Mon ange (2004)

Director:

Serge Frydman

Writer:

Serge Frydman (writer)

Release Date:

19 January 2005 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A prostitute takes in a young orphaned boy.

Cast

Vanessa Paradis	...	Colette
Vincent Rottiers	...	Billy
Eduardo Noriega	...	Romain
Eric Ruf	...	Kovarski
Claude Perron	...	Peggy
Thomas Fersen	...	Client café
Anne-Marie Loop	...	Guichetière
Jean-Benoît Ugeux	...	Client oreillons
David Pion	...	Type voiture
Colette Emmanuelle	...	Femme réception orphelinat
Jo Deseure	...	Femme Berg
Luc-Antoine Diquéro	...	Conducteur
Stéphane Bissot	...	Boule
Nathalie Laroche	...	Yoyo
Julie Basecqz	...	Lena

Also Known As:

Billy et Colette (France) (working title)

Runtime:

France:94 min | Argentina:90 min

Country:

France | Belgium

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:TV-14 | Argentina:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Backup Films

Charming French Fable in Amsterdam

Serge Frydman (who previously delivered us the similarly themed fairy-tale "Girl on the Bridge") directs this charming French entry about a call girl in Amsterdam who reluctantly finds herself taking care of an orphaned teen-age boy after trying to do a favor for a fellow prostitute in trouble. Much of the plotting is pretty far-fetched, but Frydman dresses it all in poetic dialogue about dreams and love and visually with the natural beauty of the Dutch countryside that you begin to accept it all at face value as a simple fable.

Aside from the scenery, the real treasure here is Vanessa Paradis in the lead role. She's a stunning natural beauty with high cheek-bones and eyes as deep as the ocean who exhumes an amazing magnetism on film, much in the same way as Naomi Watts or Nicole Kidman. Much of the time the camera is lingering on her face and body language, and she speaks volumes about the aching sorrow of being alone in the world without ever having to say a word. The film is also memorable for a scene in a hotel room where two people find solace and intimacy in physical contact without ever kissing or taking off their clothes. It's a sensual and emotionally resonating moment that is beautifully handled by the actors and director. Melancholy and enchanting, this a must-see fairy-tale for a discerning adult audience.