Love Me If You Dare
Encyclopedia
Love Me If You Dare is a 2003
Belgian
film
directed
by Yann Samuell
.
To cheer Sophie up, Julien gives her a small tin box, a gift from his fatally ill mother. Because it is important to him, he asks her to lend it back to him from time to time. As Julien wants the box back at the moment he gave it to her, Sophie demands proof of how important it is to him. Julien disengages the handbrake of the bus without hesitation, and the bus full of children rolls down a hill. Their game has begun: the box changes its owner after each completed dare.
Between the son of wealthy Belgian parents and the daughter of poor Polish immigrants a lasting friendship develops. As children they misbehave in school, wreak havoc on a wedding, and ask silly tasks of each other. As teenagers their lovers have to suffer because of their dares. Meanwhile, the two friends ignore any consequences or punishment during their game.
While they are always looking for the next kick, a love is slowly evolving between the protagonists. Not wanting to admit it, they divert their attention from it by even more extreme dares.
As young adults, Julien tells Sophie that he wants to get married, only later revealing that he means to someone else. The climax is reached when Sophie interrupts Julien's wedding, after which he is cast out by his father and Sophie is nearly killed during another game. Julien returns to marry his wife, and Sophie declares that they will not see each other for ten years.
Ten years pass, and Julien is married with two children. Sophie has also married, her husband a famous soccer star. A successful Julien admits that he has not forgotten Sophie, though he assumes that she has forgotten him. On the night of Julien's tenth wedding anniversary, Sophie sends a message to him, indicating that the game is back on. Julien and Sophie meet for a brief moment in the midst of another dare, yet it is enough to remind Julien that their game is "better than life itself." After a dramatic accident, Julien and Sophie finally reunite, despite the protestations of their spouses.
The film has two alternate ending
s, which are shown consequently. In the first, Julien and Sophie decide as an ultimate dare to finally share their dream together, their "dream of an eternal love" – the pair embrace while they stand in a construction pit that is about to be filled with concrete. The other ending has the now aged Julien and Sophie spending time together in a garden and carrying on playing their game with milder dares. However, the opening scene of the film (an overhead view of a building site and a pit filled with concrete in which upper side Julien's tin box rests partly sunk) resurges, suggesting that the two friends actually did bury themselves in concrete.
" permeates the film and dominates much of the soundtrack
. Several distinct versions are used, including the Édith Piaf
original, covers by Donna Summer
, Louis Armstrong
, the Brazilian A cappella
group Trio Esperança, and French pop artist Zazie
, as well as a handful of instrumental cuts. Coincidentally, Marion Cotillard went on to win an Oscar
for her portrayal of Piaf in the film La Vie en Rose
, also called La Môme. Additionally, Cotillard was subsequently cast in Inception
, a science-fiction thriller where Piaf's song, "Non, je ne regrette rien
" plays a key role.
A piano arrangement, Ouverture by Philippe Rombi, can also be heard throughout the film.
. Neither star discusses their relationship with the media, although photos of the couple being affectionate regularly surface in the European tabloids. The two lovers had a baby boy, Marcel, on 20th May 2011.
2003 in film
The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Yann Samuell
Yann Samuell
Yann Samuell , is a French film director, and screenwriter.-Biography:Samuell went to film school and was a storyboard artist before becoming a director. He gave his directing debut in 2003 with Love Me If You Dare and his second film was the romantic comedy film My Sassy Girl...
.
Plot
The film begins in a small town in Belgium, where a little girl, Sophie, is being bullied by other children. Only a bus driver and a boy, Julien, help her collect her books that the others have thrown into a puddle.To cheer Sophie up, Julien gives her a small tin box, a gift from his fatally ill mother. Because it is important to him, he asks her to lend it back to him from time to time. As Julien wants the box back at the moment he gave it to her, Sophie demands proof of how important it is to him. Julien disengages the handbrake of the bus without hesitation, and the bus full of children rolls down a hill. Their game has begun: the box changes its owner after each completed dare.
Between the son of wealthy Belgian parents and the daughter of poor Polish immigrants a lasting friendship develops. As children they misbehave in school, wreak havoc on a wedding, and ask silly tasks of each other. As teenagers their lovers have to suffer because of their dares. Meanwhile, the two friends ignore any consequences or punishment during their game.
While they are always looking for the next kick, a love is slowly evolving between the protagonists. Not wanting to admit it, they divert their attention from it by even more extreme dares.
As young adults, Julien tells Sophie that he wants to get married, only later revealing that he means to someone else. The climax is reached when Sophie interrupts Julien's wedding, after which he is cast out by his father and Sophie is nearly killed during another game. Julien returns to marry his wife, and Sophie declares that they will not see each other for ten years.
Ten years pass, and Julien is married with two children. Sophie has also married, her husband a famous soccer star. A successful Julien admits that he has not forgotten Sophie, though he assumes that she has forgotten him. On the night of Julien's tenth wedding anniversary, Sophie sends a message to him, indicating that the game is back on. Julien and Sophie meet for a brief moment in the midst of another dare, yet it is enough to remind Julien that their game is "better than life itself." After a dramatic accident, Julien and Sophie finally reunite, despite the protestations of their spouses.
The film has two alternate ending
Alternate ending
Alternate ending is a term used to describe the ending of a story that was planned or debated but ultimately unused in favor of the actual ending. Generally, alternate endings are considered to have no bearing on the canonical narrative...
s, which are shown consequently. In the first, Julien and Sophie decide as an ultimate dare to finally share their dream together, their "dream of an eternal love" – the pair embrace while they stand in a construction pit that is about to be filled with concrete. The other ending has the now aged Julien and Sophie spending time together in a garden and carrying on playing their game with milder dares. However, the opening scene of the film (an overhead view of a building site and a pit filled with concrete in which upper side Julien's tin box rests partly sunk) resurges, suggesting that the two friends actually did bury themselves in concrete.
Cast
- Guillaume CanetGuillaume CanetGuillaume Canet is a French actor and film director.Canet began his career in theatre and television before moving to film. He starred in several films like Joyeux Noël, Love Me If You Dare and The Beach...
– Julien Janvier - Marion CotillardMarion CotillardMarion Cotillard is a French actress and singer. She garnered critical acclaim for her roles in films such as La Vie en Rose, My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument, Taxi, Furia and Jeux d'enfants...
– Sophie Kowalsky - Thibault Verhaeghe – 8 year old Julien
- Joséphine Lebas-Joly – 8 year old Sophie
- Emmanuelle Grönvold – Julien's mother
- Gérard WatkinsGérard WatkinsGérard Watkins is an English-French actor, perhaps best known for his role in the 2009 film Taken as Patrice Saint Clair, the sex trafficking kingpin that runs the operation that kidnapped the protagonist's 17-year old daughter.He is fluent in both English and French.-External links:...
– Julien's father - Gilles LelloucheGilles LelloucheGilles Lellouche is a French actor. He started his career as a director before changing to acting. Lellouche has appeared in more than thirty films since 1995. He was nominated twice for a César Award...
– Sergei Nimov Nimovitch - Julia Faure – Sophie's sister
- Laetizia Venezia – Christelle Louise Bouchard
- Élodie NavarreÉlodie Navarre- Selected filmography :* Love Me If You Dare * Grande École * Empire of the Wolves * Conversations with My Gardener * The Art of Love -External links:...
– Aurélie Miller - Nathalie Nattier – 80-year-old Sophie
- Robert Willar – 80-year-old Julien
- Frédéric Geerts – Igor
- Manuela Sanchez – Teacher
- Philippe Drecq – School headmaster
Imagery
The film's visual style also reflects the setting: while Julien and Sophie are children, the world is slightly fuzzy, and everything is bright and colourful. As they grow older, the film becomes sharper, and the colour more realistic. In a hypothetical scene of the two as an elderly couple, the film again becomes fuzzy, but now has a definite sepia tint.Soundtrack
The song "La Vie en RoseLa vie en rose
"La Vie en Rose" was the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf.-Signature song of Édith Piaf:Édith Piaf first popularized La Vie en Rose in 1946. The lyrics were written by Piaf and the melody of the song by "Louiguy" . Initially, Piaf's peers and her songwriting team did not think the song...
" permeates the film and dominates much of the soundtrack
Jeux D'Enfants (soundtrack)
Jeux d'enfants is the original soundtrack album of the 2003 film Love Me If You Dare starring Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard.-Track listing:#Ouverture- 5:05#Love Theme- 2:29#Solitude / L'Escalier du Temps- 2:22...
. Several distinct versions are used, including the Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
original, covers by Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, the Brazilian A cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group Trio Esperança, and French pop artist Zazie
Zazie
Zazie is a French singer and songwriter. Zazie co-produces all her albums.-Early life:...
, as well as a handful of instrumental cuts. Coincidentally, Marion Cotillard went on to win an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for her portrayal of Piaf in the film La Vie en Rose
La Vie en rose (film)
La Vie En Rose is a 2007 French biographical film about the life of French chanteuse Édith Piaf co-written, and directed by Olivier Dahan. Marion Cotillard stars as Piaf. The title La Vie en Rose comes from Piaf's signature song...
, also called La Môme. Additionally, Cotillard was subsequently cast in Inception
Inception
Inception: The Subconscious Jams 1994-1995 is a compilation of unreleased tracks by the band Download.-Track listing:# "Primitive Tekno Jam" – 3:23# "Bee Sting Sickness" – 8:04# "Weed Acid Techno" – 8:19...
, a science-fiction thriller where Piaf's song, "Non, je ne regrette rien
Non, je ne regrette rien
"Non, je ne regrette rien" , meaning "No, I'm not sorry for anything", is a French song composed by Charles Dumont, with lyrics by Michel Vaucaire. It was written in 1956, and is best known through its 1960 recording by Édith Piaf....
" plays a key role.
A piano arrangement, Ouverture by Philippe Rombi, can also be heard throughout the film.
Actors in real life
In real life Marion Cotillard currently lives with Guillaume Canet. Many reports say the couple prefers to live a simple lifestyle, and they are often spotted in cafes and shopping together in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Neither star discusses their relationship with the media, although photos of the couple being affectionate regularly surface in the European tabloids. The two lovers had a baby boy, Marcel, on 20th May 2011.