Main Cast: Rie Rasmussen, Jamel Debbouze, Gilbert Melki, Serge Riaboukine, Eric 'Parigo' Balliet, Akim Chir
Release Year: 2005
Country: FR
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A desperate man in serious debt attempts to wipe his account clean in the most permanent way imaginable, only to find himself saved from a grim, self-inflicted demise by his selfless attempt to rescue another would-be suicide in director Luc Besson's tenth outing as a director. André (Jamel Debbouze) is a debt-ridden 28-year-old who has until midnight to pay back 40,000 euros to one of Paris' most ruthless gangsters. When the menacing Franck (Gilbert Melki) has his thugs dangle André over the edge of the Eiffel Tower soon thereafter, the debtor who views himself as an American on a technicality seeks the help of the U.S. Embassy to no avail. After failing to convince the local police to lock him up for his own protection, André, sensing death is eminent, determines to end his life on his own terms. As André steps over the edge of the city's most awe-inspiring bridges and prepares to take that fateful plunge, he suddenly notices a statuesque blonde in a little black dress preparing to meet her maker in a similar fashion. As the woman leaps into the Seine, André instinctively jumps in to rescue her. Resting safely on the shore after looking death straight in the eye, the sorrowful pair soon finds their fates inexorably tied. Though André initially scolds the ravishing Angela (Rie Rasmussen) for attempting to deprive the world of such stunning beauty, she bitterly assures her one-armed savior that her physical perfection is without question only skin deep. Nevertheless the aggressive blonde betrays her own negative self-image by pledging to stick by André through thick and thin, and the unlikely duo soon sets out on a mission to solve André's formidable list of problems and get his life back in order again. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Cast
Rie Rasmussen - Angela
Jamel Debbouze - André
Gilbert Melki - Fanck
Serge Riaboukine - Pedro
Akim Chir - Chef des Malfrats
Eric 'Parigo' Balliet - Fanck's Bodyguard
Michel Bellot - US Orderly; Venus Boone - Angela's Mother; Franck-Olivier Bonnet - Last Client; Michel Chesneau - Policeman; Olivier Claverie - US Secretary; Akim Colour - Head Thug; Tonio Descanvelle - Angela's Client 2; Jérôme Guesdon - Thug 3; Laurent Jumeaucourt - Dredger; Grigori Manoukov - Romanian Waiter; Jil Milan - Angela's Client 1; Solange Milhaud - St. Lazare Woman; Jean-Marc Montalto - Receptionist; Loïc Pora - Thug 2; Alain Zef - Sommelier; Todd M. Cahme - Angela's Father
Credit
Swan Pham - Casting, Martine Rapin - Costume Designer, James Canal - First Assistant Director, Luc Besson - Director, Frederic Thoraval - Editor, Julien Durguel - Location Manager, Miguel Nougier - Location Manager, Anja Garbarek - Composer (Music Score), Jerome Lateur - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jacques Bufnoir - Production Designer, Thierry Arbogast - Cinematographer, Luc Besson - Producer, Jacques Bufnoir - Set Designer, Pierre Buffin - Special Effects, SFX Evolution - Special Effects, Jean Minondo - Sound/Sound Designer, Didier Lozahic - Sound/Sound Designer, Cyril Raffaelli - Stunts Coordinator, Didier Hoarau - Unit Production Manager, Patrick Le Goc - Unit Production Manager, Luc Besson - Screenwriter, Duboi - Digital Effects, William Gally - Gaffer, Christophe Guiot - Musical Performer, Anja Garbarek - Musical Performer, John Mallison - Musical Performer, Eric Bassoff - Post Production Supervisor, Richard Guille - Properties, Mali Cilla - Script Supervisor, Stéphanie Seilhean - Second Assistant Director, Armel Gourvennec - Second Assistant Director, Mathieu Caudroy - Steadicam Operator, Alexandre Widmer - Supervising Sound Editor, Roland Savoye - Underwater Photography, François Quilichini - Key Make-up, Michael Dupuis - Production Accountant, BUF - Visual Effects, Francois Dore - Set Decorator, T.E.S.T. - Title Design
Andre has just returned to Paris in the hope of making some easy money, give up his life of petty crime, and start his life over as an honest man in America. In Paris for only a few hours, Andre finds himself dangling high over the edge of the Eiffel Tower, begging for his life from a man he hoped never to see again. With his underworld dealing catching him up, Andre is given 24 hours to find 20,000 Euros to pay off his debts and save his life. Frantically trying to find ways to avoid certain death, Andre turns to the police begging them to place him safely behind bars for a couple of nights. They laugh at his pathetic attempt and throw him to the streets. Andre is left with nowhere to turn and with his deadline fast approaching, he despairingly climbs onto the ledge of a bridge and gathers the resolve to jump into the river. But, he is not alone. Beside him, a beautiful and mysterious woman is a moment away from throwing herself into the Seine. Despite Andre’s attempts to persuade the woman to climb back over the railing, she lets go and jumps into the water. A split second later, he too jumps into the water.
With much effort, he hauls her limp soaked body to the shore and tries to coax her back to life. Sitting alone on the quay with a lifeless women in his arms and hit men on his tail, Andre desperately hopes for a miracle. About to give up on the mysterious woman, Andre is relived when she finally opens her eyes. Her name is Angela. As a thanks for being saved, Angela pledges her life to Andre, doing anything and everything she can to help him. Confused as to why such a gorgeous woman should want to help him, Andre is skeptical. Only when she delivers the money he so desperately needs does he begin to trust her and agree to let her help. Although Angela helps him to get the money he needs, Andre begins to think she may have an ulterior motive. Why else would such a beautiful woman help someone like him? Angela is not just helping Andre to find money, she is also helping him to find the courage to see the good deep inside himself, and for the first time, he actually believes there might be some good to be found. And Andre, who has never been a hero, must believe he can stand up for himself in order to convince Angela, the woman who he has fallen madly in love with, to give up everything to be with him.
