The Garden Gnome Liberation Front wants you. These statued
troll-like people stand guard in gardens through the hottest
summers and coldest winters, and, as seen in the French film
“Amelie,” they want out.
“Amelie” is screening in the James Bridges Theater
tonight at 8:15 p.m. In the film, Amelie does good deeds for the
people around her. Among her many whimsical deeds, she liberates
her father’s gnome, sending it around the world to places
such as the Kremlin. The GGLF would be proud.
Fourth-year French and political science student Christine
Khalili-Borna saw the film as an Education Abroad student in Lyon,
France. She told her mom to see the film when it came out in
America. Her mom loved it and bought a gnome.
“When I lived in France, she said that someone stole the
gnome and I started getting pictures of it at all my favorite
restaurants,” Khalili-Borna said.
Later the gnome made appearances in Dickson Plaza, her old
office workplace, her grandfather’s balcony, and her old
apartment. Khalili-Borna says her mother is big
“Amelie” fan, even having “Amelie”-themed
parties (truffles anyone?).
When the film became a hit in America, Khalili-Borna was happy
to hear it.
“I think it restored my faith in American movie
culture,” Khalili-Borna said.
“Amelie” was released last year but has survived as
a hot item due to its buzz. The French film was nominated for five
Oscars last year (it didn’t win any) and is number 17 on the
Internet Movie Database’s list of top rated films. Last
year’s Daily Bruin Choice Awards named “Amelie”
actress Audrey Tautou “Coolest Female.” Numerous people
interviewed on Bruin Walk admitted they haven’t seen it, but
that it sits on top of their “must-see” lists.
Fourth-year English student Angela Lin got her friends to watch
it when it was at Ackerman Grand Ballroom through Campus Events
last spring quarter. She saw it earlier with her brother and
hasn’t regretted it since.
“It left you with a happy feeling,” Lin said.
“It was really creative, kinda wacky but also innocent and
fun.”
In fact, it’s difficult to pinpoint what makes
“Amelie” the charming film it is. Could it be the
telescopic view of humanity, where we see all the intricate
workings of a car smashing against a fly or a table cloth dancing
in the wind without an audience? Perhaps it lies in being able to
count the number of orgasms happening in a single moment in Paris
(15, we are told). For sure, it’s got a certain je ne sais
quoi.
“There’s a fantastical quality to it,” said
Vivian Umino, a visiting assistant professor in UCLA’s film
and television department and an alumna as well. “I highly
recommend it. This film is a step above the typical Hollywood film
that you’d randomly pick out of the newspaper. If
you’ve only seen Hollywood films, then it’s a
must-see.”
Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet has cemented his reputation as a
quirky filmmaker. He lent his talents to “Alien:
Resurrection,” his only American film, but showed his true
colors in the visually-entrancing “The City of Lost
Children” and the dark comedy, “Delicatessen.”
While Khalili-Borna studied in France for a year, where she says
the film was in theaters during her entire stay, she hopes that
people not well-versed in French culture will still be able to
enjoy it.
“It’s an extremely visual film,” Khalili-Borna
said. “The subtitles might take away from the
visuals.”
Nonetheless, the gnomes are watching and waiting for their
liberators. The least you could do is watch the film and understand
their plight.
“They’re on back order in a lot of places because
they became really popular,” Khalili-Borna said.
“(Online), it was originally supposed to take two to six
weeks (for delivery). Then it became six months.”