Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain

Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain est incontestablement l’un des films les plus envoûtants de tous les temps – un film qui a un effet bénéfique sur l’organisme du spectateur et sur son état d’esprit. En tant que francophile, je proclame qu'il est impératif de regarder ce film en VO, que ce soit avec ou sans sous-titres. J’ai vu un bout de la version doublée et la magie disparaît presque, même si le doublage tchèque est généralement de grande qualité. Je m’en souviens comme si c’était hier : j’ai regardé le film quand j'étais au lycée, après une journée assez difficile à l’école. La salle était remplie presque exclusivement d'élèves que je reconnaissais du lycée. Je me souviens encore aujourd’hui de la bonne humeur qui régnait et de l’énergie positive que j’ai ressentie après la projection. J’ai pourtant eu, juste après, mon premier malentendu avec une fille dont j’étais amoureux, mais ça n’a pas affecté ma bonne humeur générale. Et je suis totalement d’accord avec mon prof de l’époque qui disait que ce film devrait obligatoirement être diffusé dans les écoles. Parce qu’effectivement, il fait chaud au cœur. Pour finir, je ne peux m’empêcher d’adresser un petit coup de gueule aux distributeurs tchèques, parce que j’ai l’impression qu’après ce film, toute œuvre – bonne ou mauvaise – dans laquelle a joué Audrey Tautou a été automatiquement adoptée, alors que d’autres films français parfois de bien meilleure qualité ont été ignorés, juste parce qu’on n’y trouvait pas « Amélie ». Enfin, c’est la vie ! (10/04/2014)

Miss Amelie and her fairytale, loving, a little sad and humanly warm world enchanted me at first glance. What makes this film special? Definitely the story and the general tuning. It's harmony dyed into a clear and intoxicating cinematic fluid that can warm the soul better than a gulp of rum. The acting performances, especially the title role by Audrey Tautou, who managed to play an extremely difficult role with complete persuasion. The cute supporting characters who are overflowing with life without necessarily having to get too much time on screen. Jeunet made a film with naïve childhood love, a naively uncritical view of reality. And it's not fake, it's not even overly sweet - it's miraculously soothing. Amelie is a small island of peace and love in an overall bleak world and cinema. Amelie is the gentle girl caress I need from time to time. (17/03/2004)

The rumors and thousands of rave reviews didn't lie: Amelie is amazing. This endearingly poetic film has a kind of irresistible charm, thanks to which it combines several genres, looks both kitschy and original at the same time, the actors playing bizarre characters suddenly become ordinary people living ordinary lives in an ordinary Parisian neighborhood... In short, it is an extraordinarily ordinary film, bursting with color and optimism, and with great music. (21/10/2011)

What I like most about Amélie and this film about her is that she notices the little things. She lives in her own happy and colorful world. Amélie is definitely different from the other girls... but sometimes I wondered if the effort to be different was too much. Audrey Tautou was definitely the best choice. I don't know many actresses who look that interesting yet fresh. I rarely give a French film 4 or 5 stars, and unfortunately I won't do so now. Still, something nice stayed with me. (03/08/2011)

Amelie can be considered the commercial and artistic pinnacle of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's work. The film was enjoyed by practically everyone except for French critics, who criticized the excessive idealization of present-day Paris in the film. Jeunet himself admitted that Montmartre, as he filmed it, doesn't actually exist anymore, but in his movie, it's not about realism but about poetic exaggeration, playfulness, and imagination. It's a very positive spectacle, an unconventional romance, full of clever scenes, funny situations, and the charm of Audrey Tautou, who built a decent career on the back of this comedy. Overall impression: 95%. (24/04/2009)