Amélie of Montmarte

This review is coming a bit late, but you should still be able to catch this film, and if you're in the mood for romantic whimsy, beautifully shot, this film is definately worth seeking out. (If you can't stand films with subtitles, steer clear, but try to expand your horizons a bit, sheesh!) The story starts with the tale of a little girl, Amélie, who grows up very sheltered, kept from school. She finally ends up as a waitress in a Parisian café. Her life is turned around when she finds a litle boy's secret stash of toys in her apartment. She tracks down the middleaged man that boy has become, and the success of that venture convinces her to dedicate her life to anonymous good deeds. The story progresses through a few romantic tales, including a man Amélie is drawn to, if only she can find the courage (assisted with the fragile boned artist who lives downstairs). The man of her dreams goes from photobooth to photobooth, collecting the discarded images into a big notebook. To say this movie is gorgeous is an understatement (directed by the co-director of "Delicatessen" and "The City of Lost Children", his power with the camera is formidable), but it's not flawless. It's a bit too self-consciously sweet, the drama more magical than based on human experience. And it runs a shade long. Still, it's a terrific film: a huge hit in France, it's too bad it hasn't escaped the arthouse circuit here. There's a neat English-language website for the film that gives you an idea of its visual flair, as well as introduces you to the characters. In a harsh world, you owe it to yourself to see a film like this, in the cinema or when it comes out on video.

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