The Upside
Books | Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts
3.9
Abdel Sellou
You Saved My Life tells the extraordinary true story of the charming Algerian con-man whose friendship with a disabled French aristocrat inspired the record-breaking hit film, The Intouchables (the American remake starring Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston coming in 2018). Sellou's fictional reincarnation, Driss, played to critical acclaim by French comedian Omar Sy in the movie Les Intouchables, captured the hearts of millions. Already a bestseller in France and Germany, You Changed My Life shows us the real man behind Sy's edgy charm. The book takes us from his childhood spent stealing candy from the local grocery store, to his career as a pickpocket and scam artist, to his unexpected employment as a companion for a quadriplegic. Sellou has never before divulged the details of his past. In many interviews and documentaries, he has evaded or shrugged off the question of his childhood and his stay in prison, until now. He tells his story with a stunning amount of talent, with humor, style, and-though he denies that he has any-humility. Sellou's idiosyncratic and candidly charming voice is magnificently captured in this memoir, a fact to which his friend Philippe Pozzo di Borgo testifies in his touching preface for the book.
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More Details:
Author
Abdel Sellou
Pages
224
Publisher
Grand Central Publishing
Published Date
2012-06-11
ISBN
1602861838 9781602861831
Ratings
Google: 5
Community ReviewsSee all
"This book is a decent read and great way to understand this duo’s dynamic (especially if you have seen one of the movies). My biggest frustration was with the large amount of locational references in Paris and the surrounding areas, because I had to either look it up or just let it go (knowing I wasn’t getting the full picture of the description). Because geography is a large factor in the beginning of the book, it was difficult to find a good rhythm and flow through the book. About halfway through, it felt much more fluid and less choppy. I can’t see myself rereading this book, but it was very interesting and nice to see the impact one person can have on another."