AMANDA

France, 2018, 107 minutes, Colour.
Vincent Lacoste, Isaure Multrier, Stacey Martin, Ophelia Colbert, Marianne Basler, Jonathan Cowan, Nabitha Akkari, Greta Scacchi.
Directed by Mikhael Hers.

Amanda is quite an agreeable French film focusing on a little girl, focusing on family. The little girl is Amanda.

She lives in Paris with her mother, the father long gone. Her uncle, her mother’s brother, is an agreeable young man, doing odd jobs, welcoming tenants to apartments, tree surgeon… He has bonded very well with Amanda.

The uncle cycles around Paris which gives the audience many opportunities to have views of the city.

The film reflects on contemporary terrorism and Amanda’s mother is killed – with dilemmas for the uncle and whether he is prepared to take responsibility for Amanda’s upbringing, visits and care from his father’s sister, but his mother has long since disappeared and returned to England.

Her mother had intended take Amanda to London to meet her own mother and to go to Wimbledon. In fact, after going to various schools and agencies, uncle and Amanda go to London, make contact with the mother (an effective Greta Scacchi in a cameo role) and go to Wimbledon – with some hopes for their future.

1. The title? The focus on the young girl, her life, tragedy, experiences?

2. A French film about family and family issues?

3. Paris, the city, David and his bike riding, the vistas of the city and the sights? Apartments, school, hospitals? The trip to London, the parks, Wimbledon? The musical score?

4. The title, yet the focus on David, as uncle, his role in the family, Amanda and her dependence on him?

5. David and his situation, his age, the range of jobs, the rentals and welcoming guests, tree surgeon? His personality? Memories of his dead father and cutting his children off from their mother? The mother in the UK, his not knowing her? His aunt, relying on her for Amanda? His relationship with his sister, the bonds between them, with Amanda? Lena, her arrival, liking her, a genial man?

6. Sandrine, as mother, the father disappeared, loving her daughter, bring her up, happy sequences, dancing together? Her relationship with her aunt, relying on David? The suddenness of her death, terrorists and massacres? Impact? Her plans to take Amanda to Wimbledon and see her mother?

7. Lena, piano teacher, from the provinces, meeting Amanda, with David, the injury, in hospital, wanting to be alone? Going back home, David’s visit, the sexual encounter, the bond between them?

8. Amanda, her age, at school, play, the effect of her mother’s death, accepting it, weeping, relying on David, the visits to Maud?

9. The issues of adoption, David meeting with the authorities, the discussion, his weariness, not wanting to take responsibility? His visit to the special school and the explanation of the regime?

10. David, getting advice, his injured friend, the partner, the discussions, going for the walk?

11. The challenge to David, the prospects? The decision to go to England, travelling by train, in London, the bike ride, enjoying the city?

12. The park, his mother’s arrival, their talk, introducing her to Amanda, possible bonds, time for explanations?

13. The scenes at Wimbledon, the tennis, Amanda weeping, David and his explanation, her joy, waiting for the end and the victory?

14. The final sequences, people in ordinary life – foreshadowing the future?