Amélie (2001) Review

Amélie (2001)

Amélie follows Amélie Poulain, who secretly orchestrates the life and happiness of those around her, while struggling to obtain her own happiness.

Amélie is a very French film, right down to the color palette, music, and themes. There’s an inherent beauty in the minuscule, with each detail having a special quality due to the over-contextualization that is present, where everything, gets some level of chaotic reference. It’s a small facet but it goes a long way in fleshing out SO MANY characters in such a short amount of time, where by the end, you understand their ticks, their passions, their dislikes, and what makes them who they are. Which is important when relating to Amélie. She is a woman of very few words, something the filmmakers pull of well, using closeups of her many of expressions to speak aloud how she feels. So, when it comes to doing random acts of kindness (or even pranks), getting to know who these people are is important.

Setting the film through the filtering eyes and fantasy of Amelie is what makes it stand out; as a character, she is incredibly unique. Anti-social, unable to accurately express emotions, with the mind and heart of a young girl. Having her struggle with finding her own love and happiness, while improving the lives of those around her is very poetic, making her movie long venture for love all the more special when it finally occurs.

We get a terrific cast, starring Serge Merlin, Rufus, Mathieu Kassovitz, and Audrey Tautou. Tautou is simply perfect, with her animated expressions and intriguing style going a long way in making her such a loving and endearing character. Truly, no one else could have pulled off such a complex role as she did here.

Amélie, directed by Jean- Pierre Jeunet, captures the charm and mystery of modern-day Paris, all through the eyes of an innocent protagonist who seeks to express herself creatively in the expressionist landscape that is France, seeking love for herself and for those who let it pass them by. I don’t get the chance to see many films like this—heartwarming films of passion and purity—which is why I thoroughly love this movie. It’s different, it’s gorgeous, and above all else, it’s kind in it’s ability to show the child-like aspect of curiosity.

9.8/10