Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Juliette Binoche, Denis Lavant, Marie Trintignant

Paris has its share of homeless people, and some of them live in little communities near the oldest bridge in the city, the Pont-Neuf. In the story, street-person Alex (Denis Lavant) has passed out al... read more read more...ong a much-traveled road, and a taxi has slightly injured his leg, which was in the way of traffic. When he limps back to his usual resting spot under the bridge, he finds a surprisingly unspoiled young woman (Juliette Binoche) wearing an eye patch sleeping there and confronts her about it. They become acquainted, and he learns that she is Michèle, a painter from a good suburban family who has taken to the streets in order to practice her art uninterruptedly until the time when she will inevitably lose her vision to a degenerative eye disorder. Alex earns his booze money through doing street theater: fire-eating and gymnastic routines. The two become buddies and lovers, share many adventures while practicing the arts of street survival, and even have some fun along the way. So close do they become that, when Alex is imprisoned for a violent act of jealousy, a newly cured Michèle visits him in prison and promises to meet him on the bridge when he is released. Despite this film's setting among the poor, it cost a lot of money to make: one of the big costs was the need to build a replica of the Pont-Neuf. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Flixster Users

86% liked it

5,167 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

15 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Leos Carax

Release Date: July 2, 1999

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: January 13, 2004

Stats: 282 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (282)

  • rubystevens
    November 11, 2011
    rubystevens
    a stunning love letter to paris, as well as the story of two homeless people in love. the cinematography here is quite mind blowing, and the street life is romanticized a little bit, but the film makes me want to forgive it all faults, even going over the top to dizzying heights... read more. the ambiguous ending is an homage to 'l'atalante'. wildly romantic!
  • ScoopOnline
    December 18, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    Romance... In a most unlikely place.
  • sleepykiss
    November 1, 2009
    sleepykiss
    Simple story, but I adore it. Beautiful shots of the Pont Neuf bridge & Paris. And the water skiiing at night scene was absolutely gorgeous.... the water, the fireworks, Paris, soooo romantic. See it with the one u love.
  • columbiatch
    September 26, 2009
    columbiatch
    Umm, Great? I haven't seen a film as unabashedly romantic as maybe Sunrise. Binoche is so much better here since she's not kept under wraps like in Mauvais Sang. I didn't even notice the parallels to L'Atalante until the ending.
  • jluce1
    December 11, 2008
    jluce1
    Juliette Binoche runs nakedly along the sunset beach water scene while holding naked running Denis Lavant boner behind.
  • JohnnyMorelli
    May 23, 2007
    JohnnyMorelli
    I can't really decide whether I liked this movie or not. It was... I just don't know. lol... Good I guess. Very mixed feelings about this one.

View All Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Dequina
January 11, 2007
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

There are many moments of humor and wisdom in the unconventional courtship, not to mention genuine, almost painful emotion. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 14, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The third panel in Carax's trilogy (Boy Meets Girl, Bad Blood) is a thematically and visually exhilarating tale of mad love (amour fou), a genre for which the French have a special affinity. Full Review

Jeffrey Overstreet
December 6, 2004
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer

... like the work of a flamboyant art student who thinks that he can illustrate a profound love story by firing cannonballs of paint at a canvas. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 1, 2000
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

A film for the ages. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Leos Carax's inspiration for this film was Jean Vigo's masterpiece "L'Atalante" (1934). Full Review

Chuck Rudolph
January 1, 2000
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine

What destroys the film is the way it can't possibly come close to justifying its characters' choices, or its own. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
February 14, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

February 14, 2001
Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Charles Taylor
January 1, 2000
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Moulin Rouge!
    Moulin Rouge! (29%)
  • Boy Meets Girl (1984)
    Boy Meets Girl (1984) (0%)
  • Diva
    Diva (100%)
  • 372 le Matin (Betty Blue) (37.2 Degrees in the Morning)
    372 le Matin (Betty Blue) (37.2 Degrees in th... (0%)

More Movies like Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge)

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Les Amants du Pon... : Watch Free on TV

Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge) Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge). Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

HarryTuttle Skin by HarryTuttle
20 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins