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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready....
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Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready....
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Paris
Stars: Juliette Binoche, Romain Duris, Albert Dupontel, Julie Ferrier, Fabrice Luchini and Francois Cluzet Director/Scriptwriter: Cedric Klapisch Composers: Robert Burke, Loic Dury and Christophe Minck Cinematography: Christophe Beaucarne Studio Canal Productions Rating: R for language and sexual theme Running Length: 130 minutes French language with subtitles Paris is, indeed, a beautiful city with a certain freedom about it. It has been called The City of Love and The City of Light. Everything comes together in director Cedric Klapisch’s latest film, Paris, which is a tale of love, sadness, grieving, dance, children, cooking and even, escape. Five major individuals show us their stories and all to the background of the photography of Christophe Beaucarne and music by Robert Burke, Loic Dury and Christophe Minck. Paris begins with Pierre (Romain Duris) a professional dancer, at the top of his form. He lives in a beautiful hi-rise and a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower, especially by night. Unfortunately, Pierre finds he has a defective heart and is on the transplant list. To care for him, his sister, Elise (Juliette Binoche) and her children, move into his apartment. Though it can be cramped quarters, there is clearly affection here. The kids love their uncle as a babysitter and you will see why. As Elise moves through the marketplace each day, other characters and their stories come into play. The men there clearly think she is beautiful, but Elise, a widow, is shy. Of the market men, one stands out and that is Jean (Albert Dupontel) who is almost finished divorcing his wife, Caroline (Julie Ferrier.) Almost, because he clearly still loves her. It is one of these situations where they love each other, but can’t live together. Another story involves a mature professor (Fabrice Luchini) who is secretly in love with one of his students. The professor’s brother (Francois Cluzet) is a wealthy architect who wants the prof to star in a series of art programs for television. The filming goes well, particularly because the professor is now happily sleeping with the young student. In-between all of these stories, is one of a young black man from Cameroon, who is trying to get to France for work and to renew a relationship with a French girl. Throughout the film, these characters pass each other in cars or on the street and don’t realize it. New relationships are formed and current ones are dissolved. People grieve for lost ones and people make love in meat lockers. People discover they have beauty within and without. Juliette Binoche particularly shines in this film. She is relaxed in front of the camera and when she lets her hair down to dance at her brother’s party, you want to dance with her. Paris is one of the best films so far this year. The actors delve into their rolls and I think it is because the director allows them to do it. This must have been a relaxed set to work on. Stores are realistic and you can relate from love to grief to happiness. The brother sits on his balcony and watches the world go by, and what a beautiful world it is. Copyright 2009 Marie Asner
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