Paris in Film

Since I can't live in Paris at the present, one way I get my Paris "fix" is through cinema.  In the odd chance that there is anyone else like me out there (that is, ridiculously obsessed with the City of Light), I thought I would post a little about my go-to movies about Paris for when I am missing it most. 

There are tons of movies out there in which Paris is the backdrop. But there are few movies, in my humble opinion, in which Paris is the star. The three movies below are ones that, to me, really capture the true essence and beauty of Paris and leave me feeling both satisfaction and yearning for my beloved city.

1. Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (better known as just Amélie)

Amélie is not only a great Paris movie, it's an outright great movie - period. (probably my favorite movie of all time). And while I think it's the cat's meow, I have come to understand that it is not for everyone. It is very quirky in a very French kind of way...if you don't know what I mean, you will just have to watch it. And just so you know...it is a French film. Which means it is in French.  So unless you're fluent, subtitles are a must!

The story takes place in Montmartre - the area of Paris that was formerly home to the impressionists & post-impressionists and is still home to la vie Bohème and, of course, the famous Moulin Rouge.  The movie follows the life of Amélie Poulain, a shy waitress played by Audrey Tautou, who sets about doing good deeds to make others' lives a little happier. But what about poor, lonely Amélie? Of course there is a love story involved, but not in a cheesy rom-com sort of way. If you want to watch a  unique movie that will make you feel good AND give you great views of Paris, then I highly recommend this film.

Photo Credit: J. Boyer-Switala (2008)

And if you are ever in Montmartre, you can dine at Le Café des Deux Moulins where Amélie worked (see photo above).  I had a glass of wine and some melon and prosciutto there once. There is  plenty of Amélie memorabilia there and even the Polaroids of the traveling gnome!

2. Midnight In Paris

I must admit, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris is giving Amélie a real run for its money in the favorite movie ever category! The first two and a half minutes alone are worth watching over, and over, and over again (yes, I've done that...is there a problem?!) Even if you don't care to watch the whole movie (which is utterly inconceivable to me and I must vehemently point out that you are missing a truly amazing film!) you should at least watch the first two and a half minutes as it showcases Paris' beauty and splendor to a really fantastic soundtrack!

The story really well written - witty, thoughtful, and honest. It appeals to multiple generations (case in point: it even captivated my fidgety 11-year-old son). However, it is particularly charming if you know your "Lost Generation" literature/history.  I absolutely love Owen Wilson's character, Gil Pender. How could I not? Gil (also my grandfather's name!) is me in male form. His thoughts and feelings about Paris are so much my own, that it is like Woody Allen was inside my head as he was writing the script. This movie was perfectly cast and really brings to life some of history's finest writers and artists. In fact, my literary crush on Hemingway was furthered by the spot-on portrayal in Midnight. 

My favorite line, however, was spoken by Marion Cotillard's character, Adriana. She says, "That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me." *Sigh* Exactly.

And for the record, the soundtrack is amazing. I rarely buy entire albums on iTunes, but this was well worth it!

3. Paris, Je T'Aime

Of the three movies listed, Paris Je T'Aime (translation: Paris, I Love You) probably gives  the best insight into modern Paris' many faces. It is a series of 20 vignettes, each written and directed by the likes of greats such as Wes Craven, the Coen brothers, and Gérard Depardieu, and stars tons of top actors such as Natalie Portman, Juliette Binoche, Elijah Wood, and Steve Buscemi. The common themes: Paris and love. 

Some stories are sad. Some are funny. Several touch on the modern social and political issues facing Paris today, such as the perceptions (or perhaps more correctly, misconceptions) of its Muslim population, not to mention its African and Asian populations. Some are through the eyes of Americans - the one with Steve Buscemi and his encounter at the Tuileries métro station is hilarious, yet rings true. And of course, one vignette tackles the gritty subject that intrigues yet horrifies many: the Parisian mime. 

But my favorite is most certainly the last. You can't help but love Carol, the mail carrier from Denver, who narrates in her very American accented French. This one makes me cry every time because she speaks what my heart has felt and I could never quite put into words. Sitting on a park bench she says,


And then something happened, something that is hard to describe. Sitting there in a foreign country, far from my job and all the people I knew, a feeling came over me. As if I recalled something, something that I had never known and for which I had been waiting. But I didn't know what it was. Maybe it was something I had forgotten. Or something I had missed my whole life. I can only tell you that at the same time I felt joy and sadness. But not a great sadness. Because I felt alive. Yes. Alive. That was the moment I fell in love with Paris and the moment that I felt that Paris had fallen in love with me.