Marie-José Nat, Jean Sorel, Clotilde Joano, Roger Van Mullem, Pascale de Boysson
1961-06-01
The vagaries of love are often tragic, as Amelie ou le Temps d'Aimer seems to say. Directed by Michel Drach in his second try at a feature-length film, the well-wrought romance revolves around the love that develops between Amelie (Marie-Jose Nat) and her cousin Alain (Jean Sorel). Amelie is an orphan who lives with Alain and his family on an island off the coast of France. Alain has dreams of working as a seaman, while Amelie works for Alain's father. The budding romance between the two takes a nose-dive when Alain falls for a glamorous actress who shows up on the island one day. Not mature enough yet to make a wise choice, Alain's betrayal of Amelie turns out to be a grievous mistake.
Dive into the whimsical world of Amelie and let it tickle your palate like a delicate amuse-bouche. Audrey Tautou is enchanting, serving up charm and curiosity in every scene. The film's vibrant colors and imaginative set pieces reminded me of plating a dish with unexpected flavors. A delightful, if slightly sweet, cinematic experience that lingers like a fine dessert.
