This was great fun- eighteen five minute tales by internationally acclaimed directors set in the self-proclaimed “City of Love,” all based in different areas of Paris and all dealing, sometimes ironically, sometimes reverentially, with the theme of love. There are dozens of famous actors to spot and Paris provides a wonderful range of backdrops, from the great to the grotty. Even if the odd segment drags a bit – the first one’s a bit of a non-event and the mimes left me cold- there’s always something fresh, funny and thought-provoking coming up next. My find of the year!
A series of inventive and absorbing short stories, generally very well conceived, skilfully directed, extremely well acted, beautfully shot. And many are very imaginative indeed. It's Paris now, a post-moldern city, edgy, sharp, no one thing; a post-modern city of heterogeneous characters most of whom are compellingly confused at the start of each story and often remain so, their 'loves' notwithstanding. Indeed, although a different arrondissement frames each story, they could take place in any one of a dozen or more cities now. Nothing particularly Parisian, therefore. Which is fine. It's us now.
Some good, some bad, many indifferent. Most of it is self-indulgent and boring. I was rarely engaged. At the time of typing the 2 other reviewers got much more from these 18 short films. I don't know what I missed.