2 Days in Paris

In Julie Delpy8217;s Before Sunrise and its sequel Before Sunset, a couple find love that comes once in a lifetime in a few brief, hastily snatched hours before they part.

CAST: Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Albert Delpy, Marie Pillet; DIRECTOR: Julie Delpy

In Julie Delpy8217;s Before Sunrise and its sequel Before Sunset, a couple find love that comes once in a lifetime in a few brief, hastily snatched hours before they part. She also wrote the screenplay of the latter. Here, Delpy, writing, directing, editing, starring and singing, catches up with a couple who have spent two years together but take just two days in Paris to realise that they really don8217;t know much about each other.

Does time make love stronger, or does familiarity erode romance? Does love happen at first sight, or need love be blind? Does past not matter, or is it the future?

Delpy explores all of this, pointing out how definitions are pointless when love is all that, and more 8212; before sunrise, before sunset, in the darkest hours of the night, and the hottest hours of the day. The beauty is her manner: insightful while being quirky and funny. Here is a film that keeps its eyes open and also its heart, generous to all that it touches, including the five odd drivers of the taxis the couple take.

Semi-autographical, 2 Days in Paris stars Delpy as a French photographer Marion, who has flown in to the French capital with her American boyfriend, interior designer Jack Goldberg. The reason is partly to see Paris, and partly to visit Marion8217;s parents played delightfully by Delpy8217;s real-life parents Albert Delpy and Marie Pillet.

Jack is the clicheacute;d American tourist, shocked by a Paris that is clicheacute; tres francais. What he doesn8217;t bargain for, however, are Marion8217;s ex-lovers, who seem to be crawling out of everywhere into their lives. As says the film8217;s tagline: 8220;He knew Paris was for lovers. He just didn8217;t think they were all hers.8221;

In its humour, quirkiness and observations, 2 Days in Paris has flashes of Woody Allen. However, there8217;s one significant difference. Delpy brings to this film what Allen wouldn8217;t: in this Obama season, may we say, the audacity of hope.

shalini.langerexpressindia.com