Olivier Assayas, Gus Van Sant, Wes Craven and Alfonso Cuaron are among the 20 distinguished directors who contribute to this collection of 18 stories, each exploring a different aspect of Parisian life. The colourful characters in this drama include a pair of mimes, a husband trying to chose between his wife and his lover, and a married man who turns to a prostitute for advice.
The best segments are as good as film gets; the losers can make you wince. On the whole, the good outweigh the bad and make the film feel like a minivacation in the City of Light.
– Richard Nilsen,
Arizona Republic,
7 Jun 2007
fresh:
Even the least tales here flit by quickly enough to leave little bad aftertaste, and the best are savored like the last small bites of exquisite souffles.
– Bruce Westbrook,
Houston Chronicle,
8 Jun 2007
fresh:
A little uneven in style, tone and quality. But the picture that emerges of Paris is romantic, cosmopolitan and hopeful.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
15 Jun 2007
fresh:
For directors and actors who usually work on projects that take years to develop and months to film, this must have been a really fun lark. For the viewer, it's a full cinematic feast.
– Richard Roeper,
Ebert & Roeper,
18 Jun 2007
rotten:
You expect quality to vary from segment to segment, but the misses outweigh the hits by a depressingly high margin.