CMFH Film Reviews

2006, Liechtenstein/Switzerland/Germany/France
Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Review by Deborah Nicol

REPRINTED FROM The Desert Sun:

Ah, Paris, the city of love. It is impossible not to find romance hiding in the corners or smacking you across the face in this provocative capital.

Producer Emmanuel Benbihy threw some of the world's best directors on blind dates with the city's twenty arrondissements (only eighteen were ultimately used). Inspired by their assigned locations and held to sparse schedules, the filmmakers were given the opportunity to build intriguing lives in the blink of an eye.

Though modeled after a map of the city, the locales are unique without being obtrusive to the stories. The characters themselves shape the streets that intertwine the tales, and the series of vignettes organically transition from budding romances to fading passions.

Though each account is self-sustaining, the flow from story to story is not jarring. From a world-wide cast of directors rises a sense of the audience as a tourist, taking the back roads to meet individuals rather than the simply checking off landmarks.

Each tale provides more than a slice of life, especially for amorous new adventures. From a romance that falls into one man's lap, to another that must be earned through respect, to another that grows from a mysterious connection, these new relationships carry expected yet captivating uncertainty. Shying away from trite Parisian paramours, the characters draw the audience into the film as a Peeping Tom of future intimacies.

But sometimes it's best to keep one's distance. The Coen Brothers contribute a quirky comedy with tourist Steve Buscemi learning the advantage of being inconspicuous. Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) turns the observer from character to audience in his dramatic tale of a struggling mother who must care for another woman's baby. In a powerful performance by Juliette Binoche, another short focuses on a mother aching with grief for her dead son. The latter two contain much backstory, yet the tales are complete in their brief running time.

The directors display their trademark styles without mimicking earlier endeavors. In fact, some escape their usual cinematic occupations altogether and experiment in new fields, but the filmmakers blend well through skillful artistry. Transitional shots of the city from a distance allow the microscopic close-ups to feel natural.

Though most of the shorts are effective dramas, a few odd presentations find their way into the mix. Cinematographer Christopher Doyle filmed a flashy fantasy about a traveling salesman and a boxing hair dresser. Director of the animated "The Triplets of Belleville," Sylvain Chomet, delves into mime love. Elijah Wood falls for a comely vampire in a short not directed by Wes Craven -- he chose a romance rekindled by Oscar Wilde's grave.

With a phenomenal cast and crew representing many corners of the film world, Benbihy has accomplished the impressive feat of bringing many cooks to the kitchen without anyone spoiling the stew. He plans to continue his prying ways in New York and China, and one can only hope those recipes are half as good as this tasty dish.