Movie buffs traveling to Paris will find a wealth of entertaining insights into the cinematic history of Paris in this relatively slim but well-researched volume. Author Michael Schürmann brings a lively and often humorous tone to ten movie-drenched walks in the City of Lights, and the suggested itineraries are clear and easy to follow. Often overlooked details about Parisian social and political history, architecture, or notable Parisian personalities intertwine on walks, making this book a worthy addition to your suitcase even if you’re only nominally interested in movies. .
Pros
- Clear and easy-to-follow tours organized around the Paris neighborhood
- The book provides well-researched anecdotes and facts, about film and beyond
- Good balance between classic and contemporary cinema, Hollywood blockbuster and “auteur” cinema
- Includes a search index of featured movies by title and Metro map
- Animated and humorous narration
Cons
- Lack of actual images from featured movies can make it difficult to view scenes for unfamiliar people.
Basic details
- Full title: Paris Movie Walks / Ten guided tours of the city of lights. Camera! Action!
- Author: Michael Schürmann
- Editorial: The intrepid traveler
Full Review: A Practical Guide for Movie Lovers Visiting Paris
The book, at just 300 pages and easy to read, is full of subtle observations about the places where film directors decided to settle in Paris. Comprised of 10 easy-to-follow walks that correspond to different areas of Paris, Schürmann’s book includes facts and anecdotes about films as diverse in genre and era as Marcel Carné’s Hôtel du Nord , Billy Wilder’s Irma La Douce , Jules et Jim by Francois Truffaut or Hollywood blockbusters (and flops) like Sabrina and French Kiss . It’s accessible enough for readers who are less than devoted moviegoers, but the author is clearly well versed in the history and techniques of celluloid, so readers with some experience certainly won’t get bored.
Chapters 9 and 10 are dedicated to Parisian film classics, such as The Red Balloon and Zazie dans le Metro , especially suitable for fans of the “author”.
It’s easy to follow the walkthroughs in the book and spark your imagination not just by cinematic moments in the places you’re wandering, but also by intriguing glimpses of social history, architecture, art, or the megalomaniac weaknesses of Parisian leaders. Schürmann manages to package the book with celluloid facts, but it also gives us a broader view. Attention is also paid to the cross-references between contemporary and classic films: walking along the Canal St. Martin, for example, we learn that the ship that sinks to the bottom of the canal in Last Tango in Paris is called Atlante: a clear tribute to the 1934 film of the same name by revered French director Jean Vigo.
One minor flaw: still images are missing corresponding to the scenes described throughout. This may make it difficult for you to view scenes if you have not seen the movies in question. This is an understandable omission, given how expensive and complicated the process of obtaining permission to use such still images can be. Overall, this only takes away from the usability of the book a bit, which is still an entertaining and informative read.
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