> L'Appartement [1997]

A preview:

Max (Vincent Cassel), a former flirt, lives in Paris. In trying to settle down, he is planning on getting married to his girlfriend Muriel (Sandrine Kiberlain). But, even before he can leave for his business trip to Tokyo, he catches a glimpse of his lost love Lisa (Monica Bellucci) in a telephone booth talking about another lover Daniel (Olivier Granier), who might have killed his wife for her. Obsession and mystery takes over him, and he must chase her down now. He tracks down her apartment and breaks into it, in hope of getting united with Lisa again. But, to his surprise, and ours, Lisa is not the girl he loved once. Though she resembles her looks and manners, this Lisa is a different girl.

Max's friend Lucien (Jean-Philippe Écoffey) is madly in love with a girl named Alice (Romane Bohringer). She apparently works in a theatre as stage artist. Lucien plans on introducing Max to Alice someday. But she's busy preparing for her next role in a play. And, she knows something about Max that Lucien does not.

Who's Alice? What happened to Lisa? Does Max really love Lisa?

Verdict:
L'Appartement is one great romantic thriller by Gilles Mimouni. He successfully creates the mystery, adds thrills and romantic moments that make up to a classic movie of all times. The ending leaves us thinking about what we really want.

Sadly, not many in this country are familiar with French movies. The Hollywood remake (Wicker Park, 2004) lacks the original charisma and direction, not unlike others. In all, a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED movie.