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Derek Malcolm's rating
A few too many views of Paris
By
Derek Malcolm
28 Jun 2007
It might have seemed like a good idea to ask 20 well-known directors to make 18 short films about the French capital with a bevy of stars at their disposal. It would have been even better if 10 filmmakers had been chosen and the dross whittled down to five or six episodes; but at least some of it works very well.
Gurinder Chadha contributes a touching story about a young man who pesters women falling for a Muslim girl in a hijab, while Isabel Coixet offers a moving tale about a man on the point of asking his wife for a divorce when he discovers she has cancer - in caring for her, he finds love again.
Gérard Depardieu and Frederic Auburtin produce a brilliant little story about a husband and wife (Ben Gazzara and Gena Rowlands) meeting for a drink before signing divorce papers and slowly realising, despite a series of hurtful remarks, that there will always be a deep connection between them.
Then there is Alexander Payne, of Sideways fame, showing us how a lonely middle-aged Denver postmistress (Margo Martindale) reacts to her dream vacation in Paris.
Joel and Ethan Coen, Gus Van Sant, Walter Salles and Tom Twyker are among the other directors, but it is by no means the case that the more famous participants contribute the best stories.
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