Notre-Dame d'amour: A bit of old-world longing

Is it worth your time?

If you like your movies to feel like they were pulled out of a shoebox in an attic, this is for you. It’s not for the restless. If you need a plot that moves at the speed of a bullet train, you will probably hate this.

Notre-Dame d'amour is a peculiar little ghost of a film. It feels less like a narrative and more like a collection of moods stitched together with 1930s film stock.

The Rhythm of the thing

There is a scene near the middle where Jean Cyrano just stares out a window for what feels like an eternity. I checked my phone twice, but honestly? It grew on me. The silence in this movie is heavier than the dialogue.

The cinematography has this hazy, almost dusty quality. You can practically smell the old wood and the incense. It makes the whole experience feel very intimate, even when the scenes are falling apart.

• Nane Germon has a look in her eyes that does all the heavy lifting.
• The cathedral itself feels like an extra character that’s just tired of everyone’s nonsense.
• The pacing is... well, it’s a choice. Sometimes it feels like a nap.

It’s not as emotionally jagged as A Man of Sentiment, but it shares that same DNA of people just trying to find their footing in a world that’s moving too fast for them. There is a gentleness here that you don't find in modern dramas.

Odd bits and bobs

The transition between the exterior shots and the studio sets is jarring. It’s like jumping between two different movies. One minute you’re in the real world, the next you’re in a cardboard cutout of it. It’s charming in a way, I guess.

Also, the lighting on the supporting cast is wildly inconsistent. Sometimes they look like they’re being interviewed by a spotlight, and other times they’re basically silhouettes. It’s a bit messy, but it adds to the handmade feeling of the whole project.

I found myself thinking of The Tamer, the Wilder while watching this. Both films have this strange, stubborn refusal to explain themselves. They just expect you to keep up or get lost.

Honestly, the ending feels like it just ran out of film. It stops rather than concludes. I didn’t mind that, though. Life rarely ends with a big orchestral swell anyway. ⛪️