Les amants du Pont-Neuf (1991)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Leos Carax

Writer:

Leos Carax (writer)

Release Date:

2 July 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Romance... In a most unlikely place.

Plot:

Set against Paris' oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, while it was closed for repairs, this film is a love story between two young vagrants: Alex...

Plot Keywords:

Vagrant | Bridge | Love | Painter | Ferris Wheel

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Juliette Binoche	...	Michèle Stalens
Denis Lavant	...	Alex
Daniel Buain	...	L'ami clochard / Alex's vagrant friend
Klaus-Michael Grüber	...	Hans
Marion Stalens	...	Marion
Chrichan Larsson	...	Julien (as Chrichan Larson)
Paulette Berthonnier	...	La marinière / Barge operator
Roger Berthonnier	...	Le marinier / Barge operator
Edith Scob	...	La femme en voiture
Georges Aperghis	...	L'homme en voiture
Michel Vandestien	...	Le pompier
Georges Castorp	...	Un endormi
Marc Desclozeaux	...	Un endormi
Alain Dahan	...	Un endormi
Pierre Pessemesse	...	Un endormi

Also Known As:

L'amour entre une fils et un garçon (France) (working title)
Les amants de Paris (France) (working title)
Lovers on the Ninth Bridge (Australia) (video title)
Lovers on the Pont Neuf (Australia) (cable TV title)
The Lovers on the Bridge (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language, sexuality/nudity and substance abuse.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:18 (theatrical) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bienvenue Montparnasse - 8, rue de l'Arrivee, Paris 15, Paris, France

Company:

Films A2

Trivia:

Léos Carax was originally given permission to use the real Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris and have it closed for filming but delays in filming meant the permission expired and he had to reconstruct the whole thing on a lake near Montpellier, France.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Enquête sur un film au-dessus de tout soupçon (1991)

A bold, stylistic love story

This French film is actually one of the best films of the decade. Unfortunately it was hampered by budget problems and never made its money back. So it got this bad reputation. Of course, the subject matter dealing with an intense love story between two homeless people might be a subject some don't care to see. It stars Juliette Binoche (before she was much known in the U.S.) as a one-eyed homeless artist who falls in love with a disturbed street punk. They spend their days and nights on a bridge that's been closed for renovation.The film builds a lot of tension around the madness of the love affair. Binoche's character is going blind and she needs help but the street punk is so obsessed with her he won't let her be go. Stylistically it is very flamboyant and bold especially in it's editing and shot selections. And that may be why some don't like it. The love story too is hard to believe but most love stories rely on a leap of faith so that's nothing new. Like any great film it takes narrative and stylistic chances but if you're a cineaste you'll most likely enjoy it.