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In these times, when so many people feel confused, fearful, and depressed, and don't know how to reconnect with the true spirit of Love from which they seem isolated, Amelie points the way.

Her method out of perceived misery and into bliss here on Earth is actually very traditional, a tried-and-true formula recommended by spiritual teachers for centuries, from the Buddha and Jesus to the Dalai Lama and the minister of down the street––help and love others.

A vintage message, but one delivered with marvelous exuberance and creativity in this film that has delighted Europe and is now doing the same in terror-weary America. Amelie is a modern fairy tale and, as such, is clearly meant not only to entertain, but also to inspire.

At the beginning of the story, Amelie Poulain (Audrey Tautou) is like many of us—she comes from a rather dysfunctional family and is introverted and unsure how to connect with love. But then in the magical fashion of fate, Amelie discovers and returns a tin of childhood treasures to a man, and in that selfless action her life is transformed. Amelie suddenly has a strange feeling of absolute harmony and is overcome with a surge of love for all humankind.

It's crucial not to minimize what has brought about her feeling of harmony and love. Quite simply, the harmony and love come from her pure joy in doing good for another, of reaching out with a heart of unconditional love––she literally runs throughout Paris doing good deeds. She helps a blind man to whom she rapidly describes the scenes around him. The expression on the blind man's face as he looks up to the heavens after the encounter with Amelie visually captures the uplifting spiritual effect of our heroine's new reason d'etre.

Along the way, Amelie fantasizes herself as the "Godmother of Outcasts" and as Zoro liberating the needy. When situations call for it, Amelie even mischievously doles out punishment to help the unjust learn a thing or two. To a mean vegetable stand owner, she says, "You'll never be a vegetable. Even artichokes have hearts."

Amelie is a welcomed movie for these times. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who co-wrote the script with Guillaume Laurant, said, "Sometimes it's good to forget cynicism, sometimes it's good to dream." Amelie's world does have a dreamlike quality to it, owing much to Jeunet's fast-paced direction and surprisingly whimsical touches. While fate seems to have a role in Amelie's destiny, Amelie's own choices are crucial, especially in learning to take risks for herself and find her own true love.

Amelie is an immensely soul-satisfying film worthy of repeated viewings, partly to discover details missed while reading the subtitles, but mainly to absorb Amelie's infectious energy. May the multitudes savor and emulate Amelie's do-goodness and love.