My Angel

Two troubled souls are thrown together on the run in this likeable directorial debut from French writer Serge Frydman (‘La Fille sur le Pont’). Colette (Vanessa Paradis) answers a panicked call from a fellow prostitute and grudgingly agrees to collect the woman’s son Billy (Vincent Rottiers) from a psychiatric institution before a violent pimp can get to him. Colette’s attempts to ditch the eccentric teenager are thwarted by her instincts and the two develop a touching co-dependence amid the action. The story’s nothing new: the themes and poetic dialogue are particularly reminiscent of Tom Tykwer’s work (‘Heaven’, ‘The Princess and the Warrior’, ‘Run Lola Run’). But Paradis commands a strong presence. While the cinematography creates a feeling of physical intimacy, this doesn’t fully expose the mentality of its characters, allowing for some surprises in an ending that’s touching despite a misjudged soundtrack.