lives. Elmaleh states that while some of the story takes dramatic license, the crisis of faith and interactions with his family are drawn from the actual events as they played out.
“…the crisis of faith and interactions with his family are drawn from the actual events…”
The film is entertaining, with moments of poignant sharing between Elmaleh and his Jewish family, as well as with his Catholic friends. He means no harm to either the people or faith in either case, he is simply seeking his own way. Not to challenge Elmaleh too much on his motives for making the film, but the answer (from the perspective of this American atheist, anyway) is to ask why he chose it at all. Judaism has always been more about history, family tradition, and observation of ritual. In contrast, Catholicism revolves around a structured concept of an afterlife, adherence to catechisms, reverence for saints, and so forth. These two practices are not fundamentally at odds. Jesus and Mary, of course, were both Jews.
Elmaleh seems not to see it this way. He feels he cannot acknowledge the influence of Mother Mary in his life without turning aside from his Jewish roots. Along the way, he deals with the turmoil this causes in his own mind and with his loved ones with heart and humor. He shares this conflict in Stay With Us in a mild, loving way, making the experience of the film light-hearted and genuine.
"…the shock of religious conversion in a family context..."
