two days in paris

get the impression julie delpy can turn her hand to anything
in this film she is credited as the writer, director, producer and leading actor
i could not remember what films i had seen her in previously
in this case the temptation to spend some time in paris attracted me
i've seen a few similar concept films over the last year or so
paris je t'aime and an apartment in paris most memorably
both providing great insights to this wonderful city
the film stars french photographer marion (julie delpy)
and boyfriend and american interior designer jack (adam goldberg)
in a brief stopover on their way home to new york from italy
they've been dating for 2 years now and all is going well
until marion reveals her family and former life to jack
she owns a tiny apartment above her parents that is their base for the 2 days
marion's parents (played by julie's real life parents) are french-eccentric
he is an avant-garde artist (as in real life) and suspicious of marion's boyfriends
she is a doting mother trying her best for her husband and 2 daughters
and with a luminous past confessed in a scene-stealing moment
there are some hilarious scenes around the family dining table
as jack in turn is questioned, teased, mocked and patronised
all in rapid-fire french - subtitles let us in on the fun but jack is wallowing
it's easy to feel jack's claustrophobia and anxiety to get out and about
which then brings on some very interesting encounters
parisien taxi-drivers are given a very hard time by marion/julie
she pulls no punches in stereotyping them as racists, bigots, and misogynists
then there are repeat encounters with a few of marions past love interests
so the escape into the big outdoors brings more problems for jack
he is well set up as being quite neurotic and even hypercondriac
marion plays her part as the stable and charming peace-maker
she even tells a few white lies to save jack from his own insecurities
which then start to unravel for her and cause some friction
this results in some very well acted scenes as they thrash out these issues
then the tables are turned and it becomes marions turn to be neurotic
and jack has to get a grip and provide the stability in the relationship
it all becomes a bit touch and go and leads to an unpredictable ending
i couldn't help but thinking how realistic and believable this all was
i was most impressed with the way the confrontation was presented
and even more impressed with the way it was resolved (or not)
apparantly julie delpy and adam goldberg were once an item
so this may have assisted in the chemistry that seems to exist on screen
amongst the personal story there are also some big issues touched on
some quite subtle references to american culture and attitudes
not as criticism necessarily but by way of explanation
for the way in which americans do behave out in the world
it's quite a fast-paced film that crams in quite a lot
including some very interesting music worked into the story
i found i very much enjoyed this film - entertainment and a story
i sat there at the end of the film and watched the credits roll
lost count of the number of times i saw the name julie delpy
all the above but also stills photographer, music composer, editor
and significantly with some songs as performer and/or singer
she is one very busy and talented lady
and must be very proud of this film