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An American's view of ‘2 Days in Paris'

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The first time I ever spent time in Paris, I swore I'd never go back. I found Parisians slightly unapproachable and the city overwhelming lacking in green, but now, after having learned a little of the language, Paris and its beauties have grown on me. 𔄚 Days in Paris,” directed by Julie Delpy, shows from an American's perspective countless reasons to dislike the city, and although I was not visiting with my man, I can certainly relate to the American character in this film. 𔄚 Days in Paris” is about differences, cultural and emotional, which can divide people - and Delpy's vision is both moving and funny.

Delpy not only directed 𔄚 Days in Paris,” but also wrote the screenplay and the music, produced and edited the film and stars as the French half of a French-American couple stopping over in Paris after what should have been an ideal getaway in Italy. 𔄚 Days” co-stars Adam Goldberg as Jack, Marion's (Delpy's) neurotic boyfriend of two years. After a not-so-romantic holiday in Venice, the couple stops for a brief two days in Paris - the city for lovers - to stay with her parents before flying back to New York. There they quickly observe the huge emotional and cultural divide that separates them - Marion, the French 35-year-old photographer, and Jack, the American 35-year-old interior designer.

Delpy has created a “lost in translation” of sorts for lovers. While Marion might want to adapt to Jack's American ways, her parents, sister, several ex-boyfriends and acquaintances, all French, seem to wish for just the opposite, subconsciously or not. Perhaps because we Americans tend to lean toward prudence, whether we like it or not, Marion hides certain aspects of her past from Jack - small secrets, but monumental consequences can result when cultural obstacles exist.

Delpy's own parents star as Marion's parents and they seem to savor the opportunity to be directed by their daughter. They further appear to get a genuine kick out of toying with her on-screen love interest - making for some realistic and quite funny moments. Really though, it is Goldberg who makes this film. Delpy is good, but Goldberg has neurosis down to an art form; this gift, coupled with Delpy's clever, witty dialogue, make for some delightfully awkward moments. As if cast from life, Goldberg and Delpy are naturals as Jack and Marion and the realistic and oddly ordinary dialogue flows smoothly between them, creating characters for whom the audience wants to care. There's also classic comic support from Marie Pillet and the Albert Delpy as Marion's parents, as well as Alexia Landeau as Marion's petulant sister and Adan Jodorowsky as one of Marion's obsequious exes.

I have to hand it to Delpy - she knows how to work dark humor to every angle and the result offers painful realizations about differences that divide us in our relationships as partners and, frankly, as human beings. She does, however, get far too serious with it all in the film's final scenes. After such an impressive show of edgy wittiness - Marion fluctuates between meek and maniacal and Jack, at first anyway, attempts to accept her foibles without much question - Delpy seems to leap to a sloppy but realistic final scene without much warning. With the jokes and laughs comes a great deal of emotion as the couple encounters a series of increasingly dreadful cab drivers, several of Marion's ex-lovers and a flow of the spirited family arguments. Every interaction feels and sounds so natural and ad libbed that the whole movie feels completely and awkwardly real. Making the abrupt switch to super-serious at the end seems too severe, yet somehow it is very trite at the same time.

Still, the trip that Delpy and crew provide makes even this overly stoic, rushed ending palatable. There are truths even in these final moments; as dark as the comedy gets at times, her message is clear. 𔄚 Days in Paris” is packed with droll, quotable lines and hysterically funny scenes. One that stands out in particular involves Jack and an effeminate, vegetarian terrorist who wreaks a bit of havoc on a fast-food joint and another involved a case of mistaken identity and a handbag thief.

All in all, Delpy masterfully manages to touch on relationships in a variety of forms. She dares to address matters involving family, lovers and cultures. She cleverly explores these issues in what could be hands-down the smartest romantic comedy this year.

I am placing an A- in my gradebook. I certainly hope to see more from Ms. Julie Delpy.

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