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titlecafedeflore

Jean-Marc Vallée made a splash with 2005's C.R.A.Z.Y., a song-drenched love story about the pain of family. Mixing up the elements, he's now made a song-drenched family story about the pain of love. Or rather, two stories as two disparate timelines focussed around one song (Cafe de Flore) tackle the complexities of soul mates, destiny and eternal love.

For Antoine (hunky musician Kevin Parent), life couldn't get much better. He has a beautiful wife, a stunning home in Montreal, two adoring kids and a successful DJ'ing career. But there's a thorn, his equally beautiful ex-wife is convinced she's Antoine's soul mate and deep in his heart, he thinks she might be right. No such problems for Jacqueline (Vanessa Paradis) who, fifty years earlier in Paris, is raising a son with Down Syndrome. Her love has a frightening intensity, one that is returned unequivocally until he falls for a classmate and challenges destiny.

Vallée cuts between the two stories as he freely jumbles locations and timelines to create a kind of cubist cinema – all refracted angles and jangling narrative that is slowly pieced together with tender care. And just when you think that he can't possibly reconcile the stories, the film snaps into place in the most unexpected way. There's a leap of faith in a thrilling twist, but one you'll happily take.

Layered over the narrative is the despairing beauty of providence as Vallée explores the notion of bonded souls. Once again, music is his glue and once again, it's used to wonderful effect, although your enthusiasm for the title track might be tested. Striking cinematography and provocative editing are given a push by a strong cast, notably Paradis whose creation, a woman unyielding in the love of her son, is sensational.

Cafe De Flore is so much more than the sum of its parts, and there are many truly terrific elements. Nothing is left to chance as Vallée cuts between stories like an expert DJ cuts between tracks. Every frame, image and sound is meticulously and perfectly placed to create a heart-warming celebration of human tenderness, and eternal love.

// COLIN FRASER
moviereview colin fraser film movie australia review critic flicks



STUFF

CAST
Vanessa Paradis
Kevin Parent
Marin Gerrier
Hélene Florent

DIRECTOR
Jean-Marc Vallée

SCREENWRITER
Jean-Marc Vallée

COUNTRY
Canada / France (subtitles)

RATING / RUNTIME
M / 120 minutes

AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
April 25, 2012
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Stacks Image 106