Synopsis
The character Amelie Poulain will stay with you like the sweet remnants of a strawberry milkshake. If you believe in fairy tales that is... Even if you don‘t, this film will take you on a fantasy ride through Amelie's colorful world where the simple acts of random kindness can indeed change people's lives. The film begins with her childhood days; we see the roots of her habits and idiosyncrasies through the events of her youth. In the second part of the film, Amelie is a beautiful but timid young woman living in Paris working in a small cafe. Through her interactions, we meet a cast of strange but lovable characters whom are affected by this unassuming young woman. One day she finds a small box of personal memorabilia, which she returns to its owner, and from this point on she becomes a very effective "guardian angel" for those around her. But her only problem is taking charge of her own happiness. But through some very clever maneuvers and of course fate and predestination, she meets the man of her dreams. Audrey Tautou, who received the César for Most Promising Actress last year, fulfills our expectations as Amelie. Her on-screen presence and her portrayal of the shy but quirky character is one hundred percent on the mark. She makes us realize that there's an 'Amelie' in all of us. Mathieu Kassovitz, internationally known director of and , plays her clueless would-be soul mate. Jean-Pierre Jeunet returns with a visually poetic film, often times leading us to reminisce about his earlier works like and . His attention to detail, his use of colors and his cast of characters many of whom are played by long time collaborators such as Dominique Pinon and Serge Merlin create a magical and timeless film full of humor, magic and mischief. If this year's PiFan began with a requiem for our dreams and hopes, may Amelie from Montmartre resuscitate our beliefs in humanity, fate and love. (Cassie YOO)