The Lovers on the Bridge
1991 ‘Les Amants du Pont-Neuf’ Directed by Leos Carax
Synopsis
Set against Paris' oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, while it was closed for repairs, this film is a love story between two young vagrants: Alex, a would be circus performer addicted to alcohol and sedatives and Michele, a painter driven to a life on the streets because of a failed relationship and an affliction which is slowly turning her blind.
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The Lovers on the Bridge is Leos Carax’s highly energetic, wildly ambitious, and outlandishly eccentric guy-meets-gal romance set mostly on the historic Pont Neuf, coined the oldest bridge in Paris. This is only the second of Carax’s works that I have seen and I have already come to admire his exuberant, pastiche style of filmmaking quite a lot. Like in his later acclaimed 2012 opus Holy Motors, he collaborates with the spry, multi-talented, chameleon of an actor Denis Lavant, who is on full display of his thespian prowess in here. Playing opposite is someone who needs no introduction, French movie giant Juliette Binoche. This is a rather unusual, whimsical love story filled with cinematic references and heavily inspired by the…
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Film #9 of Cinebro's "You Crazy for This One, Rick!" Challenge
What kind of mad genius would even attempt to make a movie like this? Who would say to himself "I know! Let's make a love story about a homeless fire-breather and a visually-impaired street painter, set the whole thing on the Pont Neuf, and, when we can't secure the rights to film on the actual bridge, CREATE A FULL-SCALE MODEL FROM SCRATCH?" Who would seamlessly blend absurdist humor and treacly romanticism with gritty neorealism? Who would take cinematic touchstones ranging from Busby Berkeley and Jean Vigo to Jean-Luc Godard and Wim Wenders and create a movie that feels like so much more than pastiche? The answer, of course, is…
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A truly magnificent and off-the-wall romantic story about a couple living in the ruined Pont-Neuf bridge as it features phenomenal performances from Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant as well as Leos Carax's exhilarating direction.
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In this movie, Leos Carax proves that he's capable of mixing different styles of visuals and story-telling. There are scenes that will depress you, scenes that will make you laugh and even scenes that will get you excited. He shows it off even more in 2012's Holy Motors, which proves he's still capable of doing that after all these years, which makes me wanna check out more of his work. This film does not to compare to Holy Motors, but it's a terrific effort.
The Lovers on the Bridge is a unique, harsh and poetic love story that deserves to be seen more.
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My second experience with Leos Carax and once again his artistic quality amazes me. Taking a simple love story and telling in a beautifully strange way.
Following two young vagrants as they embark on a romantic journey that is formed by their mutual anguish. Alex is a wandering street performer who is replacing his addiction for alcohol with an addiction for sedatives to battle his insomnia. Michele is a painter who has abandoned her life due to a broken heart and a disease that is taking her eyesight.
The place of their bonding is the Pont Neuf, Paris' oldest bridge, while it is closed for repairs. The bridge is a powerful representation of the state of their lives: dirty, broken,…
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A sublime love story that was still as magical second time round.
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First time since 1999? Seen in light of HOLY MOTORS, kind of confirms Carax as a creator of films as receptacle for cinephiliac moments first, while having a smooth overall experience is a much, much lower priority. But those fucking moments: of Brakhage abstraction during running scenes, Lavant doing more with the back of his neck or in extreme soft focus behind a cello than many actors do with their bodies their entire careers, a return to Bowie that turns MAUVAIS SANG on its head, and of course that little fireworks scene. The exhilaration eventually turns to enervation for me, and I don't know how to reconcile my rational opinion of these characters with the presumed emotion the end should…
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A sublime love story that was still as magical second time round.
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The pain and joy of love perfectly matched, with magnificent fireworks interlude.
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A truly magnificent and off-the-wall romantic story about a couple living in the ruined Pont-Neuf bridge as it features phenomenal performances from Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant as well as Leos Carax's exhilarating direction.
-
The Lovers on the Bridge is Leos Carax’s highly energetic, wildly ambitious, and outlandishly eccentric guy-meets-gal romance set mostly on the historic Pont Neuf, coined the oldest bridge in Paris. This is only the second of Carax’s works that I have seen and I have already come to admire his exuberant, pastiche style of filmmaking quite a lot. Like in his later acclaimed 2012 opus Holy Motors, he collaborates with the spry, multi-talented, chameleon of an actor Denis Lavant, who is on full display of his thespian prowess in here. Playing opposite is someone who needs no introduction, French movie giant Juliette Binoche. This is a rather unusual, whimsical love story filled with cinematic references and heavily inspired by the…
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My third Juliette Binoche movie in as many days! She's luminous as ever, Denis Levant is great too. There's absolutely nothing else I've ever seen like this movie. It's kind of uneven, but the incredible setpieces more than make up for that.
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Crazier and crazier. It made me feel like I was drunk. I thought it was marvelous.
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In this movie, Leos Carax proves that he's capable of mixing different styles of visuals and story-telling. There are scenes that will depress you, scenes that will make you laugh and even scenes that will get you excited. He shows it off even more in 2012's Holy Motors, which proves he's still capable of doing that after all these years, which makes me wanna check out more of his work. This film does not to compare to Holy Motors, but it's a terrific effort.
The Lovers on the Bridge is a unique, harsh and poetic love story that deserves to be seen more.
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A touching chronicle of a love affair that varies between heartwarming and depressing - a beautiful film showcasing the talents of writer-director Carax and two tremendous actors in Lavant and Binoche. The fireworks scene is unforgettable - between this and Holy Motors, Carax is already on my list of must-see contemporary filmmakers.