This is an unusual film.  It is definitely an unusual film for writer-director Luc Besson.  In the 1980s, he made a powerful impression with his first films blending action and surrealism, films like Le Dernier Combat and Subway.  He had a passion for underwater filming with the feature, The Big Blue, and his fascinating documentary, Atlantis. 

Then he moved to more colourful and violent action with La Femme Nikita, Leon and The Fifth Element, capping the 1990s with his portrait of Joan of Arc, The Messenger.

Since then, he has changed gears, so to speak, with a passion for cars and trucks – and more mindless action: the Taxi series, the Transporter series and producing such ugly thrillers as Unleashed.  His more recent script for District 13 was more tongue-in-cheek and more effective.

Who would have thought that after six years not directing a film, he would return with a touch of the Wim Wenders (incorporating the Besson world of criminals and violence)?  Angel.A is Besson’s Wings of Desire.  And filmed in black and white too.

In many ways, it is less complex than Wings of Desire (which, for those of us who did not warm to the Wenders, is not such a bad thing).  Jamal Debbouze (one of the group of actors who won the Cannes Acting award for Indigenes) is a petty criminal out of his depth with no way of paying back debts.  One way out is to throw himself into the Seine.  As he contemplates this, he meets a tall, young, blonde woman – he is quite short – who does jump.  He rescues her, only to discover that she is an angel sent to save him, Angela, Angel.A.

Who would have thought that Besson would also have a touch of the Frank Capras, echoing It’s a Wonderful Life?

There are quite a number of religious and philosophical conversations, especially about salvation and responsibility.  Because Angel is tall and muscular, there are also some Besson-like physical encounters which show the Angel would be a good sidekick to Jet Li.

There are some who deride the frequent presence of angels in contemporary films (and there are quite a few) – unless they are in a Wenders’ film.  A Besson angel is a quirky mixture of certainty and uncertainty, a commitment to a mission of salvation without knowing the outcome, a protector and a good friend.  The angel question is whether having achieved her goal, she goes to heaven or comes down to earth.

This is an interesting and appealing odd-couple journey through  both a down-to-earth Paris and a transcendent Paris.

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