museumofdave If you want a provocative romantic double-bill for the weekend, I strongly suggest this film followed by Luc Besson's odd but engaging Angel-A; both films open with an individual about to jump off a bridge in Paris--they are each stopped from leaping by another person who wanders by--leading to complications. Both films are lushly photographed in black and white (odd for such contemporary films, but highly effective), and both give us quirky lead characters who attempt to find some meaning in their lives; The Girl On The Bridge takes us to other cities beside Paris, and Angel-A has a hair-raising shot from the Eiffel Tower--Paris really a major character, too. While adult in nature, neither film is excessively violent,although the language in Angel-A can get pretty salty. Both are often funny in their look at relationships, often satirical, though seldom biting; while not masterpieces, both are good fun for the closet Romantic--and in this case, the director being Patrice Leconte, fun for those of us who like a little weirdness tossed into the narrative.

tedg The main character here is played by a young woman who we discover in an extraordinary opening sequence, an interview placed outside of the film proper, where we learn her character and her way of carrying it. This scene is memorable, because of the firmness with which she clings to damage and vulnerability. It is long and intimate, and placed in an audience of which we are a part.The actress playing this girl is perfect. She really is a plain woman, with bad teeth, a sagging chin and misplaced forehead. But when she decides to turn it on, the sun opens up and you receive the sort of beauty film is made for. This actress in fact is a top model; that is her talent, her job and presumably her life.The story surrounds this as a folded wrapper. She finds a man who sees her as his partner, but not as she is used to. He wants to make love of course; we all yearn for this with someone who is a soulmate. They are soulmates, to the extent that they can speak to each other across cities. His love is dangerous and penetrating. It carries the extremes he is capable of and she is of supporting. (The metaphor is knife throwing, but that is as much an abstraction as the water and bridges images — all of which are brilliantly conveyed using pure cinema.)A scene has her begging for him at a train platform, "now, anywhere" and they retire to a shed where he throws at her in the most erotic scene I have seen in years. She is more than radiant, he more than master.The switch here is the switch between good and bad luck, which he introduces. While we are the audience of the two, he is the audience of her; we both throw, we both risk, and we both are rewarded.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

Jay Raskin This is a beautiful, poetic, absorbing and intensely romantic movie.Daniel Auteuil won a Cesar (the French Academy Award) for his performance here and he certainly deserved it. His portrait of a knife thrower is chilling and warm at the same time. It is amazing that Auteuil did not become a Hollywood star. He has been nominated for Cesar's 12 times and has won twice. Only Gerard Depardieu has been nominated more (15 times and 2 wins). While Depardieu has made more than a dozen Hollywood films, Auteuil has been in none.Bsides Auteuil's outstanding and soulful performance, Vanessa Paradis is astonishing. She is as sexy and openly seductive as Greta Garbo. It is easy to see why she has been Johnny Depps lover/companion for the past 20 years or so.The film is artistic. So do not expect a linear Hollywood plot or easily understood characters. Just let the film's ambiance sweep you away to another world.

Didier (Didier-Becu) The day Vanessa Paradis conquered the world with her childlike 80's hit "Joe Le Taxi" nobody could have thought that a decade later she would be one of the leading French icons, and certainly not a brilliant actress. Cos that's really the least you can say about Vanessa's performance who look like some circusgirl from the fourties, you know the kind of circuspeople like they are filmed in Lynch's "The elephant man". Vanessa plays the role of a young girl Adele who stands at a bridge ready to jump into the river, but just like in every fairy tale she is saved by Gabor (Danny Auteuil) who likes her to be his assisstent for his knife throwingact. She has nothing to loose, too weak to say no (she goes to bed with every guy who is asking for it) and soon she is the muse of Gabor. Even if the two never have any sex with each other, their knifethrowing act is an orgasm itself. And the two might lead a total different life (Auteuil is like a psychotic De Niro) they are made for each other... Is it a love story? Perhaps, but it's just more...at times it's even art (certainly due to the magnificent black and white cinematography) but most of all it's just an ordinary tale from two people who just live their life. "La fille sur le pont" is a genius movie from one of the most original directors France have, and quite unbelievable he started his career with the soulless comedy "Les Bronzés".