The Lovers on the Bridge

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The Lovers on the Bridge ★★ Les Amants du PontNeuf 1991 (R)

Overblown, extravagent romantic drama about two homeless lovers who live on Paris' Pont-Neuf bridge, which is closed for repairs. Michele (Binoche) is a disoriented artist losing her eyesight to a degenerative eye disease. She has left her home and stumbles upon the bridge squatters who include Alex (Lavant), a disturbed and alcoholic street performer. Alex rescues her and becomes Michele's protector and lover. He also becomes obsessive—fearing Michele will leave him and desperate to stop her. Set in 1989, the bicentennial of the French Revolution. The Alex character also appears in the Carax films “Boy Meets Girl” (1984) and “Bad Blood” (1986). French with subtitles. 125m/C VHS, DVD . FR Juliette Binoche, Denis Lavant, Klaus-Michael Gruber, Marion Stalens; D: Leos Carax; W: Leos Carax; C: Jean-Yves Escoffier.