MovieChat Forums > La vie rêvée des anges (1998) Discussion > My impressions

My impressions

posted 22 years ago by mob61uk
15 replies | jump to latest

A low key, simple, touching story of two friends: the homeless Isa,
who moves in with fellow factory worker Marie. On the surface the
film is another one of those friendship movies, but this has
something very special. It follows the characters with a closeness
and depth of observation that you don't often see in the cinema. It
also shows a compassion and understanding for these people at the
bottom of the social ladder, without smugness or condescension, that
is even more rare.

Recommended.

[–] KFL 22 years ago

I agree about the closeness and depth of observation. For me, this movie rang true from beginning to end.

It is interesting that Isa and Marie are such opposites in so many different ways...and how, for a while, the differences actually seems to strengthen their friendship.

There are little echoes here and there that you miss in a first viewing. Early on, for example, Isa reads in Sandrine's diary something like "Sometimes I feel so confused, I just want to jump out of a window."

It is also interesting that both Marie and Isa try to enter others' lives...want to dream themselves as living other lives, perhaps. But only Isa realizes (from the start, at least) that it is only a dream.

Just a great, great movie.

It is an inappropriate response to get a headache in the presence of a miracle!

[–] 22 years ago

[deleted]

[–] TemporaryOne-1 19 years ago

It is also interesting that both Marie and Isa try to enter others' lives...want to dream themselves as living other lives, perhaps. But only Isa realizes (from the start, at least) that it is only a dream.

That is what makes the film so excellent - they share a complex intimacy, a real intimacy, it's incredible how the actors and director managed to capture that intimacy on screen.

[–] vpalme2 20 years ago

It is hard to believe that this film was not adopted from a best-selling novel. Both of the characters, Marie and Isa are so compelling that it is attracts the viewer to want to know so much more about their pasts. Would have made a great book!

[–] qwoibordmer 19 years ago

These actrices were so great, it is one of a few really good French films. I also recommend it !

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 18 years ago

You obviously have not seen many French films.

Nothing exists more beautifully than nothing.

[–] subpoena-this 18 years ago

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"You obviously have not seen many French films"

That's a fairly rude comment to make to someone you don't know - and it contributes in no way to the actual topic of the thread, so why don't you keep your ignorant judgements to yourself?

Also: I agree that this was a good film.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 18 years ago

8s?

Nothing exists more beautifully than nothing.

[–] rjt43 18 years ago

That wasn't a rude comment. It was a fact. To think there aren't many great French films means that you haven't seen many French films. So how is that rude, and the fact that it was made to someone not known is superfluous. You are going to be commenting to people you know on something like this?

[–] katalist420 16 years ago

I just rented this movie so i cant wait to watch it tonight (:
Thanks for your thoughts

[–] Noin99 16 years ago

I agree with your interpretation. I wonder why there aren't more comments about this movie. It's one of those unknown jewels of French Cinema.

[–] Wilde_child 14 years ago

Dos anyone think there were lesbian overtones about her character or is it just me?
She never hooks up with a man (doesn't seem interested in them), quickly understands the rich guy is only playing with Marie. Sort of connects to a girl she only knows by her diaries.
This female bonding Isa is looking for might be homosexual repression.

I guess it's not that far-fetched if we think about it...

If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself, and then make a change

[–] bunnywithanaxe 12 years ago

You might have a point about Isa. Although she just seemed open to everyone. And was *beep* irresistible to boot, both cute and charming as hell. (I identify as a straight woman, but five minutes into the film I thought, "I would do just about anything this girl asked me.")

But I wondered, too, if it would go that way. I suspect that the only reason it didn't go that way was that Marie didn't go that way, character-wise.

[–] Wilde_child 12 years ago

Thanks for the comment. She is quite ambiguous... but I was expecting the two main characters to hook up somehow. Maybe it speaks more about me than Isa.

________________________________

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[–] Noin99 8 years ago

Late, late response. I actually thought of this too. With Marie it's impossible to think of the possibility because she was so closed down to everyone as a whole. Isa just had a very open, accepting, universaly appealing down to earth type person laity though.