Paris or Perish

The unremittingly hilarious and snarky PARIS OR PERISH is the brainchild of the fabulously talented Reem Kherici, a French-Tunisian-Italian comedienne and first-time director. Kherici plays Maya, an “It” girl in the atelier of Parisian haute couture designer Paul Ritz. A 20-year resident of France who is proud to have stilettoed her way to the top of the fashion heap, she’s long since buried her identity as a North African. Though alienated from practically everyone, she’s besties with old pal Alexandra and her male bimbo of a boyfriend. One day a teeny accident leads Maya to a run-in with the police, and voilà! She finds herself deported. What follows is a priceless fish-out-of-water tale as Maya struggles to Louboutin her way out of the desert and back to Paris in time for Fashion Week. But has she really left her roots behind? (In French with subtitles) —B.B.