Nord-Ouest Prods.

For his first outing as director, former film animator Yann Samuell has shot a quirky, whimsical love story with echoes of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's hugely successful "Amelie." The similarities exist, but Samuell's movie has a darker, crueler edge with a less optimistic take on life.

The story begins when Julian (Guillaume Canet) and Sophie (Marion Cotillard) are young children. The death of Julian's mother and the prejudice Sophie faces because she's Polish bring the two together to create a world of their own. Central to their relationship is the game of Dare the two play; each pushing the other to greater challenges as a way of testing the bond between them. The game follows them into adulthood where it becomes obvious they have fallen madly in love. Prisoners of the game, they are unable to admit their feelings and the relationship bounces from misunderstanding to misunderstanding.

This is a story where the lovers play hide and seek with destiny and Samuell's intelligent directing makes the audience gasp with frustration as once again the couple miss the opportunity to live happily-ever-after. By mixing fantasy and reality a la "Amelie," we are drawn into the world of two children, who have grown up without ever becoming adults. Into this fairy-tale existence Samuell injects the odd harsh note of reality. At times, the game of Dare hovers on the edge of sadism or slips into the macabre, underscoring the fact that passion combines both love and hate.

Canet and Cotillard are highly convincing. Perhaps this movie could achieve for Cotillard what "Amelie" did for Audrey Tautou even though there is no direct comparison between the two actresses. Cotillard is sexier, more vampish.

Despite the sterling performances by the two main actors, the movie tends to lose pace in the second half and needs more secondary characters. But for a first time in the director's chair, Samuell shows a deftness of touch that bodes well for the future.