The Lovers on the Bridge is Essential Cinema 

Thank you for giving, for a few moments, life and light to this splendor: The lovers of Pont-neuf. As a very young "cinephile" (well rather: in love with cinema like a virgin in a brothel, without much culture) in France at that time, I was in despair at seeing how low the admissions were... The film didn't work. And all the imbeciles who had supported Carax in Mauvais sang and Boy meets girl let him down because they were dry of heart, incapable of understanding that Carax was as much descended from Carné as from the directors they adored. That Carax had this lyricism in him and the need to free himself from it, to ignite the world with it. So, when today, so many years later, I see that crazy people like me continue to carry this film in their soul, it gives me a sweet pleasure, like medicine on a wound.

(Spoiler) Great essay! Excelent point about the ending, that on second-viewing I fount too a bit, although it could be interpreted on a broader scale as a sense of they both stay romantics and leave any ground in realism behind. The vague, but poetic, dreamy metaphor of the old couple on the boat being on their "last trip" and transporting sand to the ocean (or something?) might suggest that. It's interesting how Carax mixes his in a sense very realistic world (the cinéma verité part at the shelter in the beginning, the way they both look, move etc.) with straight up fairytale or medieval dramatic elements in the story like the search campaign for Michèle and Alex burning up her face on the posters. So over the top that it almost becomes archetypical.

This is my favorite romance movie of all time

Lovers on the Bridge is simply one of the greatest f*&%ing movies ever made. Paris can stay in bed.

Just watched the movie and felt the exact same way about the ending! Glad to hear I’m not alone in my confusions. Great video!

This is a great video, Sam. I vividly recall seeing this film at the cinema - I saw it by chance, really. I was in London and there just happened to be a late-night screening of it at the Swiss Centre in the West End, so I thought I'd check it out, not really knowing anything about it, and I remember just being blown away by it, walking out of the cinema in the early hours of the morning in a daze. I think I maybe saw it again several years later in Manchester, and it is undoubtedly a great film, but I think that over the years I've been guilty of overlooking it somewhat. This video has reminded me of what an important film it is - and what a visually stunning film it is, too, so thanks for that. I love your analysis of the film, and seeing this has made me want to watch it again, so I'm going to aim to do that. That fireworks scene - omg. Just breathtaking.

Watched this film recently and Leos did not disappoint, adored it!

💟💝💗💖❤️