Published: December 31, 2007 11:42 am      

Angel-A is angel of a DVD release

Sony Classics released “Angel-A” in November with little advertising. In my opinion, this was an error.

Despite the fact that the movie is not filmed in color, despite the fact it is not dubbed but subtitled and despite the fact the storyline is considerably older than am I.

This black and white French language movie, “Angel-A” is well worth watching — even if you’re not a Francophile and you don’t like subtitles.

The principal characters in this release are Andre (Jamel Debbouze) and Angela (Rie Rasmussen). We first meet Andre when he is getting slapped around by hoods reminding him he owes money to their boss. We see him next as he is being held — leaning backward from the top of the Eiffel Tower — while being reminded he has until midnight to get what he owes to another loan shark. Again, he is walking down a Parisian boulevard and a shout echos, “Andre, where’s the money you owe me?” Andre takes off running. A few more instances, including an effort by Andre, to get money from the American Embassy, and the man decides he will end it all.

He walks to a bridge spanning the Seine, climbs over the railing, yells to God that God has never answered Andre’s prayers, takes a final look around, preparing to jump and there scant meters away is another jumper, this one a woman.

The woman, of course is Angela.

Instead of reminding one of an Angel as her name would imply, she strikes more of a succubus note.

The movie, according to Rasmussen in the “Making of” special feature is a comedy, a drama, science fiction, a story of discovering love, and a psychological trip into the subconscious.

Don’t let that put you off either. It’s a good movie. In spite of the short skirts and implied sexual activity, there is no nudity in the release — however the language does get rather rough and the implications are many.

After Angela tells Andre that she is actually a messenger from God he remarks on the way she dresses. She tells the best part of the job, after being given a mission, is going to wardrobe — on this occasion she has decided to do “slut.” Andre comments she pulls it off very convincingly.

Angela gets money to pay Andre’s gambling debts — giving him the money with which he pays off one loan shark and then puts the remainder on No. 7 to win. He loses, naturally. In the course of the movie the angel teaches Andre to love himself and to be truthful. As sometimes happens with analysts, the patient — in this case Andre — falls in love with the doctor.

In my opinion, The performances of all the actors and actresses are superb and the black and white photography creates an absorbing atmosphere that color could not. Each and every frame of this film could hang in any art gallery. After the first few minutes, the viewer does not even notice the film is in black and white — of course, most of the films I saw when I was younger were black and white.

The plot line, of an angel helping the movie’s protagonist is a well worn one with the most famous being “It’s a Wonderful Life.” But in this one, the almost fallen angel looks a lot better.

The story might not be too original, but the way it was shot (the entire film is in black and white), the characters chosen (she's an angel that looks — and seemingly acts — like a prostitute) and the deepness and intimacy between the protagonists, turns this release into a beautiful and touching and production.

Cast: Jamel Debbouze, Rie Rasmussen, Gilbert Melki, Serge Riaboukine

Angel-A

Rating (***1/2 out of *****)

Synopsis: (Courtesy of Sony Classics) A man meets a woman in Paris…

Down-on-his-luck petty criminal Andre (Jamel Debbouze) has reached the end of his rope. Irreversibly in debt to a local gangster, with no one to turn to, his only solution is to plunge himself into the Seine. Just as he is perched to do so, a fellow bridge-jumper beats him to the water.

Diving in, he saves Angela (Rie Rasmussen), a beautiful, statuesque and mysterious woman. As they pull themselves out the water, the two form a bond and venture into the streets of Paris determined to get Andre out of the hole he has found himself in.

As Andre will find out, not all debts are financial, and sometimes the solutions to life’s problems are found in the unlikeliest of places.

Is Angela simply repaying Andre for his kindness, or are there other forces at work beyond his comprehension?

MPAA Rated: R for language and some sexual content

Running Time: 91 minutes