My Amelie Review

Amelie Review

The director

Le fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain

I’d say the majority of the worlds population today would much rather sit down infront of a television screen and put on a Hollywood film rather than a Foreign one. I once would agree but after watching the french film of ‘Le fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain (Amelie- as English title) I have discovered that foreign films can be just as good, even better than those of a Hollywood Style. I feel that most people are overtaken and constantly bombarded with new Hollywood films that the decent films, such as french films, are chucked to the bottom of the pile whichshould not be the case. Amelie had received 6 oscar nominations and was nominated for the best foreign film; i’m sure that the film you would sit down and watch will not fit this description.

The director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, had directed many other foreign films such as ‘The city of lost children’ and ‘Delicatessen’ both of which have followed Jeunets signature style of ‘Cinema du Look’. Cinema du Look ensures the film to have dramatic colours, this is done by the cameras having coloured filters normally greens, reds, yellows and blues. Also, it is presented as being the Idyllic version of Paris where there is no graffiti, no traffic, no crowds, no violence or anything that would bring down the appearance of Paris. The action is also filmed with a wide angle lens which creates the characters and their surroundings distorted. Jean-Pierre Jeunet has a background of creating animated films, this ensure her to add to the cinema du look style of film by viewing Amelie’s imagination as reality, for example: the lamps and ornaments that talk to Amelie.

Unlike other films, ‘Amelie’ does not have a one set main character- each of the 14 characters have a specific personality and reasoning to be in the film, all create the film to be special in its own way and as the audience we feel an individual connection to each and every one of them. Talking directly to the camera creates a more intimate feel to the characters, especially Amelie, which creates you to feel connected and as if they are talking directly to you.

Amelie Poulain (Audrey Tautou) herself is a 23 year old woman that gains pleasures from the simple things in life; the opening sequence demonstrates the 6 year old Amelie doing things such as putting a raspberry on each finger and eating them off or putting her finger around the ring of a wine glass which brings her happiness. Unlike the typical 6 year olds that would find life pleasures by playing with family and friends, Amelie had a very tough childhood and almost felt disowned by her parents.