Review of Paris, 13th District (2021) by Bertobellamy — 15 Sep 2022

'Paris, 13th District' feels like the occidental version of 'Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy,' but, unlike the anthology format of that one, this film interconnects the lives of its main characters, giving us a diverse view of the modern westerner way of life, especially the romantic one. Jacques Audiard and Céline Sciamma — strangely, her input feels thin, because the plot is very male-centric — translate the millennial struggle into a series of predicaments that show the frustrations and desires of young adults. Love, a good job, and freedom are the main objectives of a group of Parisiennes whose lives get mixed in the most unexpected ways.

Sciamma and Audiard's screenplay —adapted from Adrian Tomine's short stories — uses everyday coincidences as framing, emphasizing how chance plays a big part in our happiness. The main problem I have with it is the ending; the outcomes of the relationships shown here are idyllic and not in line with the messiness portrayed throughout the film. Also, it looks like Audiard never decided if it wanted an anthology or a conventional format; the episodes sometimes feel too random, and the connections between characters are merely superficial, except by one. In my opinion, this would've worked better as a straight-on anthology. Acting is fine, though. Love how Jehnny Beth pops up in arthouse films every once in a while.