From critique to compliance: Images of ethnicity in Salut cousin (1996) and Chouchou (2003)

Abstract

Salut cousin (1996) and Chouchou (2003) were both made by Algerian-born director Merzak Allouache and cast one of France's biggest comic stars, Gad Elmaleh, in the main role. Both films use comedy to explore the migration of young men from Algeria and the integration of French Maghrebis. However, as this article demonstrates, despite their similarities in terms of theme, form, film-maker and star, their approaches to ethnicity differ markedly. While Salut cousin shows the limitations of French republican politics, Chouchou presents a rather more utopian image of a country which is seemingly able to welcome and accept ethnic minorities with little anxiety. Through the comparison of these two films, the article probes the advantages and disadvantages of utilising comedy as an arena for presenting audiences with the highly contentious issues of incoming migration and ‘race’. It concludes by questioning whether a more critical approach to these questions is preferable over one which emphasises entertainment and thus attracts more spectators.