Run time: 2h 2m
Intro
I feel that it has been sometime since I have watched a light-hearted, sweet film and so I thought to turn my attention to “Amelie”. Being known as a joyful, quirky movie I thought I’d give it a watch and find out for myself. I checked to see the film’s ratings prior to watching it and I was impressed by sparkling reviews.
Plot
The story revolves around the character Amelie as she subtly helps others around her and manipulates their lives. As the plot develops, we see Amelie striving to get out of her comfort zone and eventually she falls in love.
With a plot that is interesting and has a steady pace I believe it warrants a rating of 8/10.
Acting
Audrey Tautou plays the titular character in a way that captivates the viewer. I found myself glued to the screen as she captured the camera with her sublime acting. The critically acclaimed actor is well known for her impressive theatrical skills and she demonstrates this in every scene of the film.
Audrey Tautou steals the show with a brilliant performance as Amelie and plays a key role in making the film enjoyable to watch. She alone deserves a 9.5/10 rating.
Characters
All characters in the film are displayed as strange in their own way. The most focused upon are of course Amelie, her father, Raphael Poulain and her lover, Nino Quincampoix. Amelie’s father is taciturn and reclusive, opting to distance himself from everyone including his own daughter. Nino, on the other hand, is a peculiar man and, like Amelie, is an outsider. The two bond over their shared strangeness.
The characters are well thought out and interesting. As a viewer I could sympathise with them and enjoyed watching them grow throughout the film. Therefore, I would give them a 9/10 rating.
Aesthetic
The film was shot by Bruno Delbonnel and has a particularly unique aesthetic. Delbonnel uses a multitude of red and green colours with very few blue colours in the film, giving it a friendly, comforting appearance.
The dreamlike aesthetic created by Delbonnel compliments the film in exquisite fashion. Therefore, I give it an 8.5/10 rating.
Music
The soundtrack was composed by Yann Tiersen and blends with the plot smoothly, making for a satisfying watch. The music is playful and innocent and incapsulates the identity of the film. My favourite song in particular is the famous “Comptine d’un autre été”, which I thought was a masterpiece. I had heard this song before but did not realise it was from the movie.
With music that is tailored to suit the film perfectly, I award a rating of 9.5/10.
All in all, I thought this film was lovely. A touching story, paired with fantastic acting made for an engrossing watch. The film gave me a feeling of warmth and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a romance. Bare in mind that the film is subtitled and you may have to pay a small fee to rent or buy it as it is not available on any streaming platforms.