Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon team up once again, opening a kitbag of acting, writing and directing talents that can best be described as an acquired taste.
Their films often feel like a blend of Mr Bean and Wes Anderson. Lost in Paris is no different. You'll either love the quirky style or find it incredibly twee. Here it feels like the pair were shooting for a simliar feel as Anderson's genius The Grand Budapest Hotel, a worthy aim but a difficult target to hit.
Fiona (Gordon), a librarian in a sleepy Canadian town, receives a distress letter from her elderly Parisian aunt (played by the great Emmanuelle Riva). Fearful of being carted off to a retirement village, Aunt Martha does a runner, moments prior to Fiona arriving.
New to Paris, Fiona stumbles upon Dom (Abel), a vagrant who falls in love and pursues her, endlessly. The two continue to look for Aunt Martha and stumble their way through Parisian streets, graveyards, the Eiffel Tower, etc.
It's fair to say Abel and Gordon's work isn't to my taste. Try as I might to find something to latch on to in Lost in Paris, a noble allegory or subtext perhaps, all I found was a wall of whimsy. But if that's your bag you'll be all over this.
