This film by Luc Besson is made in the style of fantasy, comedy and melodrama.
A young Frenchman, André, owes large sums of money to the criminal gangs of Paris. Unable to pay off his debts on his own, he turns to the police and to the American embassy for help. He is refused. Driven to despair, he decides to take his own life. On a bridge he sees a beautiful girl jumping into the Seine, and as he rescues her, he forgets about his intention. This angel in the flesh becomes a gift from heaven for the desperate hero.
The film is shot in black and white, in the deserted, enchanting streets of Paris. At the center of the frame is a woman, beautiful and tall, and beside her a man, small, unprepossessing and fussy. The film shows the transformation of a “little” man from an eternal loser and liar, respected by no one, into a person who finds himself and love.
After watching the film, try going up to a mirror and, looking into your own eyes, saying from your heart: “I love you!”
Perhaps to some the film will seem naive, fairy-tale-like, imperfect, strangely shot (in black and white), but don’t be too skeptical about it. A simple story, retold in the language of allegory, gives plenty of opportunities to reflect on many things, and gives hope — for salvation, for feelings, for love.
Watch and enjoy!