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mroman
Reviews
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
A rare gift of a movie, appealing to our appreciative, childish selves
Watching Amelie was for me like standing by a kindred spirit. It was so refreshing to watch the escapades and be able to identify with someone who appreciates the small things, is a small light of sensitivity and innocent good will, but also a lively and enthusiastic spark, a creative bringer of joy (and occasionally retribution) to others. The scene of Bretodeau's reunion with his childhood treasure box was priceless. As was Amelie's standing alone in the train station, having missed her chance to connect with Nino, or her melting into a flood of water, when Nino leaves the restaurant. Or her walking the blind man across the street and flooding him with sensations of the marketplace. Or her imagined arrival of Nino prior to the moving bead curtain, .... Ah, such magic moments of moviedom. Even to see one such moment in a movie is a fine thing, but Amelie had so many. Also, the many secondary characters all came alive as one could sense their stories and life's paths, that they had suffered, but could smile still. Little joys amidst hurts. Overall, a finer movie experience is hard to find. Amelie has an innovative script, beautiful cinematography, lots of silliness, heartfelt yearnings, and love finally found between people you can actually like and care for. And its a movie that seems to laugh at itself, too. :^) Bravo! Magnifique!
Fuori dal mondo (1999)
One of the finest movies I've seen in a long while.
A quiet movie that makes you appreciate humanity. The characters are made very real, and you feel for their situation. It had me reflecting much on my own life and the people in it, where I was going, and such. Not sure how to describe how or why it moved me, but I suspect it was the combination of a) slow pacing, allowing you time to notice things in the lives portrayed, to draw your own conclusions, expectations, to identify with numerous little things that happen. b) a beautiful musical score c) fine acting d) fine cinematography e) numerous story threads, presented in a non-judgmental way, such as the novices struggling with the choice of nun-hood; the laundry-owner's aloof life; and the mother-daughter relationships. f) adequate suspense, in that you wanted to know how things would resolve Anyhow, am just very grateful for such movies being made.