How forgetful is Bahia? One morning, she walks from her Paris apartment to the Metro wearing not a stitch. When she discovers her mistake, she isn’t disturbed.
That’s because Bahia, the young Algerian woman who gives zest to the otherwise tired comedy “The Names of Love,” has few qualms about sex.
She has an attractive body and uses it in bed to turn political conservatives into believers in her liberal causes. “I’m a political whore,” she says boldly.
Her liaisons don’t mean much romantically, until she meets Arthur, a middle-aged, Jewish scientist. He’s not exactly the ideal mate for Baya, a 20-something Muslim, but they connect in a quirky way to which only the French can relate.
“The Names of Love,” directed by Michel Leclerc, is strained and mildly amusing. The real reason to see the movie is the delightful performance by Sara Forestier, who rightly won the French version of the Oscar for her portrayal of the carefree Baya.