For my A-2 Coursework in French, I have to write an essay on something to do with media, and link it with France. So I chose to write an essay about Jeunet's 2001 film Amelie. I love this film, and already sort of know it inside out, so I thought it would be a good choice.
But my teacher gave me the question I have to ultimately answer, and I got a bit stuck.

"Examine the success of the film Amelie. How can one explain the international popularity of the film?"

Some ideas I have been toying with are the obvious ones- the themes are recognisable to everyone (love, revenge, curiosity); the casting (Audrey Tatou and her charming performance)- but I'm having difficulty with any others.

I have also noticed that the camera work in this film is very clever at times, and also the use of colour (Amelie wears clothes whose colours correspond to the mood of the scene, as do the colours of the set) is very prominent throughout.

So basicaly what I am asking is- can you think of any more reasons why it was so popular (it earnt over $30 million in the US alone), and how I could possibly put it into an essay.
Thankyou for any contributions (even if it is just why you like/ dislike the film)

A couple of quick thoughts:

The way the locations are presented is essentially very appealing to international audiences. It's basically set in what appears to be a tiny village where everyone knows each-other, while at the same time also being in Paris, which is clearly a huge city. There's a romanticisation of the urban environment operating there, and the way that this appeals to the desires of city dwellers should not be underestimated.

There are many aspects of the film that sell France as a cultural product. The France in the film is not a realistic version of France, but a product, repackaged and targetted at non-French audiences to appeal to their own ideal conception of what France would be like. We all know that Paris will be just as noisy and smelly as any other city in the world, but the film presents it as laid-back, romantic-by-nature, mysterious, even shy. These are all cultural values that speak to an idealised version of what people would like France to be, and in that way it represents an extension of colonial politics; the erotics of the Other. The thing that we are not and cannot become part of is desirable by its nature of distance. If you look back to the way that black women were represented by art in the 19th century you often see that they are given a sexual allure because of what they are, not who they are (Gaugin I think also did this with Fijians, or some place like that), and the same thing happens here: France is treated as an idealised location of sensual eroticism, distant from the slam-bang sexuality of America.

The sensuality of the film is important, look at the changes in tones of voice, the way that characters call each other into their confidence, inviting the audience in with them.

Ah, there's another one. Amelia looks directly at the camera, if my memory serves me. It's a classic technique for involving an audience with a production, used all the time on stage.

Time for me to go to bed, but that should get you started! Let me know if you think you'll need any bibliography references for this and I'll see what I've got to hand.

Yes, she does that a lot, as well as addressing the audience directly.

The film makes it easier to empathise with Amelie, by telling us little details about her - how she likes to skip stones down the river, or stick her hand into sacks of seed.

I've got to dash now, but later on I'll be able to contribute a bit more, I think When does this have to be in by? Isn't it a bit of an odd coursework, for French? Unless you're writing the essay in French...

The film also takes creative risks that aren't typical of American films. Just as it's hard to imagine the French making Armageddon it's hard to think of Americans making Amelie. The clearly non-realist computer graphics, the direct-address to the audience, the lack of post-Alien ballsy feminism... All are features that don't often appear in US cinema.

I think it would have to do with the fact that Amelie is a "weirdo" but in an apealing way.
In some ways she is the essence of human wants, feelings and desires without the stops or dilutions which makes us want to live vicariously through her while empathising with the feelings we all have in common with her but which she doesn't seem to have the ability to control to stop herself from being hurt by the world, She is a feeling (which probably relates back to the clothing and colours you mentioned.
She comes from a disfuntional family which a lot of films still try to idealise out.
She has the appeal of a young woman that goes and makes her own life.
The variety and quantity of characters and the way they're all given little foibles is unusual and enjoyable.
The music is unusally well matched into the situations and is very feel-good.


That's all I can think of just now.

If you watch the film "Orlando" with Tilda swinton she looks into the camera and talks to the audience while time traveling and changing sex.

I've had the book of Orlando for about five years and still I've never got past the first few pages. It's got a great premise, but the writing style is really dull!

You've a good point about the music, I think it really complements that idealisation of France. The quirky style accentuates the mythologising of the narrative.

Fantastic! Thanks chaps.

Yes, the essay does have to be in french, and use the subjunctive more than three times... Don't ask!

Carry on if you have any more ideas, but these are great ones, they will help tons!
xx

Find out how to say this in French, and you're sorted "Accentuates the mythologising of the narrative" indeed...

Aha! That is what the french assistant is for

Sorry, I've been working on my thesis all week and that kind of phrase is becoming increasingly common in my writing style!