Get down on your knees and thank the heavens—it’s December. Finally, good movies start to enter theaters. Hollywood is not the devil but an artist. And, this year, independent films look as promising as mainstream ones. “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and “Tape” have generated much buzz. The most surprising of all, however, is “Amelie.”

It is a french delicacy that might send theatergoers out with the biggest smiles of the year. It is about living, doing kind things for people, and finally feeling alive.

Amelie is a strange little girl and grows up to be an introverted, shy woman. She quietly observes the world until one day she finds a box of childhood trinkets and makes the decision to find the owner. This kind deed, and the touching results, causes her to puruse a lifestyle of kindness, where she can find a healthy balance of passive observation and intricate involvement in people’s lives. This ultimately leads her to reaching out to a man she falls for and, in the long run, gives her life a jump start as well.

There are numerous subjects of her kindness quest. A woman in her apartment building cherishes the love letters of her husband who left her years ago, and lives sadly only in the past. Amelie helps her to feel alive again. A storeowner treats his employee horribly. Amelie enacts a kind style of revenge. Her father refuses to travel and live during his retirement. Amelie convinces him that it might be more fun than he thinks.

And in undertaking these tasks, it reminds us of what it feels like to truly be alive. There are many parallels to the incredible German film “Wings of Desire,” where angels detail the wonders of human existence. In “Amelie,” as a woman falls in love, an elderly person feels a small glimmer of hope, a powerless man feels empowered, a recluse feels energized, and a shy girl breaks free of her shell, we realize that this is what makes life worth living. The greatest kindness of “Amelie” may be its subtle reminder for all of us to live our lives and enjoy the little things.

Of course, this takes more than just a story. The directing surges in these rare moments of livelihood, and gives the film a sweeping film, where we feel as if the camera is omnipresent and capturing every significant moment occurring at a given time. Audrey Tautou, who plays “Amelie” has a curious glimmer behind her eyes that rivals the enchanting powers of Julia Roberts or Gwyneth Paltrow.

In short, this film has it all, from a strong story full of heart to an execution that does not fail to complete its goals nor pretend to be more than it is. It is easily one of the ten best films of 2001, and deserves a Best Foreign Film nomination, if not a Best Picture nomination. And Roger Ebert, shame on you for not giving this film four stars. What more must a film do?

by: Steven Snyder steven@zertinet.com, Published 2001-08-01