Paris-Manhattan takes a mature perspective upon relationships, and for all its idealism (it is after all, French) offers a refreshing angle with a somewhat rebellious protagonist. Alice (Alice Taglioni) is a thirty-year-old singleton, pressured by the seemingly marital bliss of her perfect sister and the meddling of her traditional parents into finding some kind of Mr Right. Unfortunately for her, she’s already found him – through the unattainable narrative voice of Woody Allen, which permeates her reality, in expected and unexpected ways.
She’s an anti-heroine, challenging the typical feminine expected in such a genre. Director Sophie Lellouche offers a strong and complicated protagonist, who’s more than a match for her men. Beautifully shot and never taking itself too seriously, the film is an enjoyable pleasure from start to finish. The world created is a seamless fairytale story land, with the cast enveloped as but one unassuming and artful component of this reality. They allow the story to shine, brightening themselves in the process. While hardly philosophical, Lellouche avoids the saccharine – even with a slow-motion kiss – and instead opts for whimsical fantasy, where it is only the truest love that spins miracles.