‘Paris, Je T’Aime’ is a love letter to the ‘City of Love’
By John Soltes
It’s always great when experiments prove worth the effort.
Paris, Je T’Aime (French for “Paris, I Love You”) is a collection of nearly 20 small films, all centering on a particular neighborhood of the French capital. Several high-profile directors offer their cinematic two-cents in stories of love, loss and lonesomeness.
Thankfully, there isn’t a dud in the group. All of the stories are interesting tales that rely heavily on serendipity and smart writing. Some are purely romantic, while others stray toward the comedic. All are visual postcards of Paris, capturing the great city in shaded light and ethereal beauty.
Some of the best segments are those directed by Alexander Payne and Sylvain Chomet.
Payne’s film, “14e arrondissement,” follows an American tourist as she enjoys the city for the first time. The great character actor Margo Martindale offers a voiceover that takes the place of dialogue for the entire short film. What’s so touching about Payne’s premise is that Carol’s musings are in broken French, as she fully admits that she is new to the language. “14e arrondissement,” coming late in the overall film, encapsulates much of the wonder of Paris. We get to see the city through the eyes of a foreigner — but not just any foreigner. Carol is a woman who has been in love with the City of Love for years, but only now, facing her midlife years, is she able to walk around the capital and enjoy its splendor. The scenes are simultaneously freeing and aching, for Carol seems to be a loner enjoying one last chance at finding something tangible in life.
Chomet’s “Tour Eiffel” follows a family of street mimes as they face memories of past love. It’s a clever tale that uses much of Chomet’s trademark style. The director is best known for his Oscar-nominated animated films, The Triplets of Belleville and The Illusionist. Although “Tour Eiffel” is not a cartoon, there are elements of animated glee.
Other directors on board include Gus Van Sant, Gurinder Chadha, Joel and Ethan Coen and even Wes Craven.
The Coen brothers offer up their unique brand of oddball humor for “Tuileries,” a segment starring Steve Buscemi as an American tourist who gets into a fracas in a Paris subway. Chadha’s entry is “Quais de Seine,” a fable of love between two students from different cultures. Elijah Wood turns up in a vampire story that looks and feels like something from the world of Frank Miller (“Quartier de la Madeleine” is directed by Vincenzo Natali).
All of the stories are woven together with smooth transitions, and the overall impact of watching Paris, Je T’Aime is as if one is peering into the windows of an apartment building. There are so many great characters, so many great peculiarities. The city comes to life through its people, highlighting both their strengths and weaknesses.
If the airfare is too steep, try enjoying Paris through the kaleidoscopic lens of these accomplished directors.
Paris, Je T’Aime
2006
Written and directed by Olivier Assayas, Frédéric Auburtin, Emmanuel Benbihy, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Isabel Coixet, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuarón, Gérard Depardieu, Christopher Doyle, Richard LaGravenese, Vincenzo Natali, Alexander Payne, Bruno Podalydès, Walter Salles, Oliver Schmitz, Nobuhiro Suwa, Daniela Thomas, Thomas Tykwer and Gus Van Sant
Starring Natalie Portman, Steve Buscemi, Nick Nolte, Elijah Wood, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Juliette Binoche, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emily Mortimer, Ben Gazzara, Margo Martindale and Rufus Sewell
Running time: 120 minutes
Rated R for language and brief drug use
Bubble score: 3.5 out of 4
Click here to purchase Paris, Je T’Aime on DVD.
