FILM: Paris

Amélie

One of our pre-trip assignments is to choose a film and discuss how it has influenced our attitudes towards France; before and after the trip - comparisons.

I chose one the greatest foreign language films entitled "Amelie" which received five academy award nominations. Much of the movie is filmed in Montmartre too. This film has definitely influenced my attitudes towards France before arrival. I’ll be on a treasure hunt for sure when time allows.

When I land in Paris, I’m now anticipating walking on cobble-stoned streets and being serenaded by beautiful accordion music while shopping at the most charming fruit and vegetable stands. I’ll also be looking for Fiats and Volkswagon Beetles as additional modes of transportation while trying to find those infamous photo-booths inside the Paris train stations.

I’m also hoping to find the movies’ neighborhood bistro called “Café Les deux Moulins”, “The Two Windmills” situated on a corner, pose in front of it with a dish of crème brulee and send off for postcards. My next treasure hunt will be to find an artist painting one of Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party paintings which was also featured in the movie several times. Soir FRANCE and ici PARIS are two newspapers that were featured at a news/magazine stand during the Amélie as well – I'll be searching for them!

My Treasure Hunt:

yes-Accordion Music
yes-Bistro Café Les deux Moulins
yes-Cobbled Stoned Streets
no -Fiats
yes-Fruit/Vegetable Stands
no -Newspaper ici PARIS
yes-Newspaper Soir FRANCE
yes-Photobooths Metro Train Station
yes-Renoir's Boating Party Luncheon

… more later

Updated 12 Mar 07 - Montmartre: Yeah! I found seven out of nine targets! Our grouped toured Montmartre on Monday the 12th of March. The gang in the back subway car was serenaded by a man playing beautiful accordion music - quite well too, so we tipped him. Soon after arrival I discovered the Bistor Café Les deux Moulins where I had my photo snapped, courtesy of Mr. Jonathan Cooper – thanks “coop”. That's me in the pink jacket. The entire grouped trekked upon cobbled stoned streets, while Lucy and I trekked in style, fashionable heels!

Fiats? VW Volkswagons? None! However, I did see the cute and tiny SMART cars as well as Mini-coopers parked everywhere. The fruit and vegetable stands are still operating in Montmartre and other towns too; I enjoyed shopping at them for snacks on the run. I did find the Soir FRANCE newspaper, but not the iciPARIS newspaper; one out of two isn’t bad. Hey, I did find those photo-booths and special thanks to Sir Faliere Dieujuste who snapped a photo of me while I was sitting in one having my photo made - awwwesome!

While on tour, our charming EF tour director, Ms. Natalie, showed us where the artist, Renoir, spent a lot of time and where some of his paintings are displayed at the Museé de Montmartre. Unfortunately the museum was closed at the time we were passing by on our way to the Sacre Coeur Basilica. But! I did see copies of Renoir's Boating Party Luncheon paintings for sale along the sidewalks by the Seine river. I had a blast in France and it’s quite different to experience Paris - the City of Lights - in person, than watching any movie of course. Like Amelíe, I realized I can’t wait for life to be perfect, so I’ll be taking more adventures sooner than later.

Pre/Post trip assignment: Film