Solène Delinger 12:08 p.m., November 07, 2022

Gad Elmaleh is back at the cinema with "Reste un peu", an autobiographical film in which he recounts his journey to the Catholic Church and baptism.

Of Jewish faith, the comedian had a "love at first sight" for the Virgin Mary, as he revealed in an interview with "Figaro".

Since then, he has taken theology courses at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris. 

Gad Elmaleh found faith where he certainly did not expect it.

The comedian, born into a Berber Jewish family, converted to Catholicism.

In his new film

Remain a little

, in theaters on November 16, Gad Elmaleh plays himself and recounts his journey of faith.

A way of revealing what led him to ask for baptism in the Catholic Church, while encouraging reflection on faith, roots, and transmission.  

A fascination for the Virgin since childhood

Invited to the show

In Search of the Spirit

on Sunday November 6 on

CNews

to promote his feature film, Gad Elmaleh spoke of his love for Catholicism.

He explains that he was brought to the Christian faith by the Virgin Mary.

It all started when, as a child, he entered a church in Casablanca, Morocco.

A statue of the Virgin caught his eye and has never left his mind since. 

"Mary holds me and I carry her inside me, on me, around my neck"

"I'm turned to Marie," says the comedian.

"I say it in the film: this is my path. I have not yet grasped the mystery of the Trinity (God Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Christian religion]) in all its complexity, I am still stuck in something too coherent, too logical, but Marie holds me and I carry her inside me, on me, around my neck (note: he shows his miraculous medal).I ask him to help me, especially before the shows ". 

On September 7, Gad Elmaleh revealed on social networks that he had taken theology courses at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris.

In his film

Rest a little,

the comedian recounts his fascination for Catholicism without forgetting where he comes from.

He also pays a vibrant tribute to the Jewish community and we also find in his film Delphine Horvilleur, female rabbi and figurehead of the liberal Jewish movement in France.