Paris, Je T'Aime

I absolutely adore this film!!! It's been years since I last seen it, yet it still hit home when I finally bought it. I mean COME ON!! How can you not love this movie!! This film, in my opinion of course, expresses the many different forms of love, tragedy, courage, loneliness, comfort, friendship, humor, enigma, hope and all of this take place in such a beautiful place. It amazes me as to how even though each story is like 5 mins or less, it leaves an impact-at least for me. You'd be surprised who'll see in some of the stories as well, individuals such as Nick Nolte, Steve Buscemi, Rufus Sewell (love him!), Willem Dafoe, Natalie Portman, just to name a few. Their appearances just catches you by surprise, because you don't expect to see him/her in this style of film. Just lovely!! The music captures the theme of each story wonderfully. Hands down!!! Quais de Seine, 14e arrondissement, Père-Lachaise, Place des fêtes, Bastille, are my personal favorites. Love em! Ouais de Seine, spark of love between a young Muslim woman and a young man ; 14 arrondissement An independent mail carrier whose tours France and reflects on her life up to that point; Pere-Lachaise, a young couple who are soon to be married have an agrument in a cemetery leading to calling off the engagement, but quickly rekindles after the husband gets some wise words from Oscar Wilde; Place des fetes, a Nigerian man falls in love at first sight with a young Nigerian medic who is helping him, as she helps him he reflects what ironically led her to helping him; Bastille,(this was a very beautifully tragic)A man meets his wife for lunch, who reflects on he unhappiness and elope with a younger woman. Later, he discovers that she is dying of terminal cancer, so he sticks by her til then end, ends the affair, and the love for his wife becomes deepens than its ever been. Now, not to sound corny or anything like that, but this movie has me given some hope that true love and its worth still exists and not reply or feed into some of the shenanigans that's going on nowadays. Also, the delivery came sooner that expected. Yes, really. It was expected to arrive between Nov. 19-Nov. 26, it came today. Flaws? Yes. I purchased the limited edition, which has the bonus DVD with extras and stuff. I played "the making of" for each short story, not all of them play well, in fact, stories 15-18 scratches....I was a little disappointed with that, but other than that the movie itself plays well no skipping or scratching.

These five-minute movies of various directors' interpretations of life and love in Paris are entertaining. I have already seen it three times and I have only had it for 2 weeks! From the other reviews I have seen that people have problems with the subtitles. I also couldn't get the English subtitles to work (other than for hearing-impaired) but this wasn't a problem for me. Unfortunately not everyone is able to understand French so I can see the frustration in that. Maybe there is a trick to it? Overall, great movie (or movies minus the Coen brothers' work) and good DVD. Definitely worth watching.

... for Paris is a moveable feast." Ernest Hemingway It is impossible to count how many great talents have immortalized Paris in paintings, novels, songs, poems, short but unforgettable quotes, and yes - movies. The celebrated film director Max Ophüls said about Paris, "It offered the shining wet boulevards under the street lights, breakfast in Montmartre with cognac in your glass, coffee and lukewarm brioche, gigolos and prostitutes at night. Everyone in the world has two fatherlands: his own and Paris." Paris is always associated with love and romance, and "Paris, Je T'Aime" which is subtitled "Petite romances," is a collection of short films, often sketches from 18 talented directors from all over the world. In each, we become familiar with one of the City of Light 20 arrondissements and with the Parisians of all ages, genders, colors, and backgrounds who all deal in love in its many variations and stages. In some of the "petite romances" we are the witnesses of the unexpected encounters of the strangers that lead to instant interest, closeness, and perhaps relationship: like for Podalydès and Florence Muller in the street of Montmartre in the opening film or for Cyril Descours and Leïla Bekhti as a white boy and a Muslim girl whose cross-cultural romance directed by Gurinder Chadha begins on Quais de Seine. I would include into this category the humorous short film by Gus Van Sant. In "Le Marais" one boy pours his heart out to another boy confessing of sudden unexpected closeness, asking permission to call - never realizing that the object of his interest does not understand French. Some of the vignettes are poignant and even dark. In Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas' Loin du 16ème, Catalina Sandino Mareno (amazing Oscar nominated debut for Maria full of Grace) is single, working-class mother who has to work as a nanny in a wealthy neighborhood to pay for daycare where she drops her baby every morning before she goes to work. One of most memorable and truly heartbreaking films is "Place des Fêtes" by Oliver Schmitz. Aïssa Maïga and Seydou Boro co-star as two young people for who love could have happened. There were the promises of it but it was cut short due to hatred and intolerance that are present everywhere, and the City of Love and Light is no exception. Another one that really got to me was "Bastille", written and directed by Isabel Coixet, starring Sergio Castellitto, Miranda Richardson, and Leonor Watling. Castellitto has fallen out of love with his wife, Richardson but when he is ready to leave with the beautiful mistress, the devastating news from his wife's doctor arrives... I can go on reflecting on all 18 small gems. I like some of them very much. The others felt weak and perhaps will be forgotten soon but overall, I am very glad that I bought the DVD and I know that I will return to my favorite films again and again. They are "Place des Fêtes" that I've mentioned already, "Père-Lachaise" directed by Wes Craven that involves the ghost of one of the wittiest and cleverest men ever, Oscar Wilde (Alexander Payne, the director of "Sideways") who would save one troubled relationship. Payne also directed "14th Arrondissement" in which a lonely middle-aged post-worker from Denver, CO explores the city on her own providing the voice over in French with the heavy accent. Payne's entry is one of the most moving and along with hilarious "Tuileries" by Joel and Ethan Coen with (who else? :)) Steve Buschemi is my absolute favorite. In both shorts, American tourists sit on the benches (Margo in the park, and Steve in Paris Metro after visiting Louvers) observing the life around them with the different results. While Margo may say, "My feeling's sad and light; my sorrow is bright..." Steve's character will find out that sometimes, even the most comprehensive and useful tourist guide would not help a tourist avoiding doing the wrong things in a foreign country.

Love it ! Amazing movie from Gus Van Sant !

This film is 20 different five minute short films. Each five minute film takes on a different setting in Paris and each is written & shot by a different director. The interweaving theme for each film is love. There's not much more I can add to the already numerous reviews. I will say this a beautiful film on Blu-Ray, but the extras/supplements are almost non-existent (one 20 min. documentary). For the price and technology available at least some commentaries would've been nice. But alas, it is not meant to be. I picked the Blu-Ray up on amazon for $14.99. The lack of extras and CGI don't necessarily make this a "must own" on Blu-Ray, so if you can find the DVD cheaper and are not a huge cinephile, I say snag this one up on DVD or wait for thr Blu-Ray to come around $10 to get your money's worth.

Conforme alla descrizione. Tempi di attesa buoni. Il film è in lingua francese sottotitolato in inglese, come da descrizione. Consigliato

Number of stories - must be viewed sewversl times to appreciate.

No esperaba tanta rapidez en la entrega. La calidad perfecta. no entiendo esto de tener que indicar un mínimo de palabras en la valoración, cada uno indica que lo que cree. muchisimas gracias

Zunächst: 18 Kurzfilme, 21 Regissseure, ein Projekt. Ich empfinde es als ungewöhnlich wie gut dieser Gemeinschaftsfilm gelungen ist, denn man könnte es fast als Achterbahnfahrt bezeichnen, so unterschiedlich sind Regie- und Kamerastile. Jede Episode spiegelt auf seine Weise die Handschrift der sehr verschiedenartig arbeitenden Regisseure wider, das macht den Reiz des Filmes aus und ihn im Ganzen so interessant. Das dabei nicht jeder Versuch dem Thema "Liebe" zu begegnen gelungen erscheint, ändert nichts an der Unterhaltsamkeit und Feinheit des Films. Sind es doch gerade die Episoden, bei denen die Regisseure die Fremdheit, der scheinbar so weltoffenen und doch introvertierten Stadt nicht verstecken, diesem Bann kann man sich kaum entziehen. Erstaunlich ist für mich, wie viel Film man in eine kurze Episode packen kann, wobei das Niveau jedes Kurzfilms nicht immer gleich hoch erscheint. Aber welcher der Filme dies ist und welcher nicht, darüber befindet wohl jeder Zuschauer selbst. Die teilweise brillanten Kurzfilme beeindrucken zum Teil mehr, als so mancher ausdauernder Liebesfilm, stellen sie doch in knapp zehn Minuten das Ganze Auf und Ab der Gefühle dar. Das der Film in Paris angesiedelt ist, hängt sicher mit dem Mythos oder dem Klischee zusammen, Paris wäre die "Stadt der Liebe", "Stadt der Kunst", "Stadt der Mode" und vieles mehr. Keiner dieser Mythen scheint wirklich falsch zu sein, denn sie werden auf die unterschiedlichste Weise zitiert. Aber anders als der Filmtitel vermuten lässt, geht es eben nicht um eine Art von Werbefilm mit touristischem Hintergrund, sondern man verspürt die Atmosphäre dieser Metropole, denn alle Geschichten atmen die Luft dieser Stadt, ob an bekannten Plätzen, am Eiffelturm, der Metro oder an den eher unscheinbaren Winkeln, die zu einem Stadtplan zu verschmelzen scheinen. Das Ganze wirkt eher wie Schnappschüsse einer Stadt und seiner Emotionen, abseits der ausgetretenen Wege. Stellt sich mir die Frage: könnten sich diese Geschichten irgend- oder nirgendwo abgespielt haben? Eines ist dabei sicher, es wäre falsch man würde behaupten der eigentliche Hauptdarsteller des Films sei die Metropole selbst, denn ausschlaggebend für seine Wirkung sind die 18 Geschichten und ihre glaubwürdige schauspielerische Umsetzung. Aber diese Frage kann sich der Betrachter letztlich nur selbst beantworten. Fazit: Paris Je'Taime ist es durch ein Aufgebot an guten Schauspielern, interessanten Geschichten, umgesetzt von großartigen Regisseuren gelungen, mehr zu sein als nur eine Stadtrundfahrt. Wer sich auf diese Form von Kino einlässt, wird mit einem wirklich sehenswerten Film belohnt.

With short films, each about five minutes long, and each by a different director and with actors as diverse as Fanny Ardant, Leila Bekhti, Juliette Binoche, Seydou Boro, Steve Buscemi, Willem Dafoe, Gerard Depardieu, Ben Gazzara, Bob Hoskins, Olga Kurylenko, Aissa Maiga, Margo Martindale, Yolande Moreau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Bruno Podalydes and Gaspard Ulliel - there is much to enjoy. There are eighteen films each shot in a different arrondissement in Paris. Films to be enjoyed, to laugh at, to cry at and to make one think. This is a couple of hours of very enjoyable viewing. It is surprising how quickly all of the films seem to be viewed at the end of which there is an epilogue which with music (a beautiful waltz, La Meme Histoire) that is truly beautiful. The collection of films is something that one may want to revisit from time to time and as there is such diversity in the style and in the storytelling in each film, that there should always be much or at least something to enjoy. All, stories of love, but all very very different.