It's 5 years old, yet somehow I managed to miss out on Amelie for a very long time. I don't know why. It always happens that I miss out on films I really want to see unless I can get people to see them with me. And I only have one friend who enjoys watching artsy and/or foreign language films with me.
So, it just so happens that I was in Chicago this weekend visiting that same friend, and she owns a copy of this movie. What a treat! It lived up to my expectations. So quirky, so cute. French films are, most of the time, masterpieces because French filmmakers are not hampered by the pseudo-industrial complex that plagues Hollywood. I don't like all French films, mind you, but they are mostly well put together. After all, La Femme Nikita spawned an American remake and a TV series.
This movie was feel-good. A pre-Da Vinci Code Sophie Neveu shines as the title character, who, due to her eccentric upbringing, is extremely introverted. Yet, with her big imagination, she has a big heart, and aims to visit kindnesses on people she meets; except when it comes to a man she wants to meet. She must struggle with taking the risk and talking to him and creates elaborate ways to help her conquer her fear.
It's got such a sense of humor about it, this movie. It's completely infectious. I rate this movie 10 out of 10 (a masterpiece!).
The test: will she be buying it? The answer: I think I may. I could watch it again because it made me smile. Maybe I'll try watching it without subtitles the next time...finally all that French in high school and college may be good for something.