When the movie opens, we think it's going to be a lightweight romance. Shortly thereafter, we're convinced that this is some sort of melodrama about an impressionable young girl who has fallen in love with, and been used by, a married man. But the truth has yet to be discovered. The production, which traverses a path that is grows continually darker and more twisty, saves its biggest surprises for the final half, when it takes a number of risks, all of which pay off.
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not tells one story from two points of view. It does not, however, argue that truth is subjective. In fact, a key aspect of the movie is that one of the points-of-view is more reliable than the other. I won't reveal which one it is, but, once you have seen the movie, you won't have any doubts about who represents the more credible narrator: the young artist Angelique (Tautou) or the older, married doctor, Loic (Samuel Le Bihan), with whom she is madly in love, but who does not return her affections.
The way the film plays with perspective is brilliant. There is an explanation for all that happens, and the manner in which ties everything together will satisfy even most nit-pickers. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not works better on a second viewing than most thrillers, because the plot is more of a puzzle than an exercise in suspense. When watching the movie for a second or third time, you understand what's going on and are able to pay attention to the interacting details. In the end, there are no difficulties reconciling seeming discrepancies between Angelique's perspective and Loic's.
Audrey Tautou is perfect for the part. Angelique is a much different individual than Amelie, yet the actresses' strong association with her previous role allows her to toy with our expectations. In fact, this role requires more range than Tautou's lead in Amelie, and the actress has no difficulty venturing into darker territory. She is ably matched by Samuel Le Bihan, who, like Tautou, is required to play two radically different versions of the same individual. Sophie Guillermin has a supporting role as Angelique's best friend.
It's difficult to overstate how much of a rare find this movie is. The film reminds us that the best thrillers are built upon superb writing and strong acting. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not has both, and the result is a surprising and devious motion picture where one person's viewpoint represents only half of the story.
Porculus