Rent The Lovers on the Bridge (1991)

Waterskiing in Paris - The Lovers on the Bridge review by CW

This is a strange sometimes surreal movie. It is at times realistic and then drifts or slams into fantasy. There are raw ugly scenes but there are some gorgeous scenes that made me gasp. We see Alex & Michele steal a speed boat. Fireworks all over Paris lighting the canal. He furiously drives the boat as she water skis (with great ability). They are crazed and mad with a vicious joy. Dance scene on the bridge showcasing her dancing and Denis Lavant’s skills as a gymnast. A scene in underground tunnel with posters lining the walls bursting into flames. Interesting and quirky. Raw. I don’t think I have seen the gorgeous Juliette Binoche looking so roughy scruffy (and yet still gorgeous). Good escape from this time of the plague.

Fairytale of Paris - The Lovers on the Bridge review by Steve

Raw, mythic love story about a couple of derelict lost souls living on the Pont-Neuf under reconstruction. In the title roles, Juliet Binoche and Denis Lavant seem to slowly evolve from monsters into vagabond angels. This is a romance, but volatile, wild and unorthodox.

And very French. It isn't much like contemporary cinema; it continually echoes the early sound films of René Clair and the conclusion on the barge is an obvious reminder of Jean Vigo's L'Atalante (1934). So it's in the tradition of pre-WWII French poetic realism.

And as in that era, it's mostly set on a huge soundstage with location footage cut in. The stars are incandescent, whether water ski-ing down the Seine during the Bicentennial fireworks, or even just living with the sadness; and yet both creative in contrasting ways.

Which is a classic French rejection of bourgeoise convention! There was a famously exploding budget, but posterity doesn't care how much things cost. Leos Carax creates screen poetry; and as he didn't make another film on this level, it feels even more like a miracle.

Superb acting by the two main actors. - The Lovers on the Bridge review by SoniaGee

Having seen Juliette Binoche in sophisticated roles previously, this film showed just how versatile she is!

I am still amazed at how she played this part, so naturally.

A bonus is the part where France partied to celebrate its 200 yrs centenary, with an amazing fireshow over the R.Seine.....