L'Italien (The Italian) is a 2010 French comedy film directed by Olivier Baroux and starring Kad Merad, Valérie Benguigui, and Roland Giraud.
Mourad Ben Saoud (Kad Merad) has pretended he is an Italian named Dino Fabrizzi for years. His employer (Roland Giraud), a Maserati car dealer, and even his own girlfriend Hélène (Valérie Benguigui) do not know he is actually of Algerian descent. Things get more complicated for him when his father (Sid Ahmed Agoumi) has a heart attack and makes him promise to observe Ramadan in his place.
L'Italien provides examples of:
- Bait-and-Switch: When Charles Lemonnier fires Cyril Landrin, he first let him think that he will promote him.
- Bathroom Stall of Overheard Insults: Cyril Landrin makes racist comments about the Arabs in the toilet. A Qatari customer is in a stall and overhears everything. He gets out and confronts Landrin and Mourad.
- Becoming the Mask: First, Mourad pretends to be an Italian to get a flat, then to get a job... Finally, he enjoys his new personality so much that he almost forgets he is actually an Algerian.
- Benevolent Boss: Charles Lemonnier, Mourad's boss. He keeps on giving opportunities to Mourad in spite of his strange behaviour. In the end, he forgives Mourad for having lied to him about his identity.
- Break-Up/Make-Up Scenario: After Mourad confesses he is not an Italian, her girlfriend Hélène dumps him because he has lied to her for such a long time. In the end, she forgives him and they get married.
- Career-Building Blunder: Even if Charles Lemonnier realizes that Mourad has worked under a false identity for years, he hires him again after he resigns. Since he has fired Mourad's competitor Landrin, it is implied that Mourad will be the new director.
- Cool Car: Mourad works for a Maserati car dealer, so he drives a Maserati.
- The Ditz: Nadège, Jacques' wife. She never understands what is happening. She almost says in front of Hélène that Mourad observes Ramadan, whereas Hélène should not know that he is muslim.
- Happily Ever After: Mourad and Hélène get married in the end.
- Hollywood Heart Attack: Mourad's father has a typical one when he is tap-dancing.
- Latin Lover: Subverted. Mourad acts like an Italian lover (in particular when he meets Hélène in a nightclub), but he is not one: he is an Algerian.
- Lipstick-and-Load Montage: A male example Played for Laughs. In the opening sequence of the film, Mourad shaves and puts on his clothes to look good.
- Meet the In-Laws: Hélène introduces Mourad to her parents. Hélène thinks that he is an Italian, whereas he is an Algerian and observes Ramadan. Hélène's mother has prepared a tiramisu and would like to hear Mourad's opinion about it.
- Red-and-White Comedy Poster: See the poster above.
- Removing the Rival: Cyril Landrin discovers that Mourad has worked for years under a false identity. He uses it as a leverage to convince Mourad to withdraw from the competition to become the next director.
- Turn in Your Badge: Parodied. When Mourad resigns, he gives back his credit card and cell phone and says he gives back his badge and his gun.
- The Un-Favourite: Amel, Mourad's sister, says that their parents admire more Mourad's achievements than hers.
