Even
artichokes have hearts.
Amélie Poulin is a young girl (Tautou) working
at a Parisian cafe who stumbles into her life's
calling. The television captures her attention
as she hears of Lady Diana's untimely death.
From the bathroom she wanders into the living
room to hear more, drops the cap to her perfume
bottle which subsequently rolls along the
bathroom floor until it bumps into the wall,
displacing a tile. What she finds behind the
small tile intrigues her so much that her life
becomes a mission to do good for others. She
revels in making other people happy, all the
while ignoring her own loneliness and sadness.
Her travels, and adventures, with her
'stratagems', as she likes to call them, help
her find her way to meaning and love in her own
life. Nino Quincampoix (Kassovitz) is a strange
guy who collects discarded photographs from
underneath and around passport photo machines.
He crosses paths with Amélie on a number of
occasions and their relationship is one of the
quirkiest and most lovable in recent film
history.
Virtually everything in this film works. Audrey
Tautou is sublime and lovable as the impishly
cute and kindhearted soul who finds her calling
in life by helping others find happiness. This
film will make you feel like you can change the
world for the good by creating your own little
'stratagems.' You will smile and feel good about
life every time you think of Amélie.
Jean Pierre Jeunet's camera is energetic and
vibrant as it follows our heroine around the
streets of a comical and fabled Paris. All the
characters are caricatures of stereotypical
French people, but they come across as very real
to the viewer. This is the Paris, and these are
the French people, we daydream of.
The score is one of the most beautiful I have
ever heard. Yann Tiersen is the composer who
hits every note so perfectly for the film that
it almost becomes a character itself. Music is
the most under appreciated aspect of filmmaking,
but here you will appreciate it all the way to
the record store... where you'll buy it.
The acting is absolutely wonderful. You will
fall in love with Audrey Tautou who carries
almost every scene with effortless grace. Those
big brown eyes and that ridiculously cute smile
will have you wishing she was your best friend.
All of the supporting cast, especially Mathieu
Kassovitz (The Crimson Rivers), are great in
their roles. However, Audrey Tautou, who carries
the bulk of the screen time and also the weight
of this film, is the reason that "Amelie"
succeeds in every way. She gives the best
performance of 2001 here.
I suppose this film could be termed a 'chick
flick', but I think anyone with a little
romantic idealism could appreciate this
cinematic gem!
This is one of my very favorite films!
This is why I go to the movies. If you just want
to feel good again on a bad day... Watch This
Film!
I cannot recommend a film more. I loved every
minute of it.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
In the hands of the incredibly talented actress
Audrey Tautou, "Amelie" is a film of hope and
innocence and wonder and beauty. It is the kind
of film that will make you want to dance on the
rooftops, hug a friend, embrace a loved one and
dump your change into the hands of that homeless
guy who normally irritates the hell out of you.
"Amelie" will make you celebrate life and love
and inspire you to share your love with others.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
