my top nine of everything.

1. 

   TOP9 reasons to love: jeux d’enfants

   

   My favorite French film is Yann Samuell’s directorial debut, Jeux d’Enfants. Although its literal translation in English is Children’s Games, the movie was internationally retitled Love Me if You Dare. Both titles are totally appropriate, if you ask me, but I’d still prefer Jeux d’Enfants (probably because everything sounds better in French). Anyway, here are some of the reasons I love the movie, Jeux d’Enfants:

   1. Julien and Sophie

   

   Great films usually have some the best characters and Jeux d’Enfants is definitely not an exception. The movie’s protagonists, Julien Janvier and Sophie Kowalsky, are nothing short of amazing. Julien is imaginative yet cunning while Sophie is playful but bossy; put them together and you’ve got a pair of crazy kids who always cause trouble!

   2. Cap Ou Pas Cap?

   

   The entire movie can be summarized into four words: “cap ou pas cap?” This French phrase, which loosely translates to “are you game or not?” in English, exactly represents what Julien and Sophie do to each other: they dare. Whether it involves standing on one leg for an hour or standing blindfolded on a train track, Julien and Sophie never fail to challenge each other. My favorite dare, however, will always be the Slapping Dare.

   3. La Vie en Rose

   

   Excluding the lovely score from Philippe Rombi, the only music that can be heard throughout the film are different versions of the famous French song La Vie en Rose. In fact, both Sophie and Julien sang a bit part of the song in the movie: Sophie during Mrs. Janvier’s funeral and Julien before the punching scene. Interestingly enough, the original recording of the song by Edith Piaf was not featured the film’s original soundtrack.

   4. Guillaume and Marion

   

   Good characters, no matter how well-written they are, will only be great if they are portrayed by highly talented actors. That’s why I want to give props to the casting staff of Jeux d’Enfants for giving the lead roles toGuillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard. I could not imagine a better pair. Besides, isn’t it nice to know that these two actually fell in love in real life?

   5. Tin Carousel

   

   What exactly is a tin carousel? Well, it is a pretty tin box with a merry-go-round design that is featured all throughout the movie. It is owned by Julien, but he shares it with Sophie. The tin carousel serves as the wager for their childish dares. The person in possession of the tin carousel decides on the dare to be performed by the other (who, in turn, will be awarded with the same tin carousel after the successful completion of the said dare).

   6. Thibault and Josephine

   

   Little Julien and Little Sophie are played by Thibault Verhaeghe and Josephine Lebas-Joly, respectively. These two are just so fun to watch. They portray just the right amount innocence and mischief that kids do possess. My favorite scene of them together is the one during the wedding of Sophie’s sister where they talked about their dreams of becoming a tyrant and a flan.

   7. The Amelie Connection

   

   The first few minutes of Jeux d’Enfants reminded me of another well-loved French film: Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain. I’m not sure if it is the Juarez Machado-inspired hues or the storybook-like narration; all i know is that either of the two movies will always remind me of the other.

   8. The Narrator

   

   I have a thing for films and TV programs with narrators. The reason for that, I think, is the familiarity that a narration gives off. Whenever I hear voice-overs in films, I feel like I’m listening to my friend who are giving me updates about their lives.
   

   9. The Open-ended Story

   

   The ending, I believe, is subject to interpretation. So… did they die in the construction site or did they grow old in a nursing home? Well, it is up to you.

1 year ago 12 notes
Notes
1. airony liked this
2. tar-aldarion liked this
3. the-right-way-to-get-lost liked this
4. sunshineintherain reblogged this from tincarousel
5. tincarousel reblogged this from top9everything
6. para-tu reblogged this from top9everything
7. para-tu liked this
8. saffrondawn reblogged this from top9everything
9. slightly-strange liked this
10. top9everything posted this

People I follow