Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) (2001)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bob S

  
  time to see again

• xGary X

  
  Amelie is a young woman who grew up with only her emotionally challenged parents for company, and now lives in a world which is a combination of fantasy and vicarious experience as she touches the lives of those around her. Amelie is also a the kind of film that reminds you why you… More
  Amelie is a young woman who grew up with only her emotionally challenged parents for company, and now lives in a world which is a combination of fantasy and vicarious experience as she touches the lives of those around her. Amelie is also a the kind of film that reminds you why you fell in love with cinema in the first place; and not just because Audrey Tautou is so adorable I could eat her up with a dessert spoon. Well, not entirely anyway. Some may be shocked to hear that I'm not exactly a fan of romances, but this is bittersweet, funny and touching in a way all romance aspires to but very few achieve; it's one of those films that's life affirming in a way that makes you feel like your life is richer for having seen it. Compared to this, the likes of Eternal Sunshine and its ilk are like inebriated, club-footed bullocks with poor depth perception crashing around in an existential china shop. Chock full of beautiful images and sounds, thought provoking and utterly enchanting, and an instant favourite. Just see it; your life will be better for it...

• Sophie B

  
  A fantastically written, shot and edited film with something for everyone. It keeps you interested throughout the film, wondering which way it's going to turn next. You're never sure they're going to have a happy ending which keeps the tension and believability of the… More
  A fantastically written, shot and edited film with something for everyone. It keeps you interested throughout the film, wondering which way it's going to turn next. You're never sure they're going to have a happy ending which keeps the tension and believability of the film. Brilliant performance by Tautou and just such a great watch that you can see it again and again and still find out something new. A must-see.

• Daniel J D

  
  Don't know how I missed this film for so long because it's become my favorite film. It's like Tim Burton but French, French, here, meaning "better."

• Mark W

  
  Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's collaboration with co-writer/director Marc Caro resulted in a couple of marvellous and inventive films in "Delicatessan" and "The City of Lost Children". Those two had a dark element to them but now that Jeunet has went his own… More
  Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's collaboration with co-writer/director Marc Caro resulted in a couple of marvellous and inventive films in "Delicatessan" and "The City of Lost Children". Those two had a dark element to them but now that Jeunet has went his own way, "Amelie" shows that he is the one that possesses the lighter side of the duo. In the heart of Paris, Amelie (Audrey Tautou) brings joy to her friends, secretly sorting out the sad little problems in their lives. But when she discovers a strange photo album belonging to Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz) she realises that she is in love and has problems of her own to sort out. I struggle to think of a contemporary film that boasts such richness in detail and creative, infectious enthusiasm as 'Amelie' does. It's playfulness, poetry and emotion are rarely touched upon these days in film and director Jean-Pierre Jeunet deserves applause for his uplifting achievements here. It's also stunningly shot by cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel (inspired by the paintings of Brazilian artist Juarez Machado) lending an artistic look to the highly creative and artistic content. Without being overly elaborate though, it finds its art in the simple things in life, observing people's individual pleasures and pains. Quite simply, the whole film is a complete joy to behold. The performances are also delightful. As much as I'm an admirer of actress Emily Watson (whom the role of Amelie was originally intended) I'm glad the relatively unknown Audrey Tautou got the part. She is absolutely adorable and captures the essence of this wonderful character perfectly. With flair and originality that's hard to come by these days, 'Amelie' is one of the most beautiful pieces of cinema I have seen and will always be one of my favourites. The humour; the look; the characters and performances; the delightful and fitting music by Yann Tiersen all culminate into the ultimate feel-good film and confirmation of the creativity and inventiveness of French cinema. A heartwarming modern classic.

• Drake T

  
  Stylistically ravishing, Amelia is a movie that not only charms like no other but also delivers a delightful adventure about finding innocence in otherwise dreary circumstances. Romance, fun, self discovery all delivered with imagination. A good watch.

• Jan Marc M

  
  Amélie is a delightful, charming, and innocent satire on love and reality. Whimsical, stylized storytelling. An unforgettable adventure of identity and romance. Audrey Tautou, the cast, and the movie and its technical cinematography are all fabulously radiant.

• Jon J

  
  With all of the hustle and bustle of modern day life, we often tend to forget the simple pleasures of our existence. Everything in our society needs to have a "purpose", a raison d'être outside of just being simple entertainment. Amélie is a celebration of those little… More
  With all of the hustle and bustle of modern day life, we often tend to forget the simple pleasures of our existence. Everything in our society needs to have a "purpose", a raison d'être outside of just being simple entertainment. Amélie is a celebration of those little frivolities, blending a wealth of colors and charming characters to create a world that seems far more energetic, hopeful and filled with life than an outward glance may suggest. That is not only where the film succeeds, but where it utterly triumphs over most of its romantic and comedic competitors. It's a special, wonderful film that is nothing more than a modern classic. Amélie Poulain is an eccentric young girl with a roving imagination and an infinitely charming disposition. One day, she finds a little tin box in a hidden compartment at her home. Inside the box is an assortment of memorabilia and trinkets, and she makes it her mission to find the owner of this treasure. When the return of the box triggers a slight reform in the habits of its owners, Amélie decides to try and help everyone that she can. This kind goal leads not only to the happiness of others, but to her finding her one true love on the way. Audrey Tautou is absolutely entrancing as the lead role of Amélie. She is both quirky and warm, without feeling forced in her acting. It is an essential quality of the film, since she is of course the focal force of it all. Amélie's actions, however small, are testaments to her caring nature and in return she gets to see the lives of others change in interesting ways. The supporting cast does a great job of being simultaneously extensions of Amélie's kindness and independently interesting characters. In the beginning, we are given a few random facts about each of them which oddly enough give more depth to their character than otherwise. What they love, what they hate, it creates a lasting bond with the characters that never goes away. That is what makes Amélie wonderful. It doesn't focus on what is obvious, but focuses more on what is important to the individual. Age, job, past difficulties and successes, all of these things are forgotten shortly after their announcement. However, the fact that Amélie loves to skip stones, that she loves to crack the caramelized sugar on a créme brulée with a teaspoon; that is what says more about her character than anything else. She is also always learning something new and in her pursuit of granting others happiness, she learns a lot about herself too and her weaknesses. The people she meets become both mentors and recipients of kindness, helping her in finding her way as much as being helped themselves. Jean-Pierre Jeunet is ever present in the film's look and direction. Amélie is a film that, not surprisingly, takes pleasure in being flamboyant and at times random. Some scenes are fast-forwarded, in others the camera shakes profoundly to emulate a speeding locomotive's force and the desperation of the moment. The surroundings are bursting with color, beautiful reds, yellows and oranges ornate the scenery and makes it its own character in the film. Jeunet specializes in being whimsical and its here where his vision really gets to shine. Instead of alluding to certain elements, he'll often just show it out right. If Amélie is imagining something, we get to see it happen in real time. Amélie becomes all the more special for it and it helps to maintain an almost constant dream-like sheen over the film. Amélie is just filled with life and energy, and instead of being overbearing and obnoxious, it delivers its vision, its message and its glee with an effortless panache. It's both funny, heart-felt and pretty, rising out of the crowd like the character Amélie herself. It never loses sight of humanity's lighter side and instead of looking through the eyes of a pessismist, what we see is a society that just needs a helping hand. What we must do, then, is be like Amélie, and take life as the gift that it is.

• Morgan S

  
  Great movie! Still so fresh and funny 9 years later and im sure it will be in 90 years. A feel good movie that really makes me want to move to Paris.

• Shawn E

  
  A french comedy that's bright, quirky, and heartwarming. It's no challenge for innocent Amelie to make you crack a smile at her peculiar ways.

• Cindy I

  
  For some unknown reason, I kept putting off seeing this delightful film, even though everybody kept telling me to see it. One of these days I'll learn to listen.

• Spencer S

  
  Goofy, manic, informational, ironic, and gorgeous. Jeunet does it once more with great casting and cinematography.

• Jameson W

  
  A great little film about life and the little things that make it special. This movie is so clever, creative, and quirky. Audrey Tautou is so perfect. A great film!

• John H

  
  The beautifully designed visuals and technical effects may take away from an every shifting ring of love stories, but the characters are so charming and cute that this hilarious and adorable romantic comedy becomes such a fun and enjoyable way to spend 2 hours.

• familiar s

  
  Simply not my type of flick; felt it quite boring & yawn-inducing.

• Jeremy S

  
  Much beloved (not much by the French)Amelie is a heart warming, beautiful film ultimatley about faith in the goodness of the human spirit.

• Tim S

  
  A whimsical masterpiece.

• Jennifer D

  
  Story: fabulous. Visually: stunning, fantastic, revolutionary, amazing. Acting: fantastic. I just hands down love EVERYTHING about this film.

• Wahida K

  
  The Character of Amèlie reminds me of someone I know. A beautiful Story with Beautiful and great acting.

• Thomas B

  
  I had no idea what I was getting into when I sat down to watch this film. I had no idea that in a few seconds I was about to be transported into the France which people talk about, this city of soft sunlight, beautiful surrounds and sleepiness in which a strange little girl named… More
  I had no idea what I was getting into when I sat down to watch this film. I had no idea that in a few seconds I was about to be transported into the France which people talk about, this city of soft sunlight, beautiful surrounds and sleepiness in which a strange little girl named Amelie lives. Kudos to Jean-Pierre Jeunet for creating this amazing atmosphere of beauty and serenity as well as a sense of childlike wonder in his amazing direction. Amelie herself draws you into this world which views everything slightly askew from the norm. A world where a young girl's only friend is a suicidal goldfish, a mother can be assissinated by a tourist from Quebec and relationships are composed of sending the other party on endless missions in order to keep anonymity. At the end of the film, no one wants to move, even when the credits are rolling. Both times I have watched it, the people I have watched with have not moved a muscle once the credits started rolling, only stirring when the production company's name appears. This is a testament to the incredible power which this film holds, holding the viewer in a state of suspended animation and hanging on every word the character's say. Audrey Tautou is absolutely incredible, not even needing to say a word in order to make herself understood. Her quirky glances at the screen are a great addition to the action around, almost as if she were trying to include us on what was happening in front of us. Even though there is a rather large cast, very little time is spent on them. In most films this could be a problem. In Amelie, however, our main character is so interesting, so engaging, that one never feels bored. This is a huge compliment to the script writers who come up with the most brilliant ideas at every turn. This is a great film and even if you hate subtitles, you'll love this film. In fact, learn French just so that you can watch the flm. Defining Scene: Amelie watches her own funeral on television. Incredibly inventive story telling.

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