Another film featuring a female protagonist who escapes into the fantasy realms of her imagination, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie is decidedly more warm-hearted and playful in tone that Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth but no less visually impressive. Having been raised in isolation from other children on account of a heart condition that never was, Amelie grows up with a peculiar outlook on the world around her. Her overriding preoccupation in life is to help improve matters for those around her, and while in lesser hands such a premise could easily sink into sickly sentimentality, Amelie's jovial atmosphere and uplifting vibe never feels saccharine. The lack of cynicism in the film and its whimsical tone certainly makes for a refreshing change, while Jeunet's direction is nothing short of polished to perfection.
