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Three people waking up in one bed is enough to captivate the majority of any audience and induce thoughts of ‘what happens next?’ The opening scene of Dans Paris opens with just that, only instead of what happens next, we are invited to see how those people got there.

The story follows Paul, played by Romain Duris, during his depression due to the end of a serious relationship, and Jonathan, Louis Garrel, his wild younger brother whose sexual antics take him all over Paris. The two are brought together after Paul comes back to live in his father’s apartment, forcing Jonathan to sleep on the couch.

One of the first scenes documents Paul’s and his ex-lover Anna’s, Joana Preiss, history. The relationship and breakup are shown though a series of chopped up arguments and fights that are displaced chronologically, making it rather hard to follow. Stylistically it seems almost careless and sloppy, yet in a way it is very fitting and rather appropriate for a reflection of a less than perfect ending to a relationship.

Throughout most of the film the two brothers are apart; Paul languishing in the bedroom and unexpectedly rocking out to bad ‘80s music and Jonathan ranging through the city, skipping class and casually running into women who are more than willing to have their way with him. Their father also plays the rather comedic role of a father who desperately wants his children to be okay but is rather emotionally incompetent, offering chicken soup as a means of therapy.

At the end of the movie the two brothers actually come together while being apart most of the film. In its essence the film seems to encompass family bonds and the trials of life. The brothers open up to each other and even some repressed family issues surface. The film itself is touching and has the ability to leave the audience with a bitter sweet lasting impression.

One of the last scenes in the film is a rather random over-the-phone duet between Paul and Anna. It can be interpreted as an ambiguous representation of closure and a scene that may be one of the most powerful in the film.

Filmed and edited in less than 3 months, the director was able to seamlessly move the story along while incorporating a lot of surprising and unconventional film elements such as actors addressing the audience and bursts of song, and in the end creating a successful and heartwarming film that depicts human emotions and their effects on others in a very realistic way.