Snapshots - Bilder der Erinnerung

"Snapshots" is a journeyman B-flick about a middle-aged bookseller in Amsterdam (Reynolds) who meets the daughter (Chaplin) of an old love (Christie), falls in like with her, and then confronts his feelings with a little help from his past. This corny and awkward little flick has too many deficits for this commentary. Suffice it to say that in the grand scheme of cinema, it's crap. However, as a no brainier sentimental watch for the zoning sofa spud, it squeaks by as nominal fluff. Recommended for fans of the players or anyone who can't find anything better among the channels. (C)

Note - the snapshots referred to by the title are really black and white nude studies of Chaplin...the most interesting, artistic, and professionally done thing in the film, IMHO.

Award-winning Dutch filmmaker Rudolf van den Berg almost manages to pull off this unlikely romantic drama, if not against all odds, then at least against quite a few. First of all, Burt Reynolds plays an ageing hippie. Reynolds was probably further from the hippie culture than most Americans his age in the '60s and '70s. Second of all, Julie Christie plays a Moroccan woman. That's borderline preposterous. And on top of that, young Carmen Chaplin (Charlie's granddaughter), who was in her mid-20s here, becomes some sort of love interest for old Burt. Admittedly, he was still handsome and charming. So it's somewhat surprising that it's actually the scenes between these two characters, Larry and Aïsha, which carry the film and give the unlikely plot the necessary weight and warmth. Van den Berg's work is simultaneously sensitive and corny, clever and flawed. I cannot decide whether the film could have been much better, or if it actually turned out as well as it possibly could. But as usual, Reynolds gets ample opportunity to demonstrate his wonderful comedic timing and line delivery.

Burt reynolds, julie christie, carmen chaplin (charlie chaplin's granddaughter). Larry runs a bookstore in amsterdam, but a businessman is very eager to buy up his shop, as well as the other shops on the street. When he meets a strong willed young lady from america, he reminisces about meeting another young girl here, years ago. Lots of flashbacks, but it's well done, and fortunately, it's easy to tell when we are in those flashsbacks, which not everyone can master. It's a fun tale. Nothing tricky or real new, but it's a pleasant journey. And who doesn't have fun in amsterdam? Directed by rudolf vandenBerg. Has won numerous film fest awards for his films.

Just caught this film on cable. It's always nice to see Julie Christie no matter how strange the casting. It is odd to see her playing a Moroccan woman but she can actually pull it off. Carmen Chaplin is delightful as the young artist but I felt that Burt was out his element. He's just not believable as an old hippie in Amsterdam-even smoking a joint. The story is a little too cliche--coming of age, reunited old loves, even flirting with "older man falls for sweet young thing who may be his daughter", but still something holds my interest.

The atmosphere is warm, the city of Amsterdam is very appealing, the shots on board the boat are great. A sweet, sentimental tale worth the time to view.

"Snapshots" is an unsung combination coming-of-age tale and mature love story from Holland which was released directly to video. While it suffers from a certain lack of believability in its key plot points, as well as from not enough depth in character development to tell us how the main characters arrived at where they are, it benefits from an overall air of sweetness and charm that makes it a pleasant way to kill two hours. You could do worse with some of the garbage that did manage to get booked into your local multiplexes.

Burt Reynolds has what is for him quite an offbeat role, that of an aging hippie/hermit holed up in his bookstore in Amsterdam, railing at the failings of the modern world, as well as his own personal failings in life. I'm not a huge fan, but he gives one of his least obnoxious performances of late. Carmen Chaplin makes an auspicious impression as the young woman who enters his world, growing up and discovering life in the process. She is a lovely girl, the granddaughter of Charles Chaplin, with dark features, beautiful light eyes and a lithe body which features prominantly in the plot. Julie Christie, as others have pointed out here, is also cast in an offbeat role, that of Ms. Chaplin's mother, a Moroccan woman. Not the first person who springs to mind for such a part, but she is vibrant and charming here, and gives a nice spark to each scene she is in. I thought she pulled off her accent quite as nicely as Meryl Streep could have as well! The distinguished Indian actor, Saeed Jaffrey, for some reason, is not listed in the IMDB cast credits, but plays Chaplin's father and Christie's ex-husband in a few scenes.

The whole thing makes for a rather quaint and pleasant diversion with a nice flavor of both Amsterdam and Morocco, and leaves a smile on your face at the end.