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Isabelle Vanderschelden. Amélie, French Film Guides. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2007.
Isabelle Vanderschelden's Amélie is a recent contribution to the reputable French Film Guide series edited by Ginette Vincendeau. As the editor remarks, each book of this series offers an authoritative and entertaining guide of films from the beginning years to present day. Written by French film scholars, each calls to experts, students of French films studies and novice cinéphiles alike. Vanderschelden's contribution is an essential tool for any instructor using the film in the classroom just as it is a crucial reference for scholars researching in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's cinema. Clearly written and well documented, her book, simply called Amélie, gives insight into the film and its making that would otherwise be unknown to the public. With great care, the author traces the numerous technical elements, collaborations, and narrative components which have brought about the film's success and its cult-film status.
The book includes a synopsis which is further completed throughout, an introduction, four main chapters of rich scene detail with analysis, a conclusion, four appendices which offer full credits, statistics and tables, filmography along with a...