Ma vie avec James Dean

I just stumbled on this film searching on Amazon Prime last night for something to watch, decided to take a chance on it, and sat down all by myself with a cup of cinnamon latte to watch. Twenty minutes in I was sitting bolt upright with my eyes glued to the TV saying "Hold everything, this is REALLY good." Best film I've seen this year for sure. A comedy so well-written---understated, with restraint and few words, and new revelations throughout---and so well-directed and edited with impeccable timing and an acute eye for so many little comedic details that others would let slide. (I would only point to one perfect little exchange: "You're very tall." "I know." [I'm American so I have to go with the English subtitles.] Five words, but the visual is laugh-out-loud funny, and that little five-word exchange tells you so much about those two characters.)

So I was smiling through this entire movie, and frequently burst out laughing. I did not find it long at all; I actually wanted more. I would heartily recommend this little French gem to all my American movie-loving friends who might be craving a heart-felt and heart-warming comedy during this unending time of quarantine.