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When it works, director Cédric Klapisch’s "Paris" is a loving, cinematic-tone poem to one of the world’s most beautiful cities and its people. When it doesn’t work, it’s a little slow. Fortunately, "Paris" works most of the time.
Élise (Juliette Binoche), a social worker whose brother Pierre (Romain Duris) has a serious heart condition, cuts back her hours at work to help look after him. This doesn’t endear her to her co-workers. Pierre spends most of his time in his apartment and sometimes admires the beautiful young neighbor Laetitia (Mélanie Laurent). Laetitia, who doesn’t know Pierre exists, is involved with her professor (Fabrice Luchini), a respected historian who is still mourning the death of his father. Each character deals with their respective obstacles and each affects the others, sometimes people they may never meet.
"Paris" is one of those everybody-is-connected movies like "Crash" or "Babel," except it doesn’t play with timelines. In that respect, it’s pretty straightforward. Klapisch has fashioned a gripping, if sometimes meandering, meditation on the hopelessness of life and the little joys that keep us from jumping off a bridge. In fact, the story is filled with unexpected moments that keep it from becoming too serious.
The cast is across-the-board terrific, including the Oscar-winning Binoche, who is perfectly comfortable in an ensemble. But the real star is the city itself. Klapisch not only shows the usual landmarks, but graces us with breathtaking, panoramic views of the City of Lights.
"Paris" reminds us life is fleeting, but if you grab it by the tail, you might just get a little bit of happiness.
Paris
R
Three reels out of four
At the Ritz Five tomorrow
My Life in Ruins
PG-13
Available Tuesday
Oscar-nominated Nia Vardalos ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding") plays Georgia, a harried tour guide in Greece who is just going through the motions. She knows she is in one of the most magical countries in the world, but has long since lost her enthusiasm for the job.
Enter her newest group of tourists, a particularly motley crew who reminds Georgia why she got into the travel business in the first place. And it doesn’t hurt the hunky Greek bus driver (Alexis Georgoulis) may have a little crush on her.
The great supporting cast includes Richard Dreyfuss and Rita Wilson.
