Ahhh, Audrey Tautou. She is so many things that I wish I could be. French. Diminutive. Classy. Quirky. Flawless. I am smitten.
We’ve all seen Amelie, but I recently watched two movies that are less well-known “aux Etats-Unis”: Priceless (Hors de prix) and He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (A la folie, pas du tout).
From what I’ve read around the interwebs, Priceless is loosely based on Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and who better to reprise the role of Holly Golightly than Audrey Tautou. She plays Irene, a girl who’s made a career of seducing well-to-do men and living off their lustful generosity. When she meets lovestruck Jean, she takes him for a ride and eventually must choose between a life of diamonds and fancy hotels or a life of blissfully impoverished love. Tautou was just so damn likable in Amelie that it’s almost hard to watch her play the part of a selfish and conniving ne’er do well. But I loved this movie nonetheless, if for no other reason than to drool over the tres chic parade of designer duds she slips her enviably tiny frame into (she has that kind of flat-chested elegance that makes me feel a lot better about my Lilliputian cup size).
.jpg "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not")
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is a departure for Tautou. It’s not at all lighthearted or fun, but I did enjoy it. As with Priceless, she plays a character that you can’t really like. The story is divided in two. In the first half, we watch as young Angelique desperately tries to separate her lover, Loic, from his pregnant wife. It seems that Loic is cruel to her, wholly disregarding the endless stream of gifts she sends him and forever failing to show up at their planned assignations. But in the second half, we learn the Loic has but a passing knowledge that Angelique even exists, and their elaborate relationship is merely in her head. As she spirals out of control, it is revealed that all of Loic’s apparent callousness was simply the result of an imagined affair, and there are deadly consequences for all parties involved. The best part of this movie is the intricate plot. It is clever and well-written and delivers no shortage of brilliant “ah ha” moments. Also, Loic (played by Samuel le Bihan) is pretty easy on the eyes.
Great movies to check out if you need a francais fix!
