Try putting pure joy into words.
To float on cloud nine.
You need… Amelie.
Audrey Tautou in Amélie.Image: Miramax
I saw Amelie in theaters when it was first released and instantly became obsessed.
It had, and still has, an energy, attitude, and voice all its own.
In the years that followed, I watched it often.
Image: Miramax
During that time, the world has changed.
And when I popped in Amelie this week it hit me in ways I never imagined.
Could it have been the second glass of wine I was enjoying?
Image: Miramax
And yet from the first frame of Amelie you know youre in for something special.
Amelie is so much more than just that plot though.
Its a celebration of life.
A reminder that the good you put in the world can and will come back to you.
As Amelie moves through Jeunets vibrant, lush Paris, you cant help but smile the entire time.
The film is hilarious, sweet, heartbreaking, and reaffirming, often all at once.
Every single character is completely relatable but wholly unique and specific.
Each line of dialogue or piece of information seems random but also totally accurate and purposeful.
Then, on top of all that, Jeunet weaves in moments of fantasy enriching the world even further.
You simply cant watch Amelie and not feel fantastic.
Those feelings coursed through me for the entire rewatched.
Then, in the end, when Jeunet really amps things up, I became a blubbering mess.
But a small part was also just a reflection of the world today compared to almost 25 years ago.
Things are always messed up.
People are always sad.
Life is hard, but it can be quite beautiful too.
And thats especially the case if you use some of it to watch Amelie.
Its a perfect movie.
I loved it before but, rewatching it again, I love it more than I even remembered.
The new Amelie steelbookis available here.
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