Camille Gross: Amélie 22 April

         I really enjoyed the discussion about the different kinds of love seen in Like Water for Chocolate and Babette’s Feast. One of my favorite movies that I think shows the different kinds of love would be Amélie. Amélie follows a young woman with the same name in France who makes it her mission to improve the lives of those around her. The story is sweet and inspiring to watch her work hard at making her friends, family, and people she doesn’t know happier. The second someone else wants to make her happier, she becomes reluctant and uncomfortable.
Tillich says, “Love can adapt itself to every phase of a changing world” (17). Amélie shows love without uttering a single word. In fact, she goes out of her way to make sure no one knows she is the one doing all of these things for people. In her home, she finds this small box filled with old toys from decades ago. She talks to everyone in her building to figure out who lived there before her so she can return the toys to them. She tracks down the man and sets up the box in an area he will find them. He cries tears of joy. The incredible love she shows to everyone would be agape because she does not do this to receive credit. Amélie enjoys the little pleasures in life and believes everyone else should as well.

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