| Garden Gnome from "Amélie" | |
|---|---|
| |
| It's better to help people than a garden gnome. | |
|
Origin |
The 2001 film "Amélie" |
|
Type |
Garden Gnome |
|
Effects |
Positive Probability Enhancement |
|
Downsides |
Self-Displacement |
|
Activation |
Physical Contact |
|
Collected by |
|
|
Section |
|
|
Aisle |
191727-5698 |
|
Shelf |
681567-8324-222 |
|
Date of Collection |
3 September 2005 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Amélie, also known as Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, is a 2001 French-German fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, written by Jeunet and Guillaume Laurent. This critically acclaimed film depicts the life of the titular Amélie, played by Audrey Tautou, a shy waitress who tries to improve the lives of those around her while wrestling with her own loneliness.
Amélie was a commercial success, grossing over $170 million worldwide despite a budget of $10 million. It is the highest-grossing French-language film released in the United States, and one of the most successful French films internationally, and has been adapted for the stage in a musical of the same name.
Culturally, the film popularized the traveling gnome prank, which involves stealing a garden gnome, traveling with it, and sending back pictures of the gnome in front of famous landmarks - a plot point from the film that Amélie uses to convince her reclusive father to travel.
The gnome that was used in the film was originally donated to The Café des 2 Moulins, the principal shooting location for the movie, after filming wrapped. Unfortunately (and ironically), the gnome was later stolen and never recovered.
Effects[]
Imbued with its film's popularity and message about making a difference in the world, this gnome manifests a moment of positive serendipity for anyone who touches it. However, the gnome will teleport itself away afterwards.
Collection[]
Originally spotted in 2003, the gnome was narrowly bagged in 2005 when the Warehouse became aware of efforts by a wayward member of the Garden Gnome Liberation Front to capture and use the gnome for his own benefit. The GGLF, a French organization with members worldwide, has taken credit for hundreds of gnome thefts and gnome-related stunts since the 1990s.
In 2008, the same member of the GGLF, still searching for the artifact, was arrested and fined after authorities discovered his home contained nearly two-hundred garden gnomes he had collected in a long-winded example of the process of elimination.