He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not (2002)
Audrey Tautou and Sameul Le Bihan Star in French Romance film
Nov 6, 2008
He Loves Me…He Loves Me Not, in the true form of French films, is not quite what it seems at first glance. Angélique, played by bright-eyed actress Audrey Tautou (of Amélie and Auberge Espagnole), is a young woman working in a café to support her studies as an art student. Although having just been selected for a generous scholarship, Angélique’s heart is elsewhere, focused upon her love affair with cardiologist Loïc Le Garrec (Samuel Le Bihan). Her love knows no limits and she sends thoughtful anonymous gifts to the doctor, who cannot guess who they are from, but who accepts them as appreciative gestures from patients whom he has cured.
The Romance of Angélique
Throughout the first part of the film, one observes the idyllic romance from the point of view of Angélique, who has several encounters with Loïc that are significant milestones within their relationship. It seems possible that the encounters are entirely by chance, but for Angélique they are signs taken as proof that he loves her, although he does not explicitly show it. Angélique is waiting for Loïc to leave his wife so that their destiny to be together can be fulfilled.
The Secret Admirer of Loïc
The second part of the film, from the point of view of Loïc, paints a completely different picture of the same events observed in the first part of the film. Loïc is baffled by the sometimes small and sometimes extravagant gifts which keep arriving at the office for him. He does not know the woman who seems to appear everywhere he is and why she is always looking at him alluringly. He does not know who is writing messages on the windshield of his car. The same events seen as significant and romantic in the first part of the film are seen as confusing and unsettling in the second part of the film.
The Two Faces of Angélique
It becomes clear that when Loïc fails to reciprocate the affections Angélique has for him that the dichotomy of her character is revealed. When unfortunate and devastating events begin to plague Loïc’s comfortable existence with a good job and a happy marriage, he begins to question how the mysterious gifts and the presence of this woman who he sees everywhere could be related to what is happening in his life. There is the miscarriage of his pregnant wife who is hit while crossing the street. There is his arrest for the murder of someone he did not even know. There are the messages that do not make any sense. Are all the events linked?
The Obsession
When Loïc begins to question the incidents in his life and their association with the mysterious woman, it becomes clear that the game of the affair is all in Angélique’s head, but that the serious events in Loïc’s life as a result are far removed from any game. Upon this revelation, every incident falls into place for the viewer. Angélique is psychologically ill and is ruining the life of a stranger while at the same time ruining her own for an amorous obsession. The damage that Angélique brings to Loïc’s life is tragic and she is oblivious to her actions which she believes will bring her closer to him.
The film is a unique look at obsession and the lengths to which one will go to fulfill that obsession. However, it is also an interesting look at how differently the same set of events can be interpreted based upon the point of view. The film is somewhat bizarre but also very clever because one does not know what is really happening until almost the end.
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