English title: Girl on the Bridge
Genre: comedy drama
Director: Patrice Leconte
Release: 1999
Studio: France 2 Cinéma, Union Générale, Films Christian Fechner – Paramount Vantage
Rating: R
MBiS score: 8.2/10
The Thrill of Living on a Knife-edge
For a truly discouraged soul, a bridge may look like a desirable exit point from life and suicide is exactly what Adèle (Vanessa Paradis) has in mind as the flowing waters of the Seine beckon from under. But just when she readies herself to jump, a man named Gabor (Daniel Auteuil), comes along and tries to stop her. Of all people, Adèle’s saviour happens to be a professional knife-thrower. With Demetre Georgalas (Takis). Screenplay by Patrice Leconte and Serge Frydman.
When a film is based on a premise this unusual, you may wonder if it will deliver on its promise or simply peter out. Well, you’re in luck: LA FILLE SUR LE PONT is beautiful, original and captivating throughout. Its story-line about fate, luck (again!), our endless search for love and the ambiguousness of human emotions will leave you spellbound. Better still, Leconte and Frydman have managed to fuse their themes so perfectly in LA FILLE SUR LE PONT that they attain a level of perversion that will catch you off guard. Should I say more? Not if I want you to enjoy this film as much as I have.
Technically, this pretty picture leaves nothing to be desired. We all know about Leconte’s skill as a director and Daniel Auteuil’s intensity. As for Vanessa Paradis, yet another French singer blessed with acting talent, she commands attention as a very sexy Adèle. By the way, I do think that shooting this film in black and white was a spectacular move: those dark hues really enhance the production’s impact and sensuousness.
Voilà, I’ve made my case… and now the choice is yours. If you watch movies to find yourself in worlds other than your own and for the enchantment they bring to your life, you will love LA FILLE SUR LE PONT, an uncommon and pleasurable film.
MBiS
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