Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain

Plot synopsis:
Amelie Poulain (Audrey Tautou) is the only child of Raphael and Amandine; a doctor and a schoolteacher, respectively. Raphael (Rufus) is a stoic and distant father, and never makes physical contact with his daughter except for a monthly medical checkup. When Amelie is six, he concludes that she has a serious heart defect (when in reality, Amelie's heart beats faster due to nervousness from her father's rare contact). He declares Amelie to be too delicate for school, and she is taught at home by her mother. Amandine (Lorella Cravotta) is constantly stressed and anxious, and breaks down over strange and minor events such as Amelie's goldfish leaping from its bowl. Given no mental stimulation from her parents and isolated from other children, Amelie develops an intricate imagination to entertain herself. She becomes fairly comfortable in her solitude, but her life is shaken when her mother is inadvertently fatally crushed by a suicidal tourist leaping from the roof of Notre Dame. Her father becomes deeply depressed, and Amelie receives even less parental affection. In her late teens, she moves to her own apartment and takes a job as a café waitress in Montmartre.Amelie amuses herself with life's simple, everyday pleasures, since her romantic relationships were often disappointing. She takes interest in the lives of others, but does not get involved. Residents of her apartment building include Raymond Dufayel (Serge Merlin), an elderly reclusive artist with very brittle bones; Madelene Wells (Yolande Moreau), the sulking concierge who mourns the death of her cheating husband; Collignon (Urbain Cancelier), the grouchy grocer; and Lucien (Jamel Debbouze), Colignion's clumsy employee. On August 31, 1997, as she watches a news report of Princess Diana's death, chance leads Amelie to discover a small box behind a wall in her bathroom. It contains pictures, toys, and mementos from decades before. Amelie decides to find the box's owner to return it, and if he is touched by the gesture, she will dedicate her life to such acts of kindness.After consulting Colingion's parents, who had lived in her apartment building around the time the box was hidden (roughly 1950), Amelie receives a possible name for the owner: Domonique Bredoteau. Amelie looks up several Bredoteaus in the city, but to no avail. Her neighbor Dufayel provides her with the correct spelling- Bretodeau- and Amelie is able to track him down. She slyly returns the box to him, and the aging Bretodeau (Maurice Benichou) is brought to tears by his childhood memories. After anonymously trailing him to a bar, Amelie learns that her act had inspired him to visit his estranged daughter and finally meet his grandson. Amelie is delighted.Amelie decides to encourage her aging and morose father to travel for the first time. She steals his beloved garden gnome and gives it to her stewardess friend, who takes pictures of it in famous foreign locations at her flight stops. Amelie anonymously sends the pictures to her father, hoping to inspire wanderlust. One day at the train station, Amelie encounters Nino Quincampoix (Matthieu Kassovitz), an eccentric young man whose hobby is reconstructing torn-up pictures found underneath photo booths. Nino drops one of his photo albums when chasing a mysterious man through the station, and Amelie looks through it. The man Nino was chasing appears in multiple reconstructed photos throughout the album, and Nino is intent on discovering his identity. Nino himself had an isolating childhood, much like Amelie, and the two grew up only a few miles apart, longing for friends but never meeting.Amelie decides to return the album, but is interested in meeting Nino. After visiting the pornography shop where he works as a clerk, she learns he has another job at a carnival. She sets up a series of clues for him that would eventually bring them together. Meanwhile Gina (Clotilde Mollet) , a co-worker at the cafe, is plagued by her ex-lover, Josef (Dominique Pinon), who jealously spies on her all day and mutters notes into a tape recorder. Amelie attempts to remedy this by setting him up with another co-worker, the hypochondriac Georgette (Isabelle Nanty). Meanwhile, her cat-and-mouse games with Nino have captured his attention, and he wants to meet her as well.In the meantime, Amelie steals Madame Wells's letters from her husband (written to her decades before) and cleverly creates a new letter in which he apologizes to his wife for his infidelity. After receiving the false letter, Madame Wells is overjoyed with the news that her husband loved her after all. Amelie also avenges Lucien by playing practical jokes on Colingion (whom she dislikes for constantly insulting Lucien). Amelie has regular visits with Raymond Dufayel, who has been recreating the same Renoir painting for 20 years. He reminds her that, despite her intentions to help others, she is neglecting her own pursuit for happiness. Amelie resolves to meet Nino once and for all, and lures him to her café with a note. He arrives but she is too shy to address him, even when he gently confronts her with the note. While Amelie is out of earshot, her fellow waitress Gina asks Nino to talk with her in private, to ensure that Amelie will not be hurt by him. After speaking with Nino, Gina sees that he is a good man. However, Gina's ex-boyfriend Josef sees the two leave together and, after being dumped by Georgette, reveals his (incorrect) observation that Nino and Gina are dating. Amelie hears this, and is crushed.At home, Amelie weeps while frustratingly baking a cake. She daydreams of a life with Nino, amid all the current characters in her life. She is startled when her doorbell rings. She hears Nino speaking to her from the hallway, but she is too nervous to answer. Assuming she is not home, Nino slips a note under her door, assuring her that he will return.A conflicted Amelie finds a personal videotape from Mr. Dufayel, in which he encourages her to pursue the man she loves, or risk eternal unhappiness. Amelie rushes to the door just as Nino returns. She brings him in without speaking, and after finally seeing each other under new circumstances, they begin a relationship. Some time later, Amelie and Nino are still happy together. A narrator encourages the audience to observe the miraculous details of life that occur every moment.

Tags: comedy, fantasy, whimsical, dramatic, cult, cute, magical realism, atmospheric, feel-good, psychedelic, romantic, inspiring, revenge, entertaining

Review:
I do not know any French at all, but I sure wish I was fluent watching this movie!Compared to most other films "Amelie" (and I will stick to "Amelie" since "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" is a bit long to write) is based on a rather ordinary and plain story everyone can relate to, but it is given to us in a very special kind of way, mixed with wonderful little subplots and an almost chaotic amount of details.
We get to see and experience the world and especially Paris through the filtering eyes and fantasy of Amelie, A Paris that might feel small and limited on the screen but in fact is just as big as it is in the eyes of Amelie.Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet brings to life the world of Amelie with colors, masterful camerawork and a few special effects (Well, I have certainly felt like melting a couple of times too in my life!).
It is exactly this kind of movie that could easily be overdone and lose all of its magic in the hands of the wrong person, but Jean-Pierre Jeunet never slips a single time.
For you who think you never heard of him before he is actually the same man who brought us "Alien 4" back in 1997, (I still refuse to believe he was involved in that horrible film...), and the wonderful "Delicatessen" in 1991.Audrey Tautou could not be overemphasized for her importance in portraying Amelie.
Long after the CG thrills of hyped fantasy movies and big budget Hollywood productions have faded and been forgotten, Amelie will still be jumping around in my heart, doing all those silly and charming little things I wish I dared to do too....
You can add "le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" to that list.Here is a film so original, so funny, and so warm that it left me with smiling for hours and the people on the sidewalk thinking I was crazy.
Yes it is heart warming, but not in the phony Wal-Mart commercial sense; but in the sense of how good you feel when laughing with a dear, dear friend.The film tells the story of French waitress Amélie (Audrey Tautou.) She is in her early twenties, lead a gloomy childhood and is missing something in her life until hearing of the Death of Princess Diana causes her to drop the cap of a bottle which rolls along the floor and dislodges a tile on her bathroom wall.
Brilliantly hilarious, "Amélie" has a wonderfully funny script and is brought to life in visual splendor by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet ("Alien: Resurrection", of all things) and has at its center Audrey Tatou giving one of the warmest, most sincere and funniest performances you'll see this year.I can't tell you how much I love this movie.
Short analysis on Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie PoulainFor 20 years Jean-Pierre Jeunet collected small astonishing and intriguing moments in his life, taking notes in his diary, not knowing that he was up to co-write and direct one of the most successful film in French film history.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet fell in love with the story and the film he titled Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain.
But it's popularity was even a surprise to Jean-Pierre Jeunet himself as he once stated: `I guess I have to produce a film like Alien Resurrection (USA 1997) to make a movie like Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain', obviously not aware of the films potential.
Thanks to Jean-Pierre Jeunet I had a wonderful dream, I will never forget.Jean-Pierre Jeunet and his camera man, Bruno Delbonnel, wanted to make the film look like the Spanish painter did his artwork.
Another negative and distracting thing where some scenes when Jean-Pierre Jeunet decided to show the key in Amélie's pocket after copying it and bringing the original key back to the grocer's door in a very unrealistic way.
A slice of heaven right here on earth, "Amelie" is a joy to behold, and has some of the most gorgeous cinematography I've ever seen in a movie.
The story about Amélie (Audrey Tautou) is a modern day fairy tale and that is exactly how it looks the entire film.
We have a wonderful story about Amélie who decides to help people around her, making them happy.
The story is not only sweet and charming, it has some great moments of comedy as well.The movie looks colorful and bright almost constantly.
In a way her character is really doing that here so it does not feel strange.In short 'Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain' is charming, funny, romantic bright and full of life.
Audrey is brilliant in the role of Amelie, projecting a true joie de vivre.The film is full of surprises in both plot and characters.
I related to its innocent charm and delightfully shy protagonist played by French sensation Audrey Tautou, the way very few films have.
Part of the reason we watch movies is to learn something about ourselves or recognize characters that are remarkably similar to us and the way we are in real life.
Of course I gained my fixation with films at an extremely early age, but also did stupid things like give my stuffed animals personalities and have conversations with them, draw pictures and create stories to go along with them, and laid in bed listening to the radio with the windows open on a lazy summer day imagining creatures out of the cloud formations.
Amelie did an amazing job in capturing what the world is like through the eyes of a person who doesn't really fit in, but finds joy in the simple things in life.
But it's all in good fun and filmed with the naivety that a character like Amelie would view sex as.
Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel does an excellent job in filming Jeunet's crazy vision and Audrey Tautou with her funky hairdo, wide brown eyes, and whimsical voice and kitten like mannerisms and shyness brings the movie to life.
As I said I relate to this movie and understand the character the way I do with few other movies simply because it is frighteningly very much like I tend to be in real life.
Jean-Pierre Jeunet (director and co-screenwriter) conjured the film like a dream, as if Amelie is his dream girl and he is trying to save her and bring her to a happy ending.
The film is like a non-musical "Bells Are Ringing", with our heroine bringing so much life to those around her but neglecting her wants and needs.After seeing Audrey Tautou as Amelie, I can't possibly imagine anyone else in that role.
The rich, storybook setting and a witty screenplay (asides are taken to deepen our connection each character, little things that each likes and dislikes) make the film all the more a delight to watch.
I have been a movie geek for almost 50 years, and this did NOT even remotely jump out at me as an all-time great film.
The worst part is when people go on trying to defend it, saying that the character is simply misunderstood and that since the film is french, it offers a different perspective.
Having 8.9/10 after ~22000 votes, I thought it must be superior, but was very disappointed: It's a good movie, even great one, but it DOESN'T deserve such high grades.The story-line is not surprising at all, and the story itself is not that interesting...My recommendation: avoid big expectations.
Reasons I don't like this movie are:1) All too happy in a too sweet way 2) Soundtrack, which is the most stereotyped soundtrack I have listened to 3) Characters.
Those zooms and tracking shots...I've always thought that if Amelie would have been an Hollywood movie, everyone would have said "It too sappy", but now when it is in french: "Aaah...it's so nice." Yet again, I feel I'm the only one who thinks this way.
Having watched other Jeunet's movies, I think that his style just doesn't work for me..
It has some interesting devices, like the narrator's slice of life pictures, and Amelie's projects are fun to watch.
But to me there was little emotional depth to the film and I'm afraid I kept waiting for something more involving.On the whole a good way to spend an evening, but alas, unless I missed the point, very light entertainment and not especially memorable..
Humanity...Just think about that.Have we all forgotten the sense of this word?In a world that depresses us into our little caves,in a period when no-one is safe and sure about the intentions of his/hers neighbour ,thoughts about giving LOVE and HAPPINESS to the people surrounding you,me,everyone are really really precious.
I do not want to speak about the plot,this you have already read in other comments around.I only want to say one thing.If you believe that people can love and give,then just go see this movie right now.You deserve it!P.S:The soundtrack is just "parfait" as well....
It is romantic an absolute non-icky way, it shows a humans kindness in whole new lighting and Nino and Amelie share this delicate, tender, gentle love without many words said.
Jean-Pierre made this film colorful like only few other people did or could do.
This is a delightful romance even when you watch it for the second time, My vote is nine.Title (Brazil): "O Fabuloso Destino de Amelie Poulain" ("The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain").
It seems so many people like this movie and for the life of me I cannot understand why.
The support cast are all good and features a few Jeunet regulars but really it is Tautou's film and she carries it well thanks to the great work of the director.Overall this is a surprisingly sweet film that took me by surprise and was sweetly charming and lovely without falling into cliché - it was different and quirky in a refreshingly enjoyable way.
This movie will show you that there are more people in the world like you and me.I urge you to see this film.
And of course, this being a French movie, they had to insert a totally absurd montage of people doing "it" to show us what Amélie was thinking.
I must say, "Amelie" was one of the most unexpected disappointments in my life as a cinemaphile.I love French cinema in general (as opposed to Hollywood films - even the most acclaimed ones have at least one corny moment that makes me cringe).
Because I am quite sure the director alone couldn't make this movie, how good the direction might be I think there are 2 other factors almost as important, Audrey Tautou and Yann Tiersen.
Watson is a great actress but never do I think it would have worked, mainly because Tautou IS Amelie in this movie and Amelie is FRENCH, Watson is not.
Originally Jeunet had someone else working for the movie, but one time he heard one of Yann Tiersen's songs in his car and fast he ran to buy all albums from Yann Tiersen and decided he should make the music for the film.
Yann Tiersen had anyway only 15 days to make music for the film and said he didn't have time, Jeunet proposed he could include some of Yann's old songs into the movie and the result was 9 old and 9 new absolutely wonderful, heavenly beautiful tracks all completely perfect for this film.
Nostalgic, happy, sad, energetic tracks who together with the cinematography set the right mood for the film.Another great thing about this movie are the colors, always mixing between strong red and green colors which makes you feel you are in a world which only could exist in your dreams, the most beautiful ones you ever had.
Yes, it is so french and it is so good in being french that you feel like you are french or at least wants to be sometimes when you are watching this film.
Everything from Montmarte (a character in its own in the movie), Audrey Tautou to Yann Tiersen is so french, maybe I should add it is a beautiful, positive point of view of french culture without being idealistic (all people have many problems and no one has a perfect life), never becoming uninteresting or boring.
That is why I waited long time to write about the film, I knew I couldn't stop myself from making this movie sound like the best film of all time.
Amelie is a real feel-good film, though not in the stereotypical Hollywood style.
Audrey Tautou is wonderful as Amelie, a simple girl on the surface but with astonishing inventiveness, bewildering all around her.As a director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet has a unique style.
He also likes to zoom about with his camera's, but again this all adds to the way the film completely draws you into its own world, just as Amelie draws Nico into her world without them actually really meeting.
There are some people who don't see what all the fuss is about: for them it's too sickly-sweet, or they see Amelie as a meddler or nosy-parker, but I think they've just somehow missed the essence of the film, poor things ;) Don't read too many detailed reviews before watching it, or you could spoil the surprises.
However, free speech enables me to voice my less than enthuasitic endorsement of Jeunet's "Amelie".Jenuet's "Amelie" is one of those feel-good movies that makes people dream into believing anything is possible.
I was not a huge fan of Jeunet's style - his love for hurried camerawork, frequent character zoomins and other visual imagery (the key in her pocket when she makes a duplicate) was distracting and served to just underline the lack of genuine warmth.The saving grace of the movie is the obviously talented Audrey Tautou who plays the role of the outsider to the T.
Tautou does a good job; and, I did like the colours used in each frame which gave the movie more life than it really had..
Amelie's sense of humor is exciting and this is a fantastic movie to watch on an introverted night..
Audrey Tatou is great as the shy girl out to make her small world in Montmartre a better place by finding little ways to make someone's day, but forgetting to look after her own happiness in the process.
sad but true.amelie though is a nice movie, but nothing great for people exposed to other wonderful movies from around the world.a cute but disappointing 7!.
i think most of the critics and then sections of the public that follow critics have had a taste bypass, i would love to see how people react to this film in ten years time, with embarrasment that they like it in the first place..
She seems to be saying, "Look at me, can you resist me?" And then she gives off a self-satisfied smile with the hint, "You thought I was cute before, aren't you blown away by my smile?" Ugh.But the thing that really bugs me about this movie is Amelie's conceit.
There isn't much to be said about the movie which traces the life of a simple 23-year-old French waitress with a wild imagination; however, each and every detail counts and adds something to this colorful visual painting and the experience as a whole.
"Amelie" is a charming, adorable film.Despite being a bit strange, this is still a lovely romantic comedy, with an incredible visual aspect, and great performances.The main character was unique and the performance of Audrey Tautou was completely unforgettable (And easily the best performance of her entire career) The rest of the cats was great here, too.I loved every single aspect of this film.
Why?With Amelie, one either goes with it - my guess is, that's the way to enjoy it, and what most people do - or look past the cuteness to ask, what's there?
If you feel sad these days, if you ask yourself a lot of questions about your life (professionally, privately), if you don't really believe anymore in cinema as a way to surprise you (too many a-bit-entertaining movies), I strongly recommend you this movie, this is definitely a very effective medicine.This is the first time I write a review.
They won't be.Amélie is a simple, moving, funny movie, with simple, moving and funny characters and story line, very original filming and beautiful music.
Amélie Poulain (Audrey Tautou) is a girl that never could survive by the way she acts and interferes with the lives of other people.
Maybe it's an age thing, but I found Amelie one of the most annoying movie characters I've met in a long time.
There is no dispute of the inventiveness in some parts of the film; the strong cinematography and beautiful music scores but as usual with the director's previous efforts, Amelie is full of freaks who seem to live in another planet, French movieland.The seemless half an hour of introduction is occassionally funny and downright weird most of the time, however, the movie starts to drag on after one hour and Amelie's journey to help others and find her own happiness seems like director's excuse to throw us with too many oddball characters and pointless subplots.For example, at one point, the movie moves from the lead actor's(Mathieu Kassovitz) possible lateness for the date with Amelie in the cafe to being kidnapped by terrorists.
For someone like me who have to care for the characters in order to indulge in the movie, Amelie is just a cold art fare.
I had however strong suspicions that this was not the kind of movie I'd like and I was very right for sure.The main problem with this movie is that none of the characters are real people.
All the actors and actresses are perfect, the story has you smiling and rooting for Amelie, the direction is flawless, the mystery of the guy who has his picture taken at every photo-booth in the city (only to throw away the photos) had me stumped.Frankly, if you want to know how to make a great film, study this movie..