One of the most expensive films in the history of French cinema ironically explores a part of society often forgotten or ignored in movies: the homeless. A street performer and drug addict (Dennis Levant) meets a painter with a disease slowly destroying her vision (Juliette Binoche), and the film explores their personal (and increasingly interdependent) relationship, as well as their struggle to survive on the streets of Paris.
Writer/director Leos Carax is a critic-turned-filmmaker who had his first success with Boy Meets Girl, which showed at the Cannes festival in 1984. His sophomore effort Mauvais Sang (Bad Blood) was his first collaboration with Levant and Binoche, as well as cinematographer Jean-Yves Escoffier. They would all work together on this follow-up.
The Pont Neuf is the oldest and most famous bridge in Paris, and it was difficult for Carax to secure filming permission for the time he needed to use the location. While the crew was eventually allotted several weeks, Levant suffered an injury that forced Carax to choose between stopping production or recasting, and the director decided to stay loyal to his leading actor.
A replica of the bridge was built in southern France, which caused production costs to skyrocket. Despite not being able to use the real Pont Neuf, the blending of the artificial sets with the footage shot on location is rather seamless, and Carax uses the city to maximum effect, as the nooks and crannies of Paris allow it to become a distinct character in the film.
Binoche, Escoffier, and Nelly Quettier's editing all received European Film Awards for their efforts, with additional nominations for Best Picture and Levant's performance. Carax would not make another film for eight years, an adaptation of Herman Melville's Pierre, or the Ambiguities.
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