Girl on the Bridge (La Fille sur le Pont) (1999)

90% of critics liked it
(40 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(6,791 ratings)

A woman's long history of bad luck starts to change when she puts her life on the line in this romantic drama. Adèle (Vanessa Paradis) is a 22-year-old woman whose life seems to have been a long series of miscalculations; she's never had much luck with love, life, or career, and is standing on a… More A woman's long history of bad luck starts to change when she puts her life on the line in this romantic drama. Adèle (Vanessa Paradis) is a 22-year-old woman whose life seems to have been a long series of miscalculations; she's never had much luck with love, life, or career, and is standing on a bridge overlooking the Seine one night, contemplating suicide, when she's approached by a man named Gabor (Daniel Auteuil). Gabor announces he's a knife-thrower who needs a new human target for his act. Would Adèle be interested? Adèle's immediate answer is to jump into the water, but after Gabor fishes her out and gets her to a hospital, she has a change of heart and the pair are soon on their way to Monaco, where Gabor gets a spot at a circus. Adèle and Gabor make a great team; he's good with knives, she's young and beautiful, and suddenly Adèle's luck starts to change. She visits a casino one night and comes home with a fortune, and even when Gabor throws blindfolded, she walks away without so much as a scratch. However, an obvious chemistry is brewing between the two, which leads to a dilemma: Gabor has a strict policy of never getting romantically involved with his partners. Will he make an exception, or is Adèle's new run of luck coming to an end? ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Patrice Leconte
Written By: Serge Frydman
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 4, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Jul 29, 2008
Studio: Paramount Classics

Critic Reviews

Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A lovely, hopelessly romantic little bauble that catches the light no matter how you turn it.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
an oddly amusing and touching work
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It's a mish-mash of bits of old movies, but they've been wrapped up nicely.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

This is a love story for adults. The lovers' acting: impeccable. The music fits like a glove. The plot: they'll die without each other. This movie is filled with delightfully original ideas set in the surreal atmosphere of a circus, and who better than the French to pull… More
This is a love story for adults. The lovers' acting: impeccable. The music fits like a glove. The plot: they'll die without each other. This movie is filled with delightfully original ideas set in the surreal atmosphere of a circus, and who better than the French to pull that off? Tremendous tension, great dialogue, unique setting, and photography.
Luke B

A charming and romantic film. It's shot with such wonderful precision, no shot is wasted. The black and white photography gives it a softer feel. The real brilliance comes in the romantic elements being downplayed. It's the kind of love that is mostly friendship, but could… More
A charming and romantic film. It's shot with such wonderful precision, no shot is wasted. The black and white photography gives it a softer feel. The real brilliance comes in the romantic elements being downplayed. It's the kind of love that is mostly friendship, but could tip over at anytime. Any film involving a knife thrower, is bound to be good. Auteuil gives one of his best performances in an easily accessible film that transcends the usual clichÃ©d route.
Morgan G

A beautiful film. The conversation between Adele and Gabor when separated is wonderfully done, Auteuil was hillariously witty, the black and white effect was stunningly used and the ending was superbyl underdone.
El Hombre I

This is a great movie. A very touching story of Adele, a sad young woman with a uncontrollable tendency to run away with men who inevitably hurt her, and Gabor, a knife thrower with a sorrowful past. Filmed in black and white, The Girl on the Bridge is beautiful, but its narrative… More
This is a great movie. A very touching story of Adele, a sad young woman with a uncontrollable tendency to run away with men who inevitably hurt her, and Gabor, a knife thrower with a sorrowful past. Filmed in black and white, The Girl on the Bridge is beautiful, but its narrative is just as engaging as its' images. The adventures of Adele and Gabor are consistently quirky and entertaining. As they move from one locale to the next, they encounter a variety of distinctive individuals, including a contortionist, a decadent newlywed, and a woman who had previously been Gabor's assistant and lover. For anyone who realizes how happy sadness can be, the movie is a sure shot. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=GirlBridge.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/GirlBridge.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>