Amelie+Analysis+TB

Staging and Blocking: Many parts of Amelie feel staged and unrealistic in person, tying in with Amelie's imagination and refusal to accept reality and allow it to dictate life. She treats life often like a game (literally playing games with Nino), and this is reflected through out many points in the film. The blocking during the explanation of her youth is a perfect example, as despite the colourful portrayal of her childhood, it is the blocking and the cinematography choices that attribute most to create the quirky strange mise en scéne. The whole film could easily have taken place in her head, and the way that reality and imagination can not be completely separated is a credit to Jeunet in creating a distinct style and tone that is kept throughout the whole film. Another important aspect of the staging in Amelie is the lack of a fourth wall. Amelie is often seen looking into the camera and at the audience, giving the impression that we are indeed in her head, and watching her imagination turn other potentially boring or awkward situations into almost a sort of inside joke.

Costume: While many of the other characters where more bland colours, often black or dark colours, Amelie is often seen in vibrant and colourful costumes. This again attributes to the youthful quirky nature of the film, and allows for the vibrant colours used to dress most of the set pieces fall in place without standing out too much. The only reason that the whole film doesn't feel ridiculously uncomfortable is thanks to Jeunet's choice of ensuring Amelie to stay colourful and quirky throughout without revealing what is reality and what isn't. Her haircut is also a major part of her costume in the film, as it allows for her smile/smirk to be framed with her short hair and often vibrant colours in the background as she stares directly into the camera.

Locations: Locations are very important in this film, as the modern artsy aspects juxtaposed with french accordion scores and very "french" locations also creates the quirky tone. It can be thought of as similar to modern girls wearing "hipster" clothes, which are mostly a revival of 60s and 70s styles that gives the whole look an out of touch yet somehow self aware quirkiness. The most important location is perhaps the train station where Amelie eventually gains possession of Nino's photo album. The location feels like a tourist spot for foreigners hoping to see "french" France. The fountains and long steps and especially the lack of glass panes that are so often used in modern architecture results in an ironic juxtaposition with the modern camera work and distinct tone of the film that makes the whole scene feel weirdly outdated, yet as the whole film is so weird and has a "I don't care what others think" vibe seems to fit in perfectly with the mise en scéne and the flow of the film.

Lack of distinction between reality and imagination: I felt that this was important, as 'Big Fish' is probably the film that can be closest in terms of style and tone that I can think of. Big fish is obviously very influenced by this film, yet while it is also a great film and succeeds in creating the same sort of quirky unrealistic reality throughout, it is quite distinct what is make-believe and what is true. The lack of distinction adds to the cute quirkiness of Amelie that makes it such an enjoyable film to watch.