Taglines: Romance… In a most unlikely place.
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf movie stonyline. Set against Paris’ oldest bridge, the Pont Neuf, while it was closed for repairs, this film is a love story between two young vagrants: Alex, a would be circus performer addicted to alcohol and sedatives and Michele, a painter driven to a life on the streets because of a failed relationship and an affliction which is slowly turning her blind.
The film portrays the harsh existence of the homeless as Alex, Michele and Hans, an older vagrant survive on the streets with their wits. As they both slowly get their lives back together, Michele becomes increasingly dependent on Alex as her vision deteriorates further. Fearing that Michele will leave him if she receives a new medical treatment Alex attempts to keep Michele practically a prisoner. The streets, skies and waterways of Paris are used as a backdrop to the story in a series of stunning visuals which dominate the film.
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (The Lovers on the Bridge in English) is a 1991 French film directed by Leos Carax, starring Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant. The title refers to the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris. The North American title of the film is The Lovers on the Bridge, and, in a mistranslation of the original title, the Australian title is Lovers on the Ninth Bridge (instead of “Lovers on the New Bridge”).
At the Cannes festival in 1990 Christian Fechner allocated 70 million francs in order to finish the film. Unable to find financing partners, he provided his own money, purchasing both rights and debts of the picture. The picture was finished on 22 December 1990 and premiered out of competition at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival before arriving in French theatres on 17 October 1991. The film had 867,197 Admissions in France where it was the 34th highest earning film of 1991. Carax’s most successful film to date.
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (1992)
Directed by: Leos Carax
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Denis Lavant, Daniel Buain, Klaus-Michael Grüber, Marion Stalens, Chrichan Larsson, Paulette Berthonnier, Edith Scob
Screenplay by: Leos Carax
Production Design by: Michel Vandestien
Cinematography by: Jean-Yves Escoffier
Film Editing by: Nelly Quettier
Costume Design by: Robert Nardone
Set Decoration by: Irène Galitzine
Art Direction by: Franck Schwarz
Music by: Les Rita Mitsouko, David Bowie, Arvo Pärt
Distributed by: Miramax Films (USA), Gaumont (France)
Release Date: October 6, 1992
Hits: 93
