Paris
Yes, there's actually a film titled 'Paris'. It's yet another one of those 'multi threaded' plot films, a la Syriana or Babel. It starts off rather confusingly - rather than picking a single starting point, and then branching out, it begins by showing glimpses of all the various little subplots first. Predictably, the subtle links between the various microcosms become apparent, later on.
The film is very much a romantic snapshot of life in Paris, in particular the life of Pierre, as he tries to deal with the news that he might not have much longer to live, due to a heart condition. From there, the film tries to link in the lives of the cute girl who lives across the road from Pierre, her history professor and his brother, Pierre's sister - Elise - and a bunch of African immigrants with a brother from Cameroon trying to make his way to the very city, a group of produce vendors from the market where Elise often shops for groceries.
There appears to be no greater purpose to the story other than "this is Paris", presented in a way reminiscent of how the history professor attempts to characterise Paris' colourful, multifaceted and 'fragmented' history and personality. Indeed, there are points in the film where you feel that the city itself is a character that unwittingly influences the lives of the human characters that live within it, whether it's by drawing them in from far-away places, frustrating them about their various day to day problems, presenting them with awkward romantic opportunities or offering them hope and joy.
The film is very much a romantic snapshot of life in Paris, in particular the life of Pierre, as he tries to deal with the news that he might not have much longer to live, due to a heart condition. From there, the film tries to link in the lives of the cute girl who lives across the road from Pierre, her history professor and his brother, Pierre's sister - Elise - and a bunch of African immigrants with a brother from Cameroon trying to make his way to the very city, a group of produce vendors from the market where Elise often shops for groceries.
There appears to be no greater purpose to the story other than "this is Paris", presented in a way reminiscent of how the history professor attempts to characterise Paris' colourful, multifaceted and 'fragmented' history and personality. Indeed, there are points in the film where you feel that the city itself is a character that unwittingly influences the lives of the human characters that live within it, whether it's by drawing them in from far-away places, frustrating them about their various day to day problems, presenting them with awkward romantic opportunities or offering them hope and joy.