Amélie

Originally published Feb 6, 2024

This review is brought to you by Brynn Abner, per her request.

I’ve seen my fair share of quirky films by quirky filmmakers, from Wes Anderson to Tim Burton, but none of these American-made films could prepare me for perhaps one of the most endearingly bizarre movies ever to cross my path: Amélie. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Amélie follows an introverted girl who, having spent a childhood largely devoid of love, makes it her life’s mission to brighten the lives of those around her. Being the first French film I’ve ever seen, I was wholly unprepared for what was in store. 

To cut to the chase, this was a really fun movie. Amélie has got to be one of the most fascinating protagonists I’ve ever seen in film. She doesn’t particularly stand out at a surface level, yet her selflessness, her wide-eyed mischievousness and juxtaposing shyness make her a scene-stealing sight to behold. The supporting cast is mostly enjoyable as well, from Amélie’s eccentric photo-collecting love interest, to her reclusive brittle-boned artist neighbor, and even the mean-spirited grocer Amélie wages psychological warfare on with her practical jokes. The overall story, while slow in some parts, kept me invested in Amélie’s escapades while leaving no loose end unresolved. The editing was occasionally distracting, but it still had a sharpness about it that put us in Amélie’s shoes. If I had any real issue with the movie, it would probably be the matchmaking subplot between Amélie’s hypochondriac co-worker and a café regular, mostly because the latter was an unsettling creep from start to finish (Seriously, who tape-records people’s actions in public!?).

I didn’t expect to like this movie as much as I did, yet Amélie made an almost magical movie out of a mundane premise I won’t soon forget. Watch it if you will.

Rating: 8.8/10