This poster is promoting the movie Amélie, also known as Le Fabuleux Destin d’ Amélie Poulain, a French romantic comedy from 2001 made by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The poster features the actress Audrey Tautou against a green background. The poster designer took into consideration value contrast between the subject (the actress) and the green background. The actress is given visual prominence because her white skin and jet-black hair stand out against the green background. Additionally, the actress’s light skin and dark hair and features creates a light/dark value contrast that further distinguishes the image from the background.
The poster designer incorporated the idea of visual harmony through the use of repetition. Subtle stars are seen in the green background. The stars are asymmetrical, which creates visual interest.
Because placing an image dead center in the composition is usually not the most visually interesting, the actress is positioned at an angle on the left side of the composition. By dominating most of the left side of the composition, the image of Audrey Tautou is given visual hierarchy over the background.
The title’s text is in a curvy typeface, which adds visual interest and reflects the whimsical nature of the movie. Amélie is a whimsical character who acts as a matchmaker and a guardian angel in the film. Therefore, this font suits her as opposed to bolder, more rigid font.
For the poster’s palette, the designer chose the complementary hues of red and green. The bright green background and the bold red of Tautou’s lipstick evoke a sense of the surreal. Surrealism is a fitting concept considering the film plays upon the same element. The film is a picturesque and idyllic portrayal of France and the poster’s bright hues evoke the same unrealistic element.
Light and shadows also give the poster visual interest. The light direction in the photograph is coming from the right side and creates a shadow below the actress’ sweater. This shadow gives the poster an aesthetic boost.
