Madame Rosa lives in a sixth-floor walkup in the Pigalle; she's a retired prostitute, Jewish and an Auschwitz survivor, a foster mom to children of other prostitutes. Momo is the oldest and her favorite, an Algerian lad whom she raises as a Muslim. He asks about his parents; she answers evasively. As she ages and takes fewer children, Momo must do more for her; as money is tight, he tries to earn pennies on the street with a puppet. He's a beautiful man-child, and Madame Rosa makes him promise never to sell himself or become a pimp. A film editor, Nadine, befriends him, and his father appears as well. Madame Rosa reaches her last days in fear of hospitals, and Momo must act.
Directing | Moshé Mizrahi | Director |
Writing | Romain Gary | Novel |
Writing | Moshé Mizrahi | Screenplay |
Camera | Néstor Almendros | Director of Photography |
Editing | Sophie Coussein | Editor |
Art | Bernard Evein | Production Design |
Costume & Make-Up | Jacques Fonteray | Costume Design |
Sound | Dabket Loubna | Music |
Sound | Philippe Sarde | Music |
Production | Ralph Baum | Executive Producer |
Production | Jean Bolvary | Producer |
Production | Raymond Danon | Supervising Producer |
Production | André Hoss | Production Manager |
Production | Alain Depardieu | Assistant Production Manager |
Directing | Tony Aboyantz | Assistant Director |
Directing | Emmanuel Fonlladosa | Assistant Director |
Art | Georges Glon | Assistant Art Director |
Sound | Louis Gimel | Boom Operator |
Sound | Jean-Pierre Ruh | Sound |
Camera | Bernard Auroux | Camera Operator |
Camera | Florent Bazin | Assistant Camera |
Lighting | Jean-Claude Gasché | Electrician |
Camera | Tessa Racine | Camera Intern |
Editing | Corinne Lazare | Assistant Editor |
Directing | Ariane Litaize | Script Supervisor |