Last night I went to see Paris, Je T’aime at the Charlotte Street hotel, which has a lovely screening room – comfortable orange leather seats, plenty of leg room, drinks allowed. Jackie organised a very cool event about MySpace there and I have been to a private screening there before. Btw, I wonder if it would make sense to self-organise screenings of films as they come out – gather enough people (via social networks), pay a manageable extra compared to a normal cinema ticket to hire a screening room. In return, you have a special occasion with friends, no disruptive strangers, queues etc etc. Might be an entertainment/distribution model in this. But I digress.
The film was tres French, oh so French. Probably because of a fair number of Americans involved who injected it with theatrical OTT Frenchness. If I wanted to be cynical, I’d say that the French need to get American tourists back to Paris. But let’s not be beastly. None of this detracted from my enjoyment of film. Here is the blurb:
In Paris, Je T’aime, celebrated directors from around the world, including the Coen Brothers, Gus Van Sant, Gurinder Chadha, Wes Craven, Walter Salles, Alexander Payne and Olivier Assayas, have come together to portray Paris in a way never before imagined. .. With each director telling the story of an unusual encounter in one of the city’s neighborhoods, the vignettes go beyond the ‘postcard’ view of Paris to portray aspects of the city rarely seen on the big screen.
Whether it is as never before imagined, I am not sure. But the film does look at the varied aspects of love, placing them in Paris, the city of love. This is a cliché but fortunately those behind the film realise that love is not and manage to create a memorable mosaic of it. The shortness of the ‘vignettes’ – 18 in total – can be an advantage. Brevity and compactness add poignancy and punch. The kind of simplicity that let’s in complexity via back door. But I am coming out all French and philosophical here.
Here’s my take on the stories whilst avoiding too many plot-spoilers, which is not as important as you might think.
Montmartre – probably most French of them all, a man anxious about not finding someone, expressing the loneliness with trivial concerns finds a soul mate by a freak coincidence.
Quais De Seine – love across religious divide. Sweet despite skirting the edges of political correctness.
Le Marais – love at first sight, intuition without many words, at least from the wooed one. Although this is about love that dared not to speak its name in the past, there is no political or PC charge here. Rather charming, if teenage. Marianne Faithfull is in this one, but I completely missed to notice.
Tuileries – the most surreal of them all. In French without subtitles (unlike the rest of the film). Dead give away that the film is for an American audience. A really strange guidebook crucial to the plot. 
Loin du 16eme – a moving tale of maternal love, not from the usual or obvious perspective. Good acting.
Porte de Choisy – burlesque-like, odd and mildly disconcerting. But only very mildly. Must be the Asian angle.
Bastille – an old story retold with a twist. Won’t mention the ending, just quote one line: A man acting in love with his wife, finds himself in love again.
Place des Victories – Juliette Binoche is an amazing actress, which comes across in this story about a mother mourning her son.
Tour Eiffel - mime-bashing with a twist. Meant to be touching, but ends up mostly farcical.
Parc Monceu – most confusing of them all. At least for me. Nick Nolte’s the known face.
Quartier Des Enfants Rouges – also rather alien one for my tastes. Acting profession and drug dealers involved, not familiar with the vibes. Maggie Gyllenhaal in this one.
Place Des Fetes – one of the most moving ones. Love, death and depth for those without glamorous existence. Lagos is mentioned.
Pigalle – fading love being rekindled by some unorthodox means, well, for respectable people. Humorous and sweet in its own way. Bob Hoskins and Fanny Ardant do add spice.
Quartier De La Madeleine – Elijah Wood is no Frodo in this one. Most fairly-tale like, presents the dark side of Paris, as I like it. Blood plays an important role.
Pere-Lachaise – one of my favourite I think. Resonates probably as it has Oscar Wilde in it. Guys remember, sense of humour is very important for a girl. At least to this one.
Faubourg Saint-Denis – love without sight but powerful visual kaleidoscope of memories. Brilliantly shot and powerful. One of the best in the collection.
Quartier Latin – deep connection can endure everything. Even divorce and old wounds. Gerard Depardieu makes a fine restaurant owner.
14em Arrondissement – the ridiculous, the clumsy and the lonely can have their share in deep understanding too. Love of life transcends mediocrity.
Final verdict – definitely worth seeing. UK release is 29th June. Here is a trailer although I must warn that it doesn’t convey the flavour of the film at all. But what trailer does?
