THE joys and sorrows of everyday life are captured in Paris, a melancholy celebration of the city of lights and the people who reside there.

Dancer Pierre (Romain Duris) has been diagnosed with a potentially fatal heart condition and now spends his days confined to his flat, spying on his neighbours like James Stewart in Rear Window.

His social worker sister Elise (Juliette Binoche) moves in with her three children and the film expands to cover her attraction to stallholder Jean (Albert Dupontel), Pierre’s affection for bakery assistant Khadija (Sabrina Ouazani) and their neighbour Laetitia (Melanie Laurent) and her involvement with besotted history professor Roland (Fabrice Luchini).

The result is a sophisticated if slightly aimless ensemble piece in which moments of tenderness, charm and touching insight rub up against pretentious musings on the meaning of life and lurches into cheesy melodrama.

If nothing else, Paris will make you rush to board the Eurostar for France.

(Cert 15; 115 mins)