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Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Yolande Moreau, Artus de Penguern ... see more see more... , Urbain Cancelier , Dominique Pinon , Maurice Bénichou , Claude Perron , Isabelle Nanty , Claire Maurier , Clotilde Mollet , Serge Merlin , Jamel Debbouze , André Dussollier , Michel Robin , Flora Guiet , Lorella Cravotta , Amaury Babault , Armelle , Jean Darie , Ticky Holgado , Marc Amyot , Andrée Damant , Frankye Pain , Dominique Bettenfeld , Eugčne Berthier , Marion Pressburger , Charles-Roger Bour , Luc Palun , Fabienne Chaudat , Jacques Viala , Fabien Behar , Jonathan Joss , Jean-Pierre Becker , Thierry Gibault , Franois Bercovici , Guillaume Viry , Valerie Zarrouk , Marie-Laure Descoureaux , Sophie Tellier , Gérald Weingand , Francois Viaur , Paule Dare , Myriam Labbe , Robert Gendreu , Julianna Kovacs , Mady Malroux , Monette Malroux , Valériane De Villeneuve , Isis Peyrade , Raymonde Heudeline , Christiane Bopp , Thierry Arfeuilleres , Jerry Lucas , Patrick Paroux , Francois Aubineau , Philippe Beautier , Régis Iacono , Franck-Olivier Bonnet , Alain Floret , Jean-Pol Brissard , Jacques Thébault , Frédéric Mitterrand

One woman decides to change the world by changing the lives of the people she knows in this charming and romantic comic fantasy from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Amelie (Audrey Tautou) is a young woma... read more read more...n who had a decidedly unusual childhood; misdiagnosed with an unusual heart condition, Amelie didn't attend school with other children, but spent most of her time in her room, where she developed a keen imagination and an active fantasy life. Her mother Amandine (Lorella Cravotta) died in a freak accident when Amelie was eight, and her father Raphael (Rufus) had limited contact with her, since his presence seemed to throw her heart into high gear. Despite all this, Amelie has grown into a healthy and beautiful young woman who works in a cafe and has a whimsical, romantic nature. When Princess Diana dies in a car wreck in the summer of 1997, Amelie is reminded that life can be fleeting and she decides it's time for her to intervene in the lives of those around her, hoping to bring a bit of happiness to her neighbors and the regulars at the cafe. Amelie starts by bringing together two lonely people -- Georgette (Isabelle Nanty), a tobacconist with a severe case of hypochondria, and Joseph (Dominique Pinon), an especially ill-tempered customer. When Amelie finds a box of old toys in her apartment, she returns them to their former owner, Mr. Bretodeau (Maurice Benichou), sending him on a reverie of childhood. Amelie befriends Dufayel (Serge Merlin), an elderly artist living nearby whose bones are so brittle, thanks to a rare disease, that everything in his flat must be padded for his protection. And Amelie decides someone has to step into the life of Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz), a lonely adult video store clerk and part-time carnival spook-show ghost who collects pictures left behind at photo booths around Paris. Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amelie Poulain received unusually enthusiastic advance reviews prior to its French premiere in the spring of 2001, and was well received at a special free screening at that year's Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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95% liked it

424,231 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

145 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Release Date: November 2, 2001

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DVD Release Date: July 16, 2002

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Nino and Amelie Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Amelie Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) Audrey Tautou Amelie Amelie Poulain Amélie Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) The perfect girl Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) Amélie Poulain y Nino Quincampoix
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Flixster Reviews (43,056)

  • brooklynspo
    July 7, 2007
    brooklynspo
    time to see again
  • garyX
    March 1, 2012
    garyX
    Amelie is a young woman who grew up with only her emotionally challenged parents for company, and now lives in a world which is a combination of fantasy and vicarious experience as she touches the lives of those around her. Amelie is also a the kind of film that reminds you why y... read moreou fell in love with cinema in the first place; and not just because Audrey Tautou is so adorable I could eat her up with a dessert spoon. Well, not entirely anyway. Some may be shocked to hear that I'm not exactly a fan of romances, but this is bittersweet, funny and touching in a way all romance aspires to but very few achieve; it's one of those films that's life affirming in a way that makes you feel like your life is richer for having seen it. Compared to this, the likes of Eternal Sunshine and its ilk are like inebriated, club-footed bullocks with poor depth perception crashing around in an existential china shop. Chock full of beautiful images and sounds, thought provoking and utterly enchanting, and an instant favourite. Just see it; your life will be better for it...
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    February 22, 2012
    StarCrossedVoyager
    A fantastically written, shot and edited film with something for everyone. It keeps you interested throughout the film, wondering which way it's going to turn next. You're never sure they're going to have a happy ending which keeps the tension and believability of the film. Brill... read moreiant performance by Tautou and just such a great watch that you can see it again and again and still find out something new. A must-see.
  • djdemersseman
    January 7, 2012
    djdemersseman
    Don't know how I missed this film for so long because it's become my favorite film. It's like Tim Burton but French, French, here, meaning "better."
  • MrMarakai
    November 19, 2011
    MrMarakai
    Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's collaboration with co-writer/director Marc Caro resulted in a couple of marvellous and inventive films in "Delicatessan" and "The City of Lost Children". Those two had a dark element to them but now that Jeunet has went his own way, "Amelie" shows th... read moreat he is the one that possesses the lighter side of the duo.
    In the heart of Paris, Amelie (Audrey Tautou) brings joy to her friends, secretly sorting out the sad little problems in their lives. But when she discovers a strange photo album belonging to Nino (Mathieu Kassovitz) she realises that she is in love and has problems of her own to sort out.
    I struggle to think of a contemporary film that boasts such richness in detail and creative, infectious enthusiasm as 'Amelie' does. It's playfulness, poetry and emotion are rarely touched upon these days in film and director Jean-Pierre Jeunet deserves applause for his uplifting achievements here. It's also stunningly shot by cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel (inspired by the paintings of Brazilian artist Juarez Machado) lending an artistic look to the highly creative and artistic content. Without being overly elaborate though, it finds its art in the simple things in life, observing people's individual pleasures and pains. Quite simply, the whole film is a complete joy to behold. The performances are also delightful. As much as I'm an admirer of actress Emily Watson (whom the role of Amelie was originally intended) I'm glad the relatively unknown Audrey Tautou got the part. She is absolutely adorable and captures the essence of this wonderful character perfectly. With flair and originality that's hard to come by these days, 'Amelie' is one of the most beautiful pieces of cinema I have seen and will always be one of my favourites.
    The humour; the look; the characters and performances; the delightful and fitting music by Yann Tiersen all culminate into the ultimate feel-good film and confirmation of the creativity and inventiveness of French cinema. A heartwarming modern classic.
  • fb535316333
    September 14, 2011
    fb535316333
    Stylistically ravishing, Amelia is a movie that not only charms like no other but also delivers a delightful adventure about finding innocence in otherwise dreary circumstances. Romance, fun, self discovery all delivered with imagination. A good watch.
  • fb1216165431
    September 10, 2011
    fb1216165431
    Amélie is a delightful, charming, and innocent satire on love and reality. Whimsical, stylized storytelling. An unforgettable adventure of identity and romance. Audrey Tautou, the cast, and the movie and its technical cinematography are all fabulously radiant.
  • jmj26
    April 6, 2011
    jmj26
    With all of the hustle and bustle of modern day life, we often tend to forget the simple pleasures of our existence. Everything in our society needs to have a "purpose", a raison d'ętre outside of just being simple entertainment. Amélie is a celebration of those little frivolitie... read mores, blending a wealth of colors and charming characters to create a world that seems far more energetic, hopeful and filled with life than an outward glance may suggest. That is not only where the film succeeds, but where it utterly triumphs over most of its romantic and comedic competitors. It's a special, wonderful film that is nothing more than a modern classic.

    Amélie Poulain is an eccentric young girl with a roving imagination and an infinitely charming disposition. One day, she finds a little tin box in a hidden compartment at her home. Inside the box is an assortment of memorabilia and trinkets, and she makes it her mission to find the owner of this treasure. When the return of the box triggers a slight reform in the habits of its owners, Amélie decides to try and help everyone that she can. This kind goal leads not only to the happiness of others, but to her finding her one true love on the way.

    Audrey Tautou is absolutely entrancing as the lead role of Amélie. She is both quirky and warm, without feeling forced in her acting. It is an essential quality of the film, since she is of course the focal force of it all. Amélie's actions, however small, are testaments to her caring nature and in return she gets to see the lives of others change in interesting ways. The supporting cast does a great job of being simultaneously extensions of Amélie's kindness and independently interesting characters. In the beginning, we are given a few random facts about each of them which oddly enough give more depth to their character than otherwise. What they love, what they hate, it creates a lasting bond with the characters that never goes away.

    That is what makes Amélie wonderful. It doesn't focus on what is obvious, but focuses more on what is important to the individual. Age, job, past difficulties and successes, all of these things are forgotten shortly after their announcement. However, the fact that Amélie loves to skip stones, that she loves to crack the caramelized sugar on a créme brulée with a teaspoon; that is what says more about her character than anything else. She is also always learning something new and in her pursuit of granting others happiness, she learns a lot about herself too and her weaknesses. The people she meets become both mentors and recipients of kindness, helping her in finding her way as much as being helped themselves.

    Jean-Pierre Jeunet is ever present in the film's look and direction. Amélie is a film that, not surprisingly, takes pleasure in being flamboyant and at times random. Some scenes are fast-forwarded, in others the camera shakes profoundly to emulate a speeding locomotive's force and the desperation of the moment. The surroundings are bursting with color, beautiful reds, yellows and oranges ornate the scenery and makes it its own character in the film. Jeunet specializes in being whimsical and its here where his vision really gets to shine. Instead of alluding to certain elements, he'll often just show it out right. If Amélie is imagining something, we get to see it happen in real time. Amélie becomes all the more special for it and it helps to maintain an almost constant dream-like sheen over the film.

    Amélie is just filled with life and energy, and instead of being overbearing and obnoxious, it delivers its vision, its message and its glee with an effortless panache. It's both funny, heart-felt and pretty, rising out of the crowd like the character Amélie herself. It never loses sight of humanity's lighter side and instead of looking through the eyes of a pessismist, what we see is a society that just needs a helping hand. What we must do, then, is be like Amélie, and take life as the gift that it is.
  • MissMorganLeee
    April 4, 2011
    MissMorganLeee
    Great movie! Still so fresh and funny 9 years later and im sure it will be in 90 years. A feel good movie that really makes me want to move to Paris.
  • shawnewing92
    March 14, 2011
    shawnewing92
    A french comedy that's bright, quirky, and heartwarming. It's no challenge for innocent Amelie to make you crack a smile at her peculiar ways.

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Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar
November 16, 2001
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Tautou is gloriously alive in the title role.

Peter Howell
November 9, 2001
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

The sunniest face and the greatest acclaim belong to Audrey Tautou, who is new to these shores. A delight in the title role, she's like a young Audrey Hepburn, making us laugh and feel empathy without... Full Review

Desson Thomson
November 9, 2001
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

There's so much here, and all of it delightful.

Rita Kempley
November 9, 2001
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

A delectable French confection ... sure to please America's sweet tooth.

Mick LaSalle
November 9, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A movie whose embrace of cinema is so passionate it could be mistaken for an embrace of life. Full Review

Joe Baltake
November 9, 2001
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Anyone who loves movies will have no defense against the seductions of Amelie -- either the film or the young woman. Full Review

Eric Harrison
November 9, 2001
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

So terrific it might single-handedly rescue the 'feel-good movie' from the garbage heap of overused and discredited phrases. Full Review

Rick Groen
November 9, 2001
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

A feel-good flick with artsy ambitions. Full Review

Susan Stark
November 9, 2001
Susan Stark, Detroit News

The more you know of the French way of, say, roasting a chicken or organizing a handbag, the funnier and more delightful you will find this film.

Terry Lawson
November 9, 2001
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Do not be surprised to see Amelie pull a Crouching Tiger and be nominated as both best foreign film and best film. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Collignon (the grocer): Look at him! He's a vegetable!
    • The Street Prompter: At least you'll never be a vegetable. Even artichokes have hearts!
    • Amélie: [nods] At least you'll never be a vegetable. Even artichokes have hearts!
    • Dufayel: So, my little Amélie, you don't have bones of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance pass, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton. So, go get him, for Pete's sake!
    • The Sacré-Coeur Boy: Only a fool looks at a finger that points to the sky.
    • Hipolito (the writer): Without you, today's emotions would be the scurf of yesterday's.
    • Joseph: You're gorgeous when you blush. Like a wild flower.
    • Georgette: It's my dyspepsia.
    • Old Man Collignon: Your bones aren't made of glass, you can take life's knocks.
Submit a Fact | View All

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Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) Trivia

Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amél... Trivia

  • "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulain", better known as "Amelie", won the 2002 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar?  Answer »
  • In "Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain," which famous character does Amelie photograph herself dressed up as?  Answer »
  • "Amelie" Directed by Jean Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou is a simplified title for North America. What is the original name of that movie ?  Answer »
  • What is the original name of the french film 'Amelie'?  Answer »
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