Amélie, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, is a romantic comedy set in idyllic Paris. The film chronicles the fantastical and amusing life of Amélie Poulin, played by Audrey Tautou. In Amélie, Jeunet creates a heart-warming, philosophical, and very stylish French film. The character Amélie is a charming, introverted wallflower who notices the minute details of life, which many people overlook. One day, she accidentally discovers something in her apartment that propels her on a journey where she encounters an assortment of eccentric characters. Their relationships are warm, quirky, and authentic. The style of this film, particularly the cinematography and music, is what hooked me. Jeunet uses color filters that give the entire film an antique, cartoonish, and magical quality, which aids the viewer’s suspension of disbelief. The music ranges from hauntingly beautiful to silly to otherworldly.

Amélie — both the character and the film — are full of love, joy, wisdom, and leave one feeling that you’ve spent time with the closest of friends.

9.8/10