La fille sur le pont (1999)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Serge Frydman (dialogue)
Serge Frydman (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 March 1999 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

It's night on a Paris bridge. A girl leans over Seine River with tears in her eyes and a violent yearning to drown her sorrows...

Plot Keywords:

Knife Thrower | Gambling | Seine River | Luck | Promiscuous Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Vanessa Paradis	...	Adèle
Daniel Auteuil	...	Gabor
Frédéric Pfluger	...	Contortionist
Demetre Georgalas	...	Takis
Catherine Lascault	...	Irene
Isabelle Petit-Jacques	...	Bride
Mireille Mossé	...	Miss Memory
Didier Lemoine	...	TGV Ticket Conductor
Bertie Cortez	...	Kusak
Stéphane Metzger	...	Italian Waiter
Claude Aufaure	...	Suicide Victim
Farouk Bermouga	...	TGV Waiter
Nicolas Donato	...	Mr. Loyal
Enzo Etokyo	...	Italian Megaphone
Giorgios Gatzios	...	Barker

Also Known As:

Girl on the Bridge (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | South Korea:18 | Germany:12 (f) | Finland:S (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Athens, Greece

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

The opening sequence lasts for more than 7 minutes with a monologue by Vanessa Paradis. In the DVD commentary, director 'Patrice Leconte' says that a single shot was necessary using several cameras.

Goofs:

Continuity: SPOLIER: the two walking sticks disappear at the end of the film.

Soundtrack:

Jone

Pont Neuf

Patrice Leconte's "The Girl on the Bridge" is a film that on second viewing seems better than when we first saw it. In a way, it appears to be a change of pace for M. Leconte, a man whose films have always been received well by his fans. As written for the screen by Serge Frydman, the movie presents a different take on love between two lonely people.

In fact, this original film begins and end on bridges with a reversal in what Adele and Gabor are trying to do. At the start, it's Adele the one that is at the end of her rope, and at the conclusion, it's Gabor who does a complete role reversal when everything seems to be hopeless for him.

Adele and Gabor never consummate their love as we follow when their lives comes together. Adele, during the interview with what appears to be either a social worker, reveals the sordid aspects of her life to the camera in an amazing sequence that sets the tone to the rest of the film. M. Leconte and his camera seem to be in love with the lovely Adele.

The two principals, Vanessa Paradis and Daniel Auteuil are perfect in the film. Both actors do excellent work together.

The magnificent black and white photography by Jean Marie Dreujou is perhaps the best asset for the film. The music score adds to the mood of the film.