Luc Besson once said he would direct only ten films, and he hits his quota with this glorious throwback to his cinéma du look past. Riffing on It’s A Wonderful Life and Wings Of Desire, the story centres on maverick angel Rie Rasmussen’s bid to break serial schmuck Jamel Debbouze’s losing streak. But while their banter is crisply cut, there’s nothing particularly interesting about her efforts to kickstart his life or deliver him from the clutches of a sinister gangster — even though her methods could never be called conventional.
However, the monochrome photography is absolutely sublime and consisently recalls the Pariscapes achieved by Raoul Coutard during the Nouvelle Vague. Moreover, it turns an enjoyable romp into a truly memorable visual treat.