GREAT READS

Amelie

Jeunet, Jean-Pierre

This film is beautiful. It's sweet, simple, whimsical, charming, creative, visually stunning, and quintessentially French.

Amélie Poulain leads a rich insular life. Her imagination is vivid, and her admiration of simple diversions carries her through an otherwise unremarkable life as a waitress at the Montmartre Café in Paris. One night while preparing for bed, Amélie serendipitously discovers a small box hidden behind a bathroom tile. Inside is a delightful and nostalgic collection of trinkets that surely belonged to a little boy many years ago. For Amélie, it's clear what must be done: she must reunite the box with its owner. If her act brings joy, she will dedicate her life to good deeds. If not, she'll continue life as usual.

So begins an adventure that promises to turn Amélie's simple and mundane life into something remarkable. Along the way she rights wrongs, plays matchmaker, and brings hope to the heartbroken. But can she do all these things for herself?

Amélie is #45 on the Internet Movie Database's "Top 250 Movies of All Time" list and has won multiple awards.

Recommended by Leah Youse