Shot all throughout Paris, each film was given a section of the city in which to stage their short, two shooting days to get it done, and up to six minutes of running time with which to tell their story. It was no small task, but the filmmakers rose to the occasion — some relishing the challenge — and the collective effort is nothing short of a stunning success. While not every film will warm your heart, or leave a lasting impression, the overall experience surely will.
With that in mind, we thought it might be best if we addressed each individual short, rather than trying to summarize the film at large. Because each short is so different and unique, this seemed to us like the most appropriate course of action. And so, you’ll find impressions for each of the eighteen films below:
Written and Directed by: Bruno Podalydès
This film bears the burden of opening the collective film, which is not an easy thing to do, but it succeeds fairly well. It isn’t the strongest entry, but it does serve as a nice, light-hearted introduction to the film, and it was a good choice to stick this towards the front.
Written by: Paul Mayeda Berges & Gurinder Chadha — Directed by: Gurinder Chadha
Next up is the short from the Gurinder Chadha, who is best known for her film, “Bend It Like Beckham.” While I’m not a huge fan of her work, you can’t deny that Gurinder is exceptional at delivering heart warming moments, and this film is no different. Much like the previous story, the love story takes place between two strangers: a young Muslim girl, and your typical “nice guy.” It’s not wildly inventive, but it does manage to squeeze in a decent message within a small time frame.
Written and Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Undoubtedly, Van Sant is best known for his academy award winning film, “Good Will Hunting.” His quiet, introspective, and non-disruptive style garners him as many fans, as it does polarize them. This film will probably suffer a similar fate with most audiences. It is extremely nonchalant, and subdued — with much of the story rising out of the characters’ failure to communicate. I found it to be quite good, and a bit surprising as well. Van Sant fans will be pleased, but likely find themselves begging for more.
Written and Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
The Coen brothers need no introduction. They’ve been at it for years, delivering some of the most disturbingly-funny and raucous cult comedies the world has ever seen, and most recently they’ve tapped into their dark side with the suspense-thriller, “No Country For Old Men.” While I’m a huge fan of their serious work, I think the brother’s true calling is comedy, and this is precisely the type of film they’ve given us here. A lowly, mum tourist — played perfectly by Steve Buscemi — is unfortunate enough to cross the path of an unstable couple in the subway. What ensues is sure to put a smile on your face, but bear in mind, it is pretty light on the “love story” aspect. Even still, this is easily one of my favorite films in the bunch.
Written and Directed by: Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas
Best known for directing “The Motorcycle Diaries,” Salles has a style all his own. I was really looking forward to this film, but my expectations were dashed rather quickly. It’s not that the film is bad, it’s just sorta ‘blah.’ Salles goes to great length to establish a convincing feeling of fatigue, through color/editing choices and while he succeeds, the film seems to drag a bit, even though it’s only six minutes. By the time the film is over, my friend and I just looked at each other and shrugged. Everything had been good/great up until this point, so it’s unfortunate that this misses the mark. Even still, it may be a weak link, but it’s still a competent entry on its own.
Written by:Christopher Doyle, Gabrielle Keng, Rain Li — Directed by: Christopher Doyle
Doyle hasn’t directed nearly as many films as he’s shot — this being his second directorial effort — but he has a very interesting perspective that comes through vividly here. In what is arguably one of the more surreal films in this collective effort, Doyle crafts a love story between a Salon owner in Chinatown and a door-to-door hair product salesman. As I said before, this film is very surreal and bizarre, but it is charming and funny as a result. I can see a lot of people scratching their heads, or rolling their eyes after this one is over, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Written and Directed by: Isabel Coixet
This is the first of the sad love stories, and it is also one of the most effective. Coixet manages to craft a very potent and resonant tale of rekindled love in the face of terminal cancer. While I was very moved by this piece, many people object to the film, arguing that the husband only took care of his dying wife — whom he had planned to leave prior to her diagnosis — out of obligation, and not love. However, if they actually pay attention, they would know that their love was lost, and then found once more. At any rate, this is definitely one of the best films, and a personal favorite of mine.
Written and Directed by: Nobuhiro Suwa
Following directly in tow of Coixet’s sad tale, is yet another film about love lost, only this time it is about a Mother’s love for a recently deceased son. Suwa’s film stars the lovely and incredibly talented Juliette Binoche as the grieving mother. We’re not told how the son died, but it’s not really important. The focus here is the mother’s inability to let go of her son, and move on with her life. Through a surreal/imaginary visit by a cowboy (Willem Dafoe) — who leads her to her son — she is able to say goodbye, and obtain closure. This film is a real treat. It’s very sad, but extremely well done.
Written and Directed by: Sylvain Chomet
After a couple sad films, you’re probably going to welcome this jovial and uplifting tale of love with open arms, and rightfully so. This is quite possibly the best film out of the whole lot. It is wholly original, imaginative, uplifting, and a lot of fun to behold. Told from the perspective of a child, he recounts how the story of how his parents met and fell in love. I won’t spoil anything for you because it’s a lot more fun to watch it for yourself, but trust me when I say that this one will leave you feeling light-hearted with a smile on your face. It’s that good.
Written and Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
In a relatively short span of time, Cuarón has made an incredible name for himself in the film community, with his realistic, documentary-esque style and exceptional direction setting him apart from the competition. A member of the “holy trinity” (my words not his — consisting of Del Toro, Cuarón, and Iñárritu) his most recent films represent some of the finest cinematic works of recent memory — you need only watch “Children of Men” to see why he’s held in such high regard. All of that considered, my expectations were ridiculously high when it came time for Parc Monceau. Shot in his oft-utilized steadycam rig, the film is composed of one single shot. Unfortunately, while the techniques and style are all exquisite the story doesn’t achieve much depth. Granted, it is extremely difficult to do much in six minutes alone, but it is infinitely harder to work towards a cohesive/interesting story in a single, six minute shot. Regardless, the film works. The story is meant to be somewhat deceptive, prompting the viewer to arrive at an incorrect assumption about the relationship between the two lead characters. The performances are good, and the cinematography is great, but ultimately the film doesn’t hold up quite as well as I’d hoped upon multiple viewings. Ultimately, the film just lacks substance, and as such it doesn’t quite hold its own against the other stories on either side of it. It’s still good though, so don’t skip over it. Who knows, you might end up loving it, right?
Written and Directed by: Olivier Assayas
This story revolves around an American actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal) in Paris, and her brief encounter with her drug dealer. When she’s unable to break a bill with the drug dealer, she shares a quick drink with him at a nearby bar. The two exchange numbers, with the dealer being invited to the film shoot that night. I won’t give it all away, but this isn’t exactly my favorite entry either. I feel like Gyllenhaal was a bit underserved, and that the ultimate message is a little too depressing. The film’s tone is very laid back and natural, so the ending is fitting, but it’s not redeeming enough, for me anyway. This was another one of the films where I just kinda shrugged my shoulders. It’s pleasing to watch, and Gyllenhaal does well with what she’s given, but in the end, the resolution is a bit too predictable — despite the attempts to make it appear otherwise.
Written and Directed by: Oliver Schmitz
If there is one film that wins the “tear jerker” award, it’s this one. I’m not going to let on about the story, because it will spoil the film. I will say that this is another one of my favorites. It gets me every time, and I’ve seen all of the films four times now. Unfortunately, because I can’t speak to the specifics of the film, there isn’t a whole lot to say except that you will probably find this one to be very sad and quite moving. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Written and Directed by: Richard LaGravenese
Featuring the indomitable screen presence, Bob Hoskins and the electric Fanny Ardant, LaGravenese’s short is very memorable. Beyond that, it is also ultimately sweet and touching, but it does take a little while to get up to speed. The story is a bit cryptic at first. You won’t be sure of the characters, or their motivations until the end of the film, but it all pays off in the end. It’s not one of my favorites, but it is very good nonetheless.
Written and Directed by: Vincenzo Natali
Without a doubt, this is the most surreal entry in the entire film. Envisioned and brought to the screen by Vincenzo Natali — best known for “Cube” — this film is sure to delight, and possibly even fright some of the more timid viewers. It’s all in good fun though, and the events that transpire are often comical, despite the grave nature of the situation. The story follows a backpacker who stumbles upon a vampiress feeding on her prey. What ensues is the unpredictable love story between a human and a vampire. It’s shot with the intent of emulating the look and feel of an old horror movie, but contains some modern twists on the genre. It’s a delightful short, and it is arguably one of the most creative segments contained within the whole.
Written and Directed by: Wes Craven
In what seemed to me, an odd turn for Craven, this film is a departure from his trademark genre: horror. In fact, it would seem far more plausible that the previous film — a vampire love story — would have been his creation, but I assure you, there is no mix up. At any rate, Craven turns in a rather nice dramatic piece, proving that he is not the one-trick-pony I had pegged him to be. Filling out the short are the superb actors, Rufus Sewell and Emily Mortimer who play a bickering couple touring a famous graveyard. It isn’t until an unlikely guest gives our man, Rufus some much needed advice that he’s ready to be the man she’s longing for. I really enjoyed this film, and I feel as though Craven should put more effort into dramatic filmmaking. He does a great job here.
Written and Directed by: Tom Tykwer
Tykwer is quickly becoming one of my new favorite directors. Through his incredibly unique narrative style — evident in “Run Lola Run,” “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” — he crafts a wholly distinct and memorable piece of art. No two are the same, but traces of his style can easily be gleaned from his body of work. Here we’re treated to his beloved rapid fire storytelling technique, which makes for an incredibly effective and affecting story, all in a mere six minutes. Featuring the oh-so-gorgeous, and incredibly talented Natalie Portman, this story paints a picture of a relationship between a sightless Parisian, and a struggling actress. It is easily the strongest narrative piece in the set, and it is also the most creative. Through Tykwer’s brilliant approach to the editing and shooting of the film — all done in two days, mind you — we feel as though we know these people so intimately, and as a result, the film resonates long after the final frame. This is my favorite film. No question.
Written by: Gena Rowlands — Directed by: Gérard Depardieu
After the hyperactive narrative of Tykwer’s film, Quartier Latin takes it down more than a few notches — to a small, leisurely crawl. We pick up with the character leads as they meet up for a drink, and discuss their pending divorce. Each of them have moved on, and have a new love in their life. However, through their conversation and subsequent banter they come to find that they still love each other. In spite of their rekindled feelings, they both know it won’t work out — that their love still remains, but that it has changed form — and agree to proceed with the divorce. The film is one of my favorites because of its delicate, and authentic performances, in addition to its bittersweet ending.
Written by: Alexander Payne & Nadine Eïd — Directed by: Alexander Payne
I must admit. I’m not that big of a fan of Payne’s body of work. I find that his bittersweet comedies rely a bit too much of the bitter element, and as a result they tend to depress me more than they make me laugh — especially “Sideways.” Even still, I have a lot of respect for his style, and his craft, and invariably I will continue to see his films, hoping that I’ll one day love one of them. This film in particular is one of my favorites of his. It has some depressing dialogue — as is characteristic of his writing — but overall, the message is an uplifting one, and it makes for the perfect bookend to the series of shorts. In just a few minutes, he manages to craft a tale of a foreigner that falls in love with the city itself — which no other film attempts to do here. I like it because it captures the essence of belonging so effectively — that perhaps this lonely woman has finally found a place to call home. All of the feelings he associates with this realization are summarized so poetically in the final moments of the short, that there is no denying his feelings for Paris. He genuinely loves it.
Whether you’ve traveled to Paris, or you’ve been living there for years, you’ll likely rediscover your love for the city as the film showcases the beauty and uniqueness of its people, locales, attractions and of course, the various romantic tales that take place everyday within the city.
It might not be for everyone, but we’re strongly urging you to give it a shot. With so many talented directors and actors/actresses, you’re bound to find something you love about this movie, and with any luck, Paris as well.
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