Amelie

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: April 25, 2001 (France/Belgium/Switzerland) / November 16, 2001 (USA)

DVD Release Date: July 16, 2002

Plot 411: An isolated girl devotes her life to making others happy and eventually finds happiness for herself.

Review: Audrey Tautou stars as Amelie, a young woman who works in a cafe. She has spent her entire life separate from other people and is always on the outside looking in. She is shy and quiet. When she finds a tin box hidden in the wall of her bathroom, she decides to find its owner and return it to him. Once she sees how much joy this causes, she decides to continue to help people and act like a guardian angel. She receives joy through their joy, even if she is unable to experience it for herself. This movie is pretty amazing from a visual and creative standpoint. One could say that this movie is odd or quirky, maybe even weird, but I think it's intriguing. It's completely obvious that Americans would never be able to make a film like this. This movie is light and funny, charming and sweet. It's almost dream-like in some scenes. I love the colors of the sets and costumes. They're so vibrant sometimes that they seem unreal, and yet this film is set in modern Paris. It's interesting how the every day is woven with the fantastical.

Watch It: If you've ever felt like you're different.

Skip It: If you're one of those mainstream-only moviegoers. This is indie AND foreign. Take that!