This is one of the most uplifting films I have seen in ages. A blissful feeling washed over me while watching it unfold. For two hours, the world didn't seem so cruel. People have problems in the film, but they become infected with the joy of living and that's what the film does to its audience.
The story follows a shy, quirky French girl named Amelie (Audrey Tautou), who decides her new goal in life is to do things to make people's lives better. She had a strange childhood marked with tragedy, but instead of becoming bitter, she develops a rich fantasy world in her mind. Her father Raphael (Rufus, THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN) sinks into a closed off world, living in his garden. Not that the doctor was engaging before the death of his wife, he would only touch his daughter when giving her an example, upon which her heart would race, leading him to believe she had a heart condition. Throughout the course of the film, she brings together people who hate each other, raises hopes with lies and love letters, sends a garden gnome around the world and even seeks an elaborate comeuppance on a mean shopkeeper. See the whimsy yet?
This all starts with Amelie finding a box of toys hidden the wall of her apartment. She hunts down the owner, now an adult, and watches at a distance as tears of joy well up in his eyes upon finding his box of lost treasures. Her joyous reaction to this moment is captured through fireworks of visual flare.
She later meets her ill neighbor Raymond Dufayel (Serge Merlin, THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN), a painter who obsessively repaints Renoir's LUNCHEON OF THE BOATING PARTY, but would never dream of leaving his apartment to attend a luncheon or a boating party. The old man is the only character who observes Amelie and sees that she is as lonely as he. He believes she should act on her crush with the unique young stranger named Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz, JACOB THE LIAR), who collects discarded photo booth pictures.
This is the movie that PAY IT FORWARD should have been. Now that I think about it, this film makes PAY IT FORWARD look like PATCH ADAMS (and I hated PATCH ADAMS with a passion). Few films ever change their audience members, but this one certainly made me want to be nicer.
The cinematography is breathtaking. Set in a surreal, idealized version of Paris, the city is perfect for his magical tale. This is a bright colorful fantasy with dark edges. Visual effects are used to create humorous visual metaphors. In one brilliant moment, Nino brushes Amelie's finger and she literally melts into a puddle of water.
Audrey Tautou is amazing in the title role. She could become a big star -- you can't take your eyes off of her. Her performance is subtle and shy -- pulling on the heartstrings without shoving a finger down your throat at the same time.
AMELIE is simply a magnificent film, which I would easily put in my top ten favorites of 2001. The film is full of whimsy and the driving force of the story is the simple desire to see how Amelie will help out the next person. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet should be nominated for this film. But not only for an Oscar, but also a Noble Peace Prize.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
