Amelie Review - Exam

The final section of the Amelie exam will likely ask you to conduct a review of the film.

This will assess both your writing skills and your overall knowledge of the film and its production credits (director, cast, year, etc)

Structure of the review

1. The narrative
2. The characters
3. The director’s style
4. The themes
5. Personal remarks

The Narrative

You should begin by giving a summary of the film’s narrative. Never reveal all the details and hint at the ending without giving too much away.

E.g. the film centres around the adventures of our heroine Amelie (Audrey Tatou). From a rather uninspiring childhood the audience witnesses her develop into a shy yet idiosyncratic young adult whose life is changed when she discovers a mysterious box. This discovery fuels Amelie’s passion for helping others yet at the same time she refuses to satisfy her own pleasures until her attraction to enigmatic Nino (Matteau Kassovitz) becomes too much to bear.

The characters

•       Here you have an opportunity to discuss the array of supporting characters who add to the films charm. You should mention the impact or role they have on the film.

E.g.

Amidst Amelie’s life the audience are also introduced to a wide range of similarly memorable characters, from Georgette the hypochondriac and her short life affair with the obsessive Joseph,  Amelie’s father and his reluctance to travel, Amelie’s guardian angel Dufayel, the man with bones so brittle so as to not be able to wind his own clocks and the films only antagonist Collignon who’s abuse of his ever present assistant causes Amelie to seek just revenge. 

The Films Style

•       Here you should discuss the director’s techniques.

–      Cinema Du Look

–      Use of colour filters (particularly green and red)

–      Perfect ideal of Paris

–      Direct Address to camera

–      Dynamic Camera Movement

–      Use of bittersweet humour

–      Background in animation / fantasy

–      Importance of Montmartre (homage to his home)

–      Focus of small pleasures as character introduction.

–      Artistic influences (Renoir, Monet)

–      Traditional French soundtrack

Themes

Revisit the films themes of

-          Simplicity / innocence

-          Happiness

-          Outsiders

-          Childhood

Overall Jeunet creates a world which asks the audience to consider notions of happiness and engage in the simpler pleasures of life. We are also encouraged to look to our own child within and to perhaps feel young at heart.

Personal Reflection

•       Give the film a testimonial – convince the reader that it is important they watch the film

•       E.g. Watching Amelie could perhaps be the moment you wake up to life’s small (and greater) pleasures.

When writing your should aim for at least 1 side of A4 in the exam. (Remember this exam is only 1 hour)

When giving details of characters you should follow with the actor’s name in brackets e.g. our protagonist Amelie (Audrey Tatou) embarks on...

If you lead with the director or actors name you should follow with their other films

E.g. the director Jeunet has created Delicatessen, City of Lost Children