I was intrigued by the earlier reviews that appeared in both the Wall Street Journal and the New Yorker. Both focused on the peculiarity of a character that spends her time finding ways to secretly please others. This is a novel behavior, but not the most interesting thing about this film. I also read in the Journal that tourists in France are seeking out the shop (really a bar) where Amelie worked to see if she just happens to be there. The owner apparently tells people she has the day off..perpetuating the fantasy that the character exists in real life. This aspect of movie going, i.e. crossing over the fantasy - reality line, has almost graduated to becoming a new genre. And its not all that strange. Some people tend to discuss the movies they see as though they were documentaries of real life. I found the film good entertainment on several levels, use of coincidence (ala Tykwer), innovative cinematography, sparsely sprinkled comedy, interesting characters albeit possibly too many and a love story. It also has the best sexual encounter I have ever NOT seen portrayed off-camera. There are some fast-forward sections that blazed away so fast I would have to see the film again to pick up details, although I think these were done on purpose to differentiate scenes and keep you on edge. It worked on me. An Audrey Hepburn look-a-like named Audrey Tautou plays the protagonist. I think she chose her stage name on purpose, if it is a stage name. She has a great face and the director took full advantage of it and her ability to burst into a myriad of displayed emotions.