Revoir Paris

'Paris Memories' explores the aftermath of a traumatic incident. Mia survived a terrorist attack at a restaurant, and three months later, she is still haunted by the attack. She is having trouble remembering the events, and attends support groups for the survivors.

Thanks to a good performance by Virginie Efira, we feel her agony, and desire to remember, which will ultimately allow her to move on. In the process, she distances herself from her boyfriend, Vincent. (I couldn't understand why Mia wanted to shut him out while he was trying to help her, but this is revealed later.)

Mia meets survivor Thomas, who remembers the incident very well. Helping her to remember, they develop feelings for each other. Mia also begins a quest to finding the man who comforted her during the attack by holding her hand.

Although this is a well made film and deeply emotional, I must be honest I eventually found it a bit boring. With quite a bit of talk, it wasn't all that exciting. I've never really been one for talky dramas, so forgive me for feeling this way. I did like the satisfying ending, though.

I knew it was to be considered an arthouse film and that there was to be some violent attack within Paris. It was good that I was not told too much because I would not really have wanted to see that terrible attack in November 2015. It is and it isn't but is amazing and one of my best films for some time. At the very beginning there is a slow zoom from within a room looking out through the curtains and beyond the balcony. As the shot is held and there is a lovely view of Paris although it is not one that I recognise or identify. This surprisingly, unspectacular zoom reminded me of the long one at the end of Antonioni's, The Passenger (1975) dialogue is splendid the memory plays with us and so unsettling that it gives me the shivers. Obviously we have the appalling and sickening moment but it is later on that Mia (Virginie Efira) remembers little bits now and again and it is thrilling but worrying all the time. It is not usually the Paris we know but the bustling streets and noisy traffic and the thrill of the action more of Mia and her uncovering what and who she has to find. Clever and intelligent piece quite remarkable and I want to watch it again, after a little while.

In the aftermath of a horrific terrorist attack on a Parisian bistro, Mia, a survivor, grapples with the devastating impact of the tragedy. While attempting to piece together the events of that fateful night and making amends with the city she once adored, she sets out on a mission to reclaim her life. Alice Winocour's moving and thought-provoking film explores the psychological effects of trauma and the enduring power of the human spirit.

Virginie Efira, fast becoming one of my favourite French actors, delivers a compelling performance as Mia, her expressive eyes and subtle gestures conveying the profound emotional turmoil she faces. The film's narrative unfolds with a quiet intensity, mirroring the protagonist's fragmented memories and the lingering trauma that binds her to the past.

The subtle yet effective direction of Winocour puts the characters and their feelings front and centre. The film's cinematography, characterised by soft, diffused lighting and a muted colour palette, creates an atmosphere of melancholic beauty, capturing the haunting essence of Mia's fractured world. With its delicate and melancholy melodies, the film's score by Régoire Hetzel enhances the story. The music subtly underscores Mia's emotional journey, adding depth and resonance to her silent struggles.

While Paris Memories excels in its portrayal of trauma and the healing process, it occasionally falters in its pacing and narrative structure. Certain scenes feel meandering, and the film's conclusion could have benefited from a more impactful resolution. The film's strengths, particularly its sensitive handling of delicate subject matter and its nuanced performances, overshadow these flaws.

Paris Memories is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of trauma, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection. It is a film that lingered in my mind long after the credits rolled, prompting me to reflect on the fragility of life and the strength we find within ourselves to overcome adversity.

Paris Memories is a powerful cinematic experience that, with its sensitive portrayal of trauma, its engaging performances, and its evocative cinematography, makes it a worthwhile watch for those seeking a poignant and emotionally resonant film.

This movie shows very well what (I imagine) it happens after an event like the one from November 2015 in Paris: life just cannot be the same. Survivors are haunted by what they have experienced and they feel deeply connected to the other people that survived - many of whom feel the urge to revisit the bistro where this took place and make sense of what happened. This experience is so profound, intimate and shifting for someone that this basically creates a new family, of survivors, at the expense of the existing relationships.

The main character finds herself trying to remember what happened, partly because she is being accused of blocking herself in a toilet in the moment of the attack and denying a hiding place for the others, partly because she cannot find shelter in her former relationships (friends, lover) all of which don't seem to understand why she cannot move on.

Among trauma, PTSD (portrayed in a very compelling way) and her struggle to piece things together, we also discover hope and human connection, and this is one of those movies where suspension of disbelief works. At some point I was actually surprised to recognize an actor from other movies, it just didn't occur to me that I was not watching a piece of real life. Leaving cheesiness aside, I highly recommend this one.

When I read a description of this film, I was going to skip it as the topic didn't interest me. Then I thought that it would be nice to see Paris and I could skip through the boring parts. There are so many places where a film like this could have fallen down a rabbit hole and been written off. Like focusing too deeply on those who died or individual grief or revenge or another direction, but it didn't.

It focused on Mia a victim three months after the tragedy, who starts trying to piece that night together. She stumbles across a survivors group and they share information from that night which leads her farther along. This was a much better technique than having Mia sit on a psychiatrist's couch trying to remember and flashback after flashback.

A fine film, not to be missed.