Amelie Past Paper - 2009

Section 1

A. Briefly describe one important setting or location in the film (2)

One important location in Jeunet's 2001 film, 'Amelie' would be the train station.

B. Describe the main theme or issue of your chosen film (3)

A main theme throughout Amelie is Childhood. The film suggests that our childhood always remains with us and even adults have childish characteristics. Amelie shows many examples of this such as when she plays games with Nino in order to give back his scrapbook, rather than just confronting him. Through the portrayal of Amelie, Jeunet also highlights how a person's childhood will effect who they turn out to be when they grow up, for example, Amelie never had friends as a child and is very introverted, which is reflected by her actions as an adult and her inability to confront people.

C. Explain how the setting or location described in 1A relates to the theme or issue of your chosen film (5)

The train station is a place where people start their jouney's and carry on with life, however even though Amelie is at the station in many key scenes of the movie, she never goes on a journey which is a metophorical allusion of how she will never let go of her childhood and is not growing up or graduating to adulthood. This portrays the theme of childhood as she is reluctant to mature. Also, the train station acts as a link between her past and future as she uses the train to visit her father on the weekends (representing her past) and it is where she first meets Nino, representing ehr future. The train station acts as a link between the two, helping Amelie graduate from childhood to adulthood, which highlights the ongoing theme.

Section 2

Choose one important character from your chosen film

A. Name and briefly describe the character (2)

The protagonist, Amelie Poulain, is a very important character in the film

B. How is your first impression of this character represented