Faubourg Saint-Denis - directed by Tom Tykwer, starring Melchior Beslon and Natalie Portman. From the director of one of my favorite films (Run Lola Run) comes my favorite short on display. A blind Parisian meets an American actress, they click, she moves to Paris, she screams, he studies for his exams, she acts...
You'll get it. Tykwer took full advantage of the screen time given.
Quartier Latin - directed by Gérard Depardieu and Frédéric Auburtin, starring Ben Gazzara, Gena Rowlands, and Depardieu. Two old-timers (Gazzara is 76, Rowlands just turned 77) show us how it's done in a terrifically written scene. Depardieu directs and even pops in — guess you couldn't have this movie without him.
14e arrondissement - directed by Alexander Payne, starring Margo Martindale. Payne brings his familiar style (Election, About Schmidt) to this story of an American tourist discovering herself on a vacation to the City of Lights. I won't spoil this for you, but it's up there with the Tykwer and Coen Brothers entries as the standouts. High comedy, especially if you've ever taken a French class.
Fletch's Film Rating:
"You're the best ... around!"
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