Five sunflowers. Without hesitation.
I have watched Amélie on the kind of grey Sunday where the sky looks like a clean canvas and nothing in particular is happening. Every time it works. Every time the film knows exactly when to be quiet and exactly when to be loud, and the colors are so saturated they feel slightly illegal.
What to know going in
- It is in French. You do not need to speak French.
- The opening montage is the best opening montage in any film I have ever seen.
- There is a man whose entire job in this film is to be slightly sad in the photo booth. He is the heart of it.
If you have somehow missed this one — pour something nice, sit in the corner of your sofa where the cushion is exactly right, and press play. You will be fine.