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A fabulous destiny

Elaine Reimer Paré

Amélie Miramax Zoe, 2001. Rated R.

Nominated for an Oscar as one of the best foreign language films of the year, Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain (Amélie from Montmartre in the English-subtitled version) charms audiences with its light-hearted humour and vibrant passion for the small things in life.

Recommended for mature audiences (it is European, after all), Amélie offers a sensory feast that will continue to delight long after the closing credits. As Roger Ebert said in his review for the Chicago Sun-Times, “You see it, and later when you think about it, you smile.” French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s innovative cinematography and meticulous attention to detail recreate the enchanting world of Amélie, where reality and fantasy intermingle effortlessly. The film’s overwhelming box office success suggests that in addition to Jeunet’s magical filmmaking, Amélie offers something unique.


Amélie Poulain is a young, shy, lonely woman who realizes that daily life in Montmartre, Paris, is no longer centred on pouring coffee at the local café. Her life changes dramatically when she discovers a child’s treasure box in her apartment. After anonymously returning the box to its rightful owner (now a grandfather), Amélie is overwhelmed by the joy she feels from this “random act of kindness”. She consciously chooses to spend her life trying to bring happiness to others.

Jeunet’s masterful filming reflects Amélie’s decision to live simply, but significantly. Throughout the film, Jeunet incorporates supersensitive sound effects that draw attention to each movement, whether it is the setting of a spoon on a saucer or the racing beat of a heart. In the same way that Amélie lives deliberately, so does the cinematography heighten the significance of each move. As clever Amélie secretly carries out her stratagems of good, viewers are surrounded by the sounds of her movements – constant reminders that even the simplest of acts hold life-changing potential.

While Amélie is a light-hearted peek into one woman’s life, the film inspires viewers to make the most of every moment. Even without knowing the results of her good deeds, as viewers are privileged to see in a closing montage, Amélie is content, filled with an appreciation and love for life. She recognizes that in spite of her weaknesses her decision to do good is, as the French title suggests, a “fabulous destiny”, and she welcomes it with open arms.

Elaine Reimer Paré is a member of Église Chrétienne de St-Laurent in Montreal.

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Last modified April 12, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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