Abdel Sellu is a man who became famous all over the world thanks to the film "The Untouchables". The plot of this film is the story of his life. A few years before the picture was released on the screen, he wrote a book of memoirs by Abdel Sell. “You changed my life” is a work about the extraordinary fate of an ordinary person. The article will talk about this book.
Arab Parisian
Abdel Sellou was born in Algeria. But when the boy was four years old, he ended up in Paris. His parents gave him up for education in a childless Arab family living in the French capital. For the inhabitants of North Africa, this act was neither reprehensible nor unusual. So did many low-income residents of Algeria. The Sellu spouses gave their sons to be raised by distant relatives, but left their daughters to themselves: they were more useful at home.
Abdel Sellou, whose biography began in one of the disadvantaged districts of Paris, would never have written a book about his life if one day fate had not brought him to a man named Philippe Pozzo di Borgo. The author of the work discussed in this article, reluctantly studied at school, spent most of his time on the Parisian streets in search of easy money. HeHe lived without thinking about tomorrow and about the pain he caused to loved ones. So his whole life would have passed if it were not for the events that formed the plot of the film "The Untouchables".
Early years
What was the childhood of an Algerian boy like? Was he treated harshly? Did his foster parents neglect him?
The first thing Abdel Sellou learned was to steal. His education consisted of six grades of school. He spent so much time at the police station that he felt like a fish in water there. At least until he was eighteen. But neither the parents, nor the environment, nor the Parisian society blames Abdel Sella. “You changed my life” is the memoir of a man who from an early age was convinced that in order to get something, there is no need to make an effort. You can simply reach out and take it.
Foster parents
The people who took Abdel Sella to raise were from Algeria. They had no idea how to raise children, what is the education system in Parisian schools. They took care of their adopted sons, bought everything they needed. Foster parents never restricted the freedom of boys. Under such conditions, Abdel Sellu - an extremely freedom-loving and energetic person - had every chance of becoming a thief and a criminal. He could spend a good part of his life behind bars. If not for the occasion…
Criminal Talent
Teachers often kicked Abdel out of class, which brought him great joy. The Arab boy had the opportunity to examine the contents of the pockets of French children and acquire everything necessary. In his youth, he was already an experienced extortionist. And by the age of twelve, Abdel had lost his last chance to become a law-abiding citizen. Foster parents - kind and naive people - could hardly change anything in his fate.
Party frequenter
This is the name of one of the chapters that make up the book. Abdel Sellou changed life gradually. This process was lengthy and almost imperceptible to others. And, according to Abdel, the changes in his life would not have taken place without the unobtrusive intervention of the first and only friend - Philip Pozzo.
Before meeting with the French aristocrat, Abdel was prosecuted more than once. He spent ten months in the Fleury prison, which he called ironically in his book "a rest home." Prior to meeting Philippe, Abdel led a life that suited him perfectly.
What is the main feature of the book? Its author does not talk about the difficulties of a poor Arab youth, who was turned away by French society. Rather, it tells about the life of a lazy, adventurer and thief who does not want to start a normal life, despite the help of loving parents, social workers and employers. He didn't want to change anything. He thought he was living the right life.
Philippe Pozzo not only changed his fate. This man first of all helped Abdel realize how wrong his ideas about life were.
Unemployment benefit
What was Abdel Sellou like in the late eighties? Photos of this person are available in this article. They are images of an ordinary but charming man of Arab origin. It is hard to think that this man had no idea about honest work until the age of twenty-four.
Besides stealing, Abdel practiced another way to make a profit. After his release from prison, he, with little effort, pretended to be a young man who wholeheartedly wants to improve. Periodically, he appeared at the labor exchange, received another referral. Going to a potential employer, he knew for sure that he would be refused. And so, unemployment benefits. Everything went according to plan until he met Philip Pozzo. He, reviewing hundreds of candidates for the position of a nurse, to the surprise of relatives and friends, chose a young, uneducated and impudent Arab.
Strange union
It's hard to imagine more different people. Philip is a descendant of an aristocratic family, a we althy and educated person. Abdel is the adopted son of immigrants from Algeria. Philippe Pozzo spoke the language of Victor Hugo. Abdel Sellou spoke in Parisian jargon. But, oddly enough, an uneducated young man with a criminal past not only earned the trust of a French aristocrat, but also supported him for ten years.
Beatrice
At forty-three, Philip becamedisabled. An unsuccessful paragliding flight turned him into a tetraplegic. And a few years before this event, Beatrice, Philip's wife, was diagnosed with cancer. Surprisingly, a terrible accident that occurred in 1993 led to the fact that the disease receded for two years. It was a remission. Both relatives and doctors believed that the medicines had worked. Abdel lived in Philippe Pozzo's house for over a year before Beatrice relapsed.
Abdel's friend was able to come to terms with his disability even without his help. To survive the death of Beatrice alone, he was unable to. After the death of this woman, Abdel pulled Philip out of his depression. The uneducated and highly unpredictable Arab returned the taste for life to the rich French man. How did he do it?
Learn to live again
Abdel arranged unexpected and crazy adventures for his ward. The creators of the feature film "The Untouchables" included one of them in the plot.
Abdel and Philip went to the conference. An Arab nurse is driving a Jaguar. But it so happened that in a hurry the driver violated the rules of the road. The next half hour was a scene in which acting skills were discovered not only by the adventurer Abdel, but also by the intelligent Philip. How this adventure ended, everyone who watched the film about the life of these two extraordinary people knows. But few people know that there were many such adventures. To learn more about male friendship, compassion and mutual assistance, you should read the book written by Abdel Sellou.
"You changed my life" reviews
The story of the friendship of people from different social worlds has become extremely popular. The union of two people so dissimilar to each other cannot but delight. One is physically he althy and needs money. Another has everything a friend dreams of, but is deprived of the ability to move independently. Abdel is an ignorant person. Philip is not just educated. He is a fine connoisseur in various fields of art. And these people, so different at first glance, spent most of their time together for ten years. They found common topics for conversation, organized joint trips.
The story told by Abdel Sellu in his book did not leave readers indifferent. At least those who know her leave only laudatory reviews about the work.
Life changes
Abdel sure that Philip changed his fate. In his book, he talks about how he did it. Philip Pozzo knew little about his friend's past. He often tried to call Abdel for a conversation, but he completely refused to remember, let alone analyze his life. But one day Philip managed to get through to his friend. Abdel visited Algiers and visited his family. Surprisingly, all those years that he lived in Paris, he remembered little about his native city. But as soon as he crossed the threshold of his parents' house, memories flooded back. And soon Abdel received an offer to write a book. It was Philip who convinced him not to give up this seemingly crazyideas.
Memoirs
Abdel Sellou is a writer? For those who knew this man in the mid-eighties, it would seem that such a statement is fantastic. Abdel began to read only after spending several years in the house of a French aristocrat. Philip told him about the history of literature. In the world of art, he tried to dedicate his friend unobtrusively, casually. And, perhaps, it was thanks to this approach that Abdel changed his inner world.
His book is written in simple but lively language. It arouses interest among readers primarily due to sincerity. In his memoirs, Abdel does not strive to appear better. He analyzes his actions strictly and impartially. Abdel admits that the work of a nurse, which initially attracted him with the opportunity to earn money and regularly use the luxurious owner's cars, subsequently completely changed his outlook on life.
Only friend
Years have passed. Now Abdel no longer accompanies Philip everywhere. He has not acted as an assistant and nurse for a person chained to a wheelchair for a long time. They are just friends. Everyone has their own life. Abdel founded a poultry farm, in which Philip also played a significant role.
The author of the famous book of memoirs got married. Today he is a respectable father of three children. Abdel Sellu managed to improve relations with his parents: both with relatives and with adoptive ones. In the epilogue of his book, he admits to readers that in his life he had many friends, accomplices and accomplices. A friend is just one. His name is Philip Pozzo di Borgo.
