French Drama Revolving Around Heart Patient Arrives on DVD
Pierre (Romain Duris) was enjoying a flourishing career as a chorus line dancer until he was diagnosed with heart disease. He turns to his sister Elise (Juliette Binoche) for support, and the selfless social worker rushes to his side to assist however she can. Soon, the divorced, 40 year-old decides to move in with her brother, bringing along her three rambunctious children, energetic souls who help inject a joie de vivre back into their ailing uncle.
For the relatively-young man’s world has become restricted to the confines of his Paris apartment while he waits for word of a transplant donor. And although he is understandably dejected about his doctor’s dire prognosis, at least Pierre has loved ones around and a spacious, upper-floor flat with a balcony offering breathtaking, bird’s eye views of the city below.
Moreover, his plight makes him more appreciative of the little things in life, and he starts observing both neighbors and strangers from a fresh perspective. So unfolds Paris, an ensemble drama directed by Cedric Klapisch, ever so reminiscent of Amelie (2001), the similarly-serendipitous Oscar-nominee in the Best Foreign Film category.
But instead of a naive waif, we have melancholy Pierre serving as the link to a motley cast of colorful characters. For instance, we find emotionally-vulnerable Elise flirting with a macho fishmonger (Albert Dupontel) she meets in the market. Then there’s the pretty neighbor (Melanie Laurent) who becomes the object of her college professor’s (Fabrice Luchini) obsession. Elsewhere, a racist snob (Karin Viard) only reluctantly hires an African immigrant (Kingsley Kum Abang) to work in her shop.
These loosely interlocking tales ultimately lead an envious Pierre to the conclusion that none of the above “know how lucky they are to be walking… breathing… running… arguing… to be just like that, carefree in Paris!” A sage insight from a housebound invalid that we all have a lot to be thankful for and that we should never take our health for granted.
Paris
Excellent (3.5 stars)
Unrated
In French with subtitles.
Running time: 130 minutes
Studio: MPI Home Video
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, “The Making of” and “Behind the Scenes” documentaries, “The Music of Paris” and “The Production Design of Paris” featurettes, a table read, and the theatrical trailer.
To order a copy of Paris on DVD, visit: B002VKB0M4
Watch the Paris trailer: