Amélie (2001)

Synopsis of Amélie

One woman decides to change the world by changing the lives of the people she knows in this charming and romantic comic fantasy from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Amelie (Audrey Tautou) is a young woman who had a decidedly unusual childhood; misdiagnosed with an unusual heart condition, Amelie didn't attend school with other children, but spent most of her time in her room, where she developed a keen imagination and an active fantasy life. Her mother Amandine (Lorella Cravotta) died in a freak accident when Amelie was eight, and her father Raphael (Rufus) had limited contact with her, since his presence seemed to throw her heart into high gear. Despite all this, Amelie has grown into a healthy and beautiful young woman who works in a cafe and has a whimsical, romantic nature. When Princess Diana dies in a car wreck in the summer of 1997, Amelie is reminded that life can be fleeting and she decides it's time for her to intervene in the lives of those around her, hoping to bring a bit of happiness to her neighbors and the regulars at the cafe. Amelie starts by bringing together two lonely people -- Georgette (Isabelle Nanty), a tobacconist with a severe case of hypochondria, and Joseph (Dominique Pinon), an especially ill-tempered customer. When Amelie finds a box of old toys in her apartment, she returns them to their former owner, Mr. Bretodeau (Maurice Benichou), sending him on a reverie of childhood. Amelie befriends Dufayel (Serge Merlin), an elderly artist living nearby whose bones are so brittle, thanks to a rare disease, that everything in his flat must be padded for his protection. And Amelie decides someone has to step into the life of Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz), a lonely adult video store clerk and part-time carnival spook-show ghost who collects pictures left behind at photo booths around Paris. Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amelie Poulain received unusually enthusiastic advance reviews prior to its French premiere in the spring of 2001, and was well received at a special free screening at that year's Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:

122 mins

Director(s):

Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Writer(s):

Guillaume Laurant, Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Producer(s):

Arne Meerkamp Van Embden, Claudie Ossard

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

R(Adult Humor, Sexual Situations, Watch With Your Teen, Brief Nudity)

Categories:

Romance, Comedy

• 2001 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Original Screenplay
• 2001 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Original Screenplay
• 2001 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Production Design
• 2001 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Foreign Film
• 2001 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Foreign Language Film
• 2001 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Best Foreign Film
• 2001 - Chicago Film Critics Association - Most Promising Performer
• 2001 - European Film Academy - Best European Cinematographer
• 2001 - European Film Academy - Best European Director
• 2001 - European Film Academy - Best European Film
• 2001 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Picture
• 2001 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Director
• 2001 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Original Music
• 2001 - French Academy of Cinema - Best Art Direction
• 2001 - Independent Spirit Awards - Best Foreign Film
• 2001 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Picture [Runner-up]
• 2001 - Toronto Film Critics Association - Best Director [Runner-up]

Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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