Paris, Je T’aime made me jealous of anyone with firsthand knowledge of Paris’ beauty. It is so full of devotion and appreciation for the city, I wish I could more fully understand the specific sights and senses attributed to this historic place. Regardless of never having been there myself, knowing Paris is by no means a requirement to fully appreciate Paris, Je T’aime. It is an exuberant collision of some of the most creative and talented filmmaking I have seen. It is a compilation of eighteen five-minute short films written and directed by film auteurs from across the globe. We witness the stunning work of such directors as the Coen brothers, Alfonso Cuarón, Gus Van Sant, Alexander Payne, Tom Tykwer, Walter Salles, and even Wes Craven. The mission of this work was to capture on celluloid a celebratory tribute to the people, places and emotions that are Paris, France. The films illustrate a wide range of tones, styles and themes, but they all explore relationships in the city of lights. It’s a cinematic poem that is artistically astounding and a joy to watch.
There are so many great characters and moments in this film that it’s hard to remember them all. It’s also a challenge to decide on the best short, because so many of them are fantastic. One of my favorites is the creepy noir vampire tale from Vincenzo Natali (director of Cube). Elijah Wood plays a lost tourist who has an unexpected encounter with a female vampire. What’s even more unexpected is that they fall in love. This short has the most memorable visual style of the film, from the animated brilliant blood to the foggy deserted blue tinted alley streets. It is a sweet yet eerie homage to gothic silent horror films.
The funniest film is directed by Alexander Payne and tells the tale of Carol (the always reliable character actress Margo Martindale), an American tourist who comes to Paris to discover love. The hilarity of this piece begins with Carol’s appalling American-English accent as she earnestly attempts to narrate her Paris journey. The film is perfectly placed towards the end, giving us countless examples of how spoken French is supposed to sound. Equipped with her fanny pack and American sensibility, Carol is a lonesome woman desperately searching for new love and ultimately finds the city of Paris to be just that. Payne as usual presents a heartfelt story that is somber and honest, but also hysterical and beautifully written.
Gus Van Sant’s film centers on the question of the existence of soul mates. Gaspard Ulliel (Hannibal Rising) meets a silent young man who he asks if he believes in love at first sight. Ulliel breathlessly tells the boy that he thinks they are meant to be together and gives him his phone number. Once Ulliel leaves we discover that the silent young man doesn’t understand French, but rushes out of the building to find Ulliel once he realizes what just happened. It is ironic, subtle, inspiring and very enjoyable.
The Coen brothers’ film is also great and carries their signature style of absurdist dark humor. Steve Buscemi plays a tourist waiting for a subway train as a couple across the tracks practices their French kissing. Not only does Buscemi have to contend with the harassment of a child’s spitballs, but also clashes cultures with the kissing couple when he doesn’t adhere to the guide book advice “Avoid eye contact”.
Those are some of the best films hidden in this mosaic of a movie, but there are many more treasures around the corner. The film is a rollercoaster of emotions and creativity, almost like walking through an art museum. Some shorts are downright sad, like Juliette Binoche’s story of coping with the death of her son and finding hope in a vision of a cowboy (her son’s obsession). Some comment on the heartbreaking inequalities humans face, as we watch Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace) travel great distances away from her own child to spend most of her time taking care of someone else’s. Even still, many are just silly and fun, like a tale of two mimes that fall in love in jail. Combined, these shorts create a great film that is enjoyable and exciting, often moving and inspiring, and always a cinematic treat for any film lover.
A-
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