Paris, je t'aime (2006)

Through the neighborhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented and awakened.

Directors:

Olivier Assayas, Frédéric Auburtin,

Writers:

Emmanuel Benbihy (transitions), Bruno Podalydès (segment),

Stars:

Florence Muller, Leonor Watling, Juliette Binoche

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Florence Muller	...	La jeune femme (segment "Montmartre")
Bruno Podalydès	...	L'automobiliste (segment "Montmartre") (as Bruno Podalydes)
Leïla Bekhti	...	Zarka (segment "Quais de Seine")
Cyril Descours	...	François (segment "Quais de Seine")
Marianne Faithfull	...	Marianne (segment "Le Marais")
Elias McConnell	...	Elie (segment "Le Marais")
Gaspard Ulliel	...	Gaspard (segment "Le Marais")
Steve Buscemi	...	Le touriste (segment "Tuileries")
Julie Bataille	...	Julie (segment "Tuileries")
Axel Kiener	...	Axel (segment "Tuileries")
Catalina Sandino Moreno	...	Ana (segment "Loin du 16e")
Li Xin	...	Madame Li (segment "Porte de Choisy")
Barbet Schroeder	...	Monsieur Henny (segment "Porte de Choisy")
Miranda Richardson	...	La femme au trench rouge (segment "Bastille")
Sergio Castellitto	...	Le mari (segment "Bastille")

Storyline

Paris, je t'aime is about the plurality of cinema in one mythic location: Paris, the City of Love. Twenty filmmakers have five minutes each; the audience must weave a single narrative out of twenty moments. The 20 moments are fused by transitional interstitial sequences and also via the introduction and epilogue. Each transition begins with the last shot of the previous film and ends with the first shot of the following film, extending the enchantment and the emotion of the previous segment, preparing the audience for a surprise, and providing a cohesive atmosphere. There's a reappearing mysterious character who is a witness to the Parisian life. A common theme of Paris and love fuses all.

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Plot Keywords:

love | tourist | restaurant | actress | oscar wilde | 

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Taglines:

Stories of love from the heart of the city

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

First Look Studios [United States]

Country:

France Liechtenstein Switzerland Germany

Language:

French English Spanish Mandarin Arabic

Release Date:

21 June 2006 (France)

Also Known As:

Paris, I Love You

Filming Locations:

Quartier Latin, Paris 5, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$39,242 (USA) (4 May 2007)

Gross:

$4,857,376 (USA) (3 August 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Victoires International, Pirol Stiftung, Filmazure

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original intention of the film was to represent each of the 20 arrondissements of Paris but this idea was abandoned together with filmed segments by directors Christoffer Boe and Raphaël Nadjari.

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Goofs

In the last segment, where the grave of Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir is shown, the audio and subtitles both say Simon Bolivar. This is not a goof; rather, it is showing that Carol (Margo Martindale's character) is not completely confident in French and/or history.

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Quotes

Hassan: [Injured and bleeding] I just got stung by a lousy mosquito. These neighborhoods are dangerous. Lagos is safer. What's your name?
Sophie: Sophie.
Hassan: I'd give you my card but I have none left. Too bad! Sophie, fancy a cup of coffee? Go on! Can I massage your feet?
Sophie: Why would I let you?
Hassan: Because they hurt.
Sophie: They do?
Hassan: You were running in my dreams all night... Please have coffee with me.

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Connections

Followed by New York, I Love You (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Skate Rap"
Written by Martin Quenehen
Segment "Porte de Choisy"

User Reviews

A wonderful, beautiful homage, but maybe too many parts in the whole for a single sitting

A smorgasbord of talent. Twenty glimpses of Paris - its different suburbs. High quality shorts masterfully united.

A veiled woman intrigues us to the beauty beneath her hijab. Gus Van Sant delights with a flirtation between two young boys (and with a surprise revelation). Steve Buscemi's mind-boggling tourist guide accompanies him through a surreal Coen Brothers encounter in the Metro. Maggie Gyllenhaal gets stoned off her face preparing for an acting role. Bob Hoskins hangs out in sleazy Pigalle. Elijah Wood discovers his inner vampire. Oscar Wilde's burial place inspires one humourless would-be bridegroom and saves his relationship. Tom Tykwer takes us running through the streets of Saint-Denis with a blind man in love. Gérard Depardieu is a bartender and a host of other stars and directors charm us with strange and original tales of love in the city of love itself.

These vignettes are a whirlwind tour of the heart of each arrondissement, but they focus on Frenchness, or Parisienness rather than over-exploiting famous landmarks . . . which makes it all the more fun recognising the locales. The quality is superb - each short film is almost a masterclass - but the overall effect can be weariness. Such a torrent of shorts leaves no room to develop an overall momentum, however skilfully knitted together. Each touches our emotions in different ways. Yet it is like nibbling for nearly two hours in the kitchens of the best chefs. At the end we are exhausted and hungry.

The concept of Paris Je t'Aime is a beautiful one. This film is a permanent and worthy homage to the great city. But as cinema it seems sadly unsatisfying.