MOVIE REVIEW

By Kevin Thomas, Times Staff Writer

Adapted from Amélie Nothomb's autobiographical novel, "Fear and Trembling" chronicles the folly of a young Japanese-born Belgian who left the country of her birth at age 5, returning as an adult to fulfill her dream of becoming "a true Japanese." After much perseverance, Amélie (Sylvie Testud) lands a job at a giant Tokyo corporation, where she proceeds to make one innocent blunder after another. Astutely directed by Alain Corneau, "Fear and Trembling" is a dark comedy that reveals the stultifying rigidity of Japanese office life — which the film persuasively suggests endures to this day. But it is also a tribute to those office workers who endure a harsh and oppressive system in the name of upholding their sense of honor in the face of adversity that can border on the absurd. The film reveals the terrible stifling of imagination that can occur in such a system: Amélie's initially kind boss (Kaori Tsuji), a stunningly beautiful woman, has become so frustrated by office protocol — and so ingrained in her sense of Japanese superiority — that she genuinely believes Amélie is stupid because she doesn't fit in. In truth Amélie is resourceful, resilient and perceptive, and for her radiant performance, Testud won the 2004 best actress César, the French film award.

"Fear and Trembling," Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd. (at Fairfax Avenue), (323) 665-4010. (1:42) In Japanese and French, with English subtitles. Unrated. Mature themes.

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