Laurent Firode's peculiar "Happenstance" (called "Le Battement d'ailes du papillon" in its original French) focuses on the theory of the butterfly effect, meaning that any action or decision, no matter how small or insignificant it seems, will cause other things to happen. The movie focuses on several different individuals in Paris over the course of one day, as their lives intersect and their actions affect each other.
Any movie like this - others include "The Cooler" and "Match Point" - begs the question as to whether or not our lives flow independently or are in fact getting influenced directly by each other (as it was, the last scene in "The Shining" posed this question also). One could easily look at the course of world history to find events that, had they turned out differently, would have easily changed the course of history.* But a person could spend eternity talking about that. "Happenstance" is certainly fun to watch, gazing at the characters as their actions initiate a new series of events every time. And of course, who doesn't like the sight of Audrey Tautou? I recommend it.
Also starring Faudel, Eric Savin, Nathalie Besançon and Lysiane Meis.
*Without World War II, power might never have shifted from Europe to the United States.
Any movie like this - others include "The Cooler" and "Match Point" - begs the question as to whether or not our lives flow independently or are in fact getting influenced directly by each other (as it was, the last scene in "The Shining" posed this question also). One could easily look at the course of world history to find events that, had they turned out differently, would have easily changed the course of history.* But a person could spend eternity talking about that. "Happenstance" is certainly fun to watch, gazing at the characters as their actions initiate a new series of events every time. And of course, who doesn't like the sight of Audrey Tautou? I recommend it.
Also starring Faudel, Eric Savin, Nathalie Besançon and Lysiane Meis.
*Without World War II, power might never have shifted from Europe to the United States.