 FRANCE
Directed by Claude Berri -
Germinal Gerard Depardieu stars in adaptation
of the Emile Zola classic.
The Housekeeper/ Une
Femme de Menage.
Bittersweet romantic comedy about a lonely bachelor and his entirely
undomesticated housekeeper.
Hunting and Gathering 2007. Romantic comedy starring Audrey
Tatou.
Jean de Florette Winner of 3 British Oscars. With Yves
Montand and Gerard Depardieu.
Lucie Aubrac Based on the true story of two WWII
Resistance heroes. (VHS)
Manon des Sources Sequel to “Jean de Florette”. Both
based on the books by Marcel Pagnol.
One Stays, One Leaves 2005. Charlotte Gainsbourg and Daniel
Auteil star in an exploration of relationship ennui.
Directed by
Luc Besson -
Angel-A 2005 Black & white comic fantasy that references “It’s a
Wonderful Life”
Atlantis Besson continues his love affair with
the sea, 1991.
The Big Blue extended 162mins. Widescreen version
1988.
Joan of Arc 1999. Star studded sword and sorcery
epic starring Milla Jovovich as Joan. Mainly in English.
La Femme Nikita Punk junkie viciously kills a
Parisian cop but is given a second chance.
Subway Misfits and thieves living in the
Paris underground. Stylish blend of MTV and “Diva”.
Directed by Catherine Breillat -
36 Fillette Examines the sexual coming of age of
an adolescent girl. Rated R. (VHS)
A Ma Soeur! Uncompromising view of female
sexuality – this time it’s dealing with adolescence. Rated R.
Anatomy of Hell/
Anatomie de l’enfer
Controversial (initially banned) Breillat delivers her most confrontational
and explicit film yet. Rated R.
An Old Mistress/ Une
Vieille Maîtresse
2007. Gorgeous looking period piece.
Romance A psychological study of the nature
of sex and romance. Rated R.
Directed by
Robert Bresson -
L’Argent 1983, adapted from a Tolstoy story,
winner of Grand Prix at Cannes.
A Man Escaped 1956, thought to be the key film of
his influential career, it is based on the true story of a Resistance fighter
who was sentenced to death by the Nazis. (VHS)
Pickpocket 1959, a dark meditation on theft and
desire.
Directed by Luis Buñuel -
Belle de Jour 1967, stars Catherine Deneuve
Diary of a Chambermaid 1964, the personal dilemma of a maid
caught in the grip of Fascism in 1939 France. (VHS)
The Discreet Charm of
the Bourgeoisie 1972,
Oscar winning surreal comedy with Fernando Rey & Delphine Seyrig.
The Exterminating Angel 1962. Guests at an elegant dinner
party cannot bear to leave, but die instead. Spanish language.
L'Age D'or Co-written by Salvador Dali, 1930.
Los Olvidados / The
Young and the Damned
1950. A group of juvenile delinquents live a violent and
crime-filled life in the festering slums of Mexico City. Spanish language.
The Milky Way 1968, a surreal pilgrim’s progress. (VHS)
The Phantom of Liberty 1974, dreamlike comedy stars Monica
Vitti, Michel Piccoli.
That Obscure Object of
Desire 1977, Buñuel’s
last film stars Fernando Rey hopelessly in love with a young virgin. In
typical Buñuel fashion two actresses play the virgin.
Tristana 1970, black comedy stars Catherine
Deneuve.
Un Chien Andalou Surrealist classic made with Salvador
Dali in 1929. This disc also includes Bunuel’s only documentary, Las Hurdes
(1930), a searing indictment of the Catholic Church in Spain.
Viridiana 1961, powerful psychological study of
a novice nun who loses her innocence. Spanish language.
Directed by Marcel Carné -
Les Enfants du Paradis
(The Children of Paradise) 1945, one of the most celebrated films of cinema history, everyone
should see it at least once.
Le Jour Se Lève
(Daybreak) 1939. One
of the great “moody” classics of pre-war French cinema, has Jean Gabin
playing a doomed murderer awaiting the inevitable arrival of the police. (VHS)
Quai des Brumes (Port of
Shadows) 1938,
classic romantic crime thriller stars Jean Gabin. (VHS)
Les Visiteurs du Soir 1942. A whimsical medieval fairy tale
that is visually splendid. (VHS)
Directed by
Claude Chabrol -
Une Affaire de Femmes Stars Isabelle Huppert, based on the
true story of Marie Louise Giraud wartime mother and abortionist. (VHS)
Les Biches Studies the permutational relationships
of a man and two women. (VHS)
L’Enfer/ Torment Psychological thriller about
pathological jealousy. (VHS)
A Judgement in Stone Based on the novel by Ruth Rendell. (VHS)
Madame Bovary Marvellous adaptation of the Flaubert
novel. Isabelle Huppert stars.
Masques Philippe Noiret stars in unusual
murder mystery. (VHS)
Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
Les Diaboliques 1954. The great masterpiece of the
50s macabre, stars Simone Signoret.
The Wages of Fear 1953, Yves Montand stars in one of
the most suspenseful films ever made.
Directed by
Jean Cocteau -
The Blood of a Poet 1930, intriguing and inventive first
film. (VHS)
La Belle et la Bête 1946, classic retelling of “Beauty
and the Beast”.
Orphée 1950, updating of the Orpheus
legend.
Directed by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne -
The Child. A young couple living on the edge,
surviving on welfare and theft, find their lives changed by the birth of
their child. Winner of Palme d'Or, 2006.
Lorna’s Silence 2008. From one of the few teams to have been twice awarded the
film world's highest accolade, Cannes' Palme d'Or, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's Lorna's Silence is
simultaneously a gripping thriller and a moral conundrum of the finest order.
The Promise 1996. Impressive realist drama of a
teenage boy's conflict with his father after a tragedy forces him to confront
the moral implications of the pair's exploitative business of smuggling
illegal immigrants.
Rosetta Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes in
’99 this tough realist drama is almost Bressonian in its rigour. (VHS)
The Son/ Le Fils 2002. A moving film about a man
coming to terms with the death of his son.
Directed by
Jacques Demy -
Donkey Skin/ Peau d’âne,
1970. Musical fantasy
starring Catherine Deneuve.
Lola ,1960. Enigmatic Anouk Aimée stars in
one of the influential films of the French “New Wave”. (VHS)
The Umbrellas of
Cherbourg, 1964. The
extraordinary French musical with Catherine Deneuve.
The Young Girls of
Rochefort, 1967. Another delightful musical vehicle
for the young Catherine Deneuve, this time co-produced Demy’s wife Agnes Varda.
Directed by
Jean-Luc Godard -
Alphaville 1965, one of his most enjoyable early
films.
Band of Outsiders (Bande
à Parte) 1964,
continues his love affair with Anna Karina and with Hollywood.
Breathless (À Bout de
Souffle) 1959,
groundbreaking “new wave” film stars Jean Seberg & Jean-Paul Belmondo. . Contempt 1963, humorous look at
international movie making, stars Fritz Lang, Brigitte Bardot & Michel
Piccoli. In English.
Hail Mary (Je Vous Salue
Marie) 1985, caused a
riot when first screened. Also contains “The Book of Mary” by Anne-Marie
Mieville, a study of the virginity cult. Rated R.
Masculin/ Feminin, 1966. Told through 15 vignettes, an
examination of Paris youth culture in the 60s.
Oh Woe is Me/ Helas Pour
Moi 1993. Obscure,
yet it’s visually and aurally ravishing. Although regarded as a master of the
modern cinema very few of his films have had commercial cinema releases in
Australia, but this one, starring Gerard Depardieu, did.
Passion 1982, stars Isabelle Hupert, Hanna
Schygulla.
Two or Three Things I
Know About Her (2 ou 3 Choses que Je sais d’elle) 1966, dazzling sociological fable of Paris and
prostitution.
A Woman is a Woman/ Une
Femme est Une Femme
1961, stars Jean-Paul Belmondo & Anna Karina (then Godard’s wife).
Weekend 1967, a mind-expanding diatribe.
Rated R.
Directed by Michael Haneke -
Code
Unknown. 2000. Juliet Binoche stars in a multi-perspective
portrait of a society built upon lies and inequality. In French.
Funny
Games An exploration of the emotional and physical effects of random
violence. 1997. In German.
Funny
Games His 2007 English language remake of the same film, this time with
Naomi Watts & Tim Roth.
Hidden, 2005.
Intriguing ,Hitchcock-esque drama, about a married couple being terrorised by
a series of videotapes taken of them by unknown stalker. In French.
The
Piano Teacher Isabelle Hupert stars in an adaptation of the
psychological novel by Elfriede Jelinek. In French
Time
of the Wolf Intense thriller starring Isabelle Hupert &
Beatrice Dalle. 2003. In French.
Directed by
Patrice Leconte -
The Girl on the Bridge/
La Fille sur le Pont 1998.
Stars Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis.
The Hairdresser’s
Husband An amusing
study in the erotic possibilities of hairdressing. (VHS)
Monsieur Hire Brilliant ‘noir’ character study. (VHS)
My Best Friend comedy in which Daniel Autueil has 10 days to find himself a friend to win a
bet. 2007.
Ridicule An idiosyncratic but never
self-indulgent view of pre-Revolutionary France. (VHS)
Yvonne’s Perfume Gloriously sensual tale about a
summer on Lake Geneva in the ‘50s.
Directed by Louis Malle -
Au Revoir Les Enfants Moving autobiographical film set in a
convent school in 1944.
Damage Stars Jeremy Irons & Miranda
Richardson in cautionary tale about amour fou. Rated R.
Lacombe Lucien 1974. An opportunistic Frenchman
joins the Gestapo during WWII and then falls in love with a Jew.
Le Feu Follet/ The Fire
Within 1963. A man’s
struggles with alcoholism.
Le Souffle au Coeur/
Murmer of the Heart
1971. A small town middle class teenage boy’s coming of age story.
Les Amants/ the Lovers 1958. One of Jeanne Moreau’s most
important early films has her playing a bored wealthy married woman indulging
in several love affairs.
Pretty Baby 1978. Brooke Shields stars as a 12
year old New Orleans prostitute who is married to an older photographer.
Vanya on 42nd Street Adapted by David Mamet. His final
film is a riveting, highly cinematic piece of “filmed theatre” - Uncle Vanya in rehearsal. (VHS)
Directed by
Jean Renoir -
La Bête Humaine 1938, stunning
adaptation of Zola’s novel about
destiny, violence, passion and trains. (VHS)
La Grande Illusion 1937, monumental film on the folly of
war.
La Marseillaise 1938, retells events of the French
Revolution, financed entirely by public subscription. (VHS)
The Rules of the Game
(La Règle du Jeu)
1939, banned upon initial release as “too demoralising”, this brilliant
social comedy was not widely seen until 1956.
Directed by Alain Resnais -
Coeurs An
Alan Ayckbourn play about 6 characters in search of love. 2006.
Hiroshima Mon Amour 1959. A Landmark film of the “new
wave”, scripted by Marguerite Duras.
La Guerre est Finie/ The
War is Over, 1966.
Spans 3 days in the life of an aging Spanish revolutionary. (VHS)
Nuit et Brouillard
(Night and Fog)
Commissioned to mark the 10th anniversary of the liberation of WWII
concentration camps - a documentary classic.
Providence His first English language film is a
complex drama starring John Gielgud, Dirk Bogarde and Ellen Burstyn. (VHS)
Directed by Jacques Rivette –
Céline et Julie Vont en
Bateau (Celine and Julie go Boating) 1974. Brilliantly allusive meditation on the
nature of fantasy. (VHS)
La Belle Noiseuse This is the full 229 min. version of
his adaptation of Balzac’s story about a painter, “The Unknown Masterpiece”.
The Story of Marie and
Julian 2003. The tale
of a moody mysterious love affair starring Emmanuelle Béart.
Directed by Eric Rohmer -
An Autumn Tale/ Conte d’Automne
1998 A leisurely but immensely charming comedy. (VHS)
The Baker of Monceau/
Suzanne’s Career The
first of the “moral tales” (VHS)
Le Beau Marriage ( A
Good Marriage) 2nd of
the “Comedie et Proverbes” series. (VHS)
Boyfriends and
Girlfriends 1987,
One of the “Comedies and proverbs” series about
love and friendship. (VHS)
Conte de Printemps (A
Tale of Springtime)
1989, official selection of New York and Berlin Film Festivals. (VHS)
Claire’s Knee 1971, a middle-aged man’s obsession
with youth. (VHS)
La Collectioneuse 1967, 3rd in his “moral tales”
series. (VHS)
Love in the Afternoon His final moral tale takes the choice
beyond love and flirtation into the confines of marriage. (VHS)
Ma Nuit Chez Maude 1969, still one of his best. (VHS)
Die Marquise von O.... 1976, award winning adaptation of
German novel. In German/ English subtitles. (VHS)
Pauline à la Plage 1982, 3rd in “comedies and proverbs”
series. (VHS)
Perceval 1978, retells the tale of the search
for the grail. (VHS)
The Sign of Leo His rarely seen first feature. (VHS)
A Summer’s Tale The third film in his four seasons
set is totally beguiling. (VHS)
Directed by Jacques Tati -
Jour de Fête 1949, award-winning feature debut is
an hilarious expose of the modern obsession with speed and efficiency, set
amidst a rural village.
Mr. Hulot’s Holiday 1952, delightful comedy classic. This
English
language version was created by the director.
Mon Oncle 1958, a poetic satire of man against
machine.
Parade 1974. Two children go behind the
scenes at a circus. His final film.
Playtime 1967. Hulot on the loose in a
surreal, scarcely recognisable Paris. Original international dialogue.
Tati Shorts 3 hilarious short films by Jacques
Tati. (VHS)
Directed by
Bertrand Tavernier -
Round Midnight 1986, a loving homage to jazz
musicians and their world. In English.
In the Electric Mist Tommy Lee Jones stars in this English
language thriller set in the US Deep South. 2009.
Safe Conduct /
Laissez-Passer, 2002.
Tavernier surveys the Occupation years in this expansive fresco of the
French film industry’s fourtunes during WWII.
Directed by
François Truffaut -
Anne and Muriel/ Two
English Girls (Les Deuxs Anglaises et le Continent) 1971, tantalising romance of
discreet menage à trois. (VHS)
Fahrenehit 451. Julie Christie stars in 1966
adaptation of the sci fi story by Ray Bradbury. In English.
Finally Sunday/ Vivement
Dimanche 1983. A
complex thriller.
Jules et Jim 1962, the most famous and critically
acclaimed of his films - still fresh after 40 years.
The Last Metro 1980. Drama set during WWII, stars
Catherine Deneuve & Gerard Depardieu.
Les Quatres Cents Coups
(The 400 Blows) 1959,
the film that launched the French “New Wave”.
Tirez sur le Pianiste
(Shoot the Pianist)
1960, affectionate homage to the Hollywood gangster film.
Directed by Francis Veber -
The Closet/ Le Placard Gerard Depardieu & Daniel Auteuil
star in a comedy about a man pretending to be gay so he wont lose his job.
The Dinner Game/ Le
Diner de Cons Black
comedy about a group of friends who compete with each other in providing an
idiot to be their dinner guest.
Les Compères Comedy in which a desperate woman
manipulates her former boyfriends into searching for her runaway son.
Les Fugitifs A wonderfully wacky comedy stars
Gerard Depardieu and Pierre Richard.
A Pain in the Ass 2008. Another fast paced farce
involving a would be suicide and a hired assassin in adjoining hotel rooms.
Tai Toi! (Ruby &
Quentin) Another
smash hit comedy starring jean Reno and Gerard Depardieu as a mismatched pair
of gangsters.
The Valet, 2005. Daniel Auteil stars in comedy
about a wealthy married man's misadventures.
A La Place du Coeur Dir. Robert Guediguian. Transposes a James
Baldwin novel about racism from New York to modern Marseilles. (VHS)
The Accompanist Dir. Claude Miller. Wartime tale of deceit
towards oneself and one’s country. (VHS)
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Dir. Léos Carax. Visually stunning
but anarchic tale of a pair of homeless lovers. (VHS)
Amélie Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet. A delightful fable
about a girl whose mission is to bring happiness to others.
And God Created Woman Dir. Roger Vadim, 1956. Brigitte Bardot’s best
known film & set in St. Tropez.
After Him/ Après lui Dir. Gael Morel, 2007. Catherine Deneuve plays a
woman who becomes obsessed with her dead son’s best friend.
Army in the Shadows Dir. Jean-Pierre Melville, 1969. Powerful drama
about the French Resistance during WWII.
Artemisia Dir. Agnes Merlet. Biopic on the life of the
revolutionary 17th century female artist Artemisia Gentileschi.
Rated R.
Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar Dir. Claude Zidi, 1999. Hugely
popular live action version starring Gerard Depardieu, Roberto Begnini &
Christian Clavier.
Asterixk and Obelix Mission Cleopatra Dir. Alain Chabat, 2002. Depardieu
and Clavier reunited, with Monica Belucci as the Egyptian femme fatale.
Asterix at the Olympic Games Dir. Frédéric Forestier, 2008.
Depardieu and crew in another live action asterix adventure.
Au Petit Marguery Dir. Laurent Benegui. The restaurant of the
title has been a haven of friendship in Paris, but tonight is its closing
night – its last supper. (VHS)
The Ax Dir. Costa-Gavras, 2005. A chemist loses his job
to outsourcing and decides to remedy the situation by eliminating his
opposition.
The Barbarian Invasions Dir. Denys Arcand. Winner - Best
Foreign Film Academy Awards 2003.
The Beat My Heart Skipped Dir. Jacques Audiard. A young man
wants to avoid following in his disreputable father's footsteps by attempting
to become a concert pianist like his mother.
Beau Travail Dir. Claire Denis. Inspired by Billy Budd, this
concerns a young sargeant in the Foreign Legion. An elliptical tale of
repressed homo-erotic desire leading to deadly jealousy. (VHS)
Betty Blue – the Director’s Cut Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix An extra
hour of Beatrice Dalle’s pouting! Rated R.
Le Bonheur est dans le pré Dir. Etienne Chatiliez. Fairly low
brow comedy about a man escaping the boredom of his life. (VHS)
Brotherhood of the Woolf Dir. Christophe Gans. Bizarre mixture
of 18th century period drama, the occult, sexual fantasy and
horror.
Change of Plans Dir. Daniele Thompson, 2009. A group of forty-something friends gather for dinner and
the atmosphere couldn't be friendlier - an enjoyable evening full of cordiality and hypocrisy.
Chaos Dir. Coline Serreau. A fast-paced feminist
thriller and witty black comedy.
Children of the Marshlands (Les Enfants du
Marais) Dir. Jean
Becker, stars Jacques Villeret and Jacques Gamblin in a lyrical story set in
the Loire valley in the 1930s. (VHS)
C’est La Vie Dir. Diane Kurys. Bittersweet recollection of a
summer in adolescence. (VHS)
The Chorus/ Les Choristes Dir. Jean Dreville. Inspirational
story of a music teacher in an oppressive school changing the lives of its
students.
A Christmas Tale/ Un Conte de Noel Dir. Arnaud Desplechin, 2008.
Catherine Deneuve is resplendent as the family matriarch with a Christmas
bombshell.
The City of Lost Children Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc
Caro. Another bizarre tale from the makers of “Delicatessen”.
The Class/ Entre les Murs Dir. Laurent Cantet, 2008. Teacher
and novelist Francois Bégaudeau plays a version of himself as he negotiates a
year in a tough Parisian school.
Coco Avant Chanel Dir. Anne Fontaine, 2009. The story of Coco Chanel's rise from obscure beginnings to
the heights of the fashion world, starring Audrey Tatou.
The Code/ La Mentale Dir. Manuel Boursinhac. Set in the gritty
underworld of Paris this is a stylish, tension-filled gangster movie.
Le Colonel Chabert Dir. Yves Angelo. Great adaptation of a tall
tale by Balzac starring Gerard Depardieu. (VHS)
A Common Thread/ Brodeuses Dir. Eleanor Faucher.
Conversations With My Gardener Dir. Jean Becker. A successful
artist, weary of Parisian life, returns to his childhood home and rediscovers
the beauty of rural life through his gardener.
C.R.A.Z.Y. Dir. Jean-Marc Valee. French Canadian comedy
about a dysfunctional family, with a great soundtrack.
The Crimson Rivers Dir. Mathieu Kassovitz. Compelling and complex
crime thriller.
Cyrano de Bergerac Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau. Multiple award winner
stars Gerard Depardieu.
Delicatessen Dir. Jeunet & Caro. Quirky comedy about
cannibalism.
The Dinner Guest Dir. Laurent Bouhnik, 2007. A light hearted fast
paced comedy of manners starring Daniel Auteuil.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Dir. Julian Schnabel 2007. The true
story of a journalist who suffers a stroke and is completely paralysed except
for his left eye.
The Dreamlife of Angels/ La Vie Rêvée des Anges Dir. Erick Zonca. Gripping,
unsentimental, and yet profoundly moving tale of two very “ordinary” young
women. (VHS)
Eden is West Dir. Costa-Gavras, 2009. A modern day Odyssey.
The Eighth Day Dir. Jaco Van Dormael. Stars Daniel Auteuil in a
kind of French “Rain Man”. (VHS)
8 Women/ 8 Femmes Dir. Francois Ozon. Delightful star studded
musical murder mystery.
L’Elégant Criminel Dir, François Girod. Daniel Auteuil stars as the
roguish seducer Lacenaire (1800-1836). (VHS)
Etre et Avoir/ To Be and to Have Dir. Nicolas Philibert. Acclaimed
documentary charts half a year in the lives of a teacher and his young
pupils.
Exils Dir. Tony Gatlif. A Paris to North Africa road
movie with Gatlif's signature use of music, 2004.
Familia Dir. Louise Archambault 2005. Inter-generational
family drama stars Sylvie Moreau.
Farinelli Dir. Gerard Corbiau. Sumptuous 18th century tale
about two brothers, their music & sex. (VHS)
A Few Days in September Dir. Santiago Amigorena. Juliette
Binoche and John Turturro star in a fast paced spy thriller.
5 x 2 Dir. Francois Ozon. Romantic, ultimately tragic
mediation on the nature of love, 2005.
Flight of the Red Balloon Dir. Hou Hsiao-Hsien, 2007. Juliette
Binoche stars in this homage to the famous children’s film of the 1950s. DVD
includes the original film “The Red Balloon” by Albert Lamorisse.
The French Kissers Dir. Riad Sattouf, 2009. The breakout comedy sensation of Cannes, graphic artist
Riad Sattouf's debut is a brilliantly hilarious and painfully true-to-life
portrait of the humiliations and tribulations of being a teen, reminiscent of
the best films of the late, great John Hughes.
French Twist/ Gazon Maudit Dir. Josiane Balasko. Puts an astute
modern spin on the ménage-a-trois farce. (VHS)
Gadjo Dilo/ The Crazy Stranger Dir. Tony Gatlif. Glorious
semi-documentary look at the gypsy world.
The Gleaners and I Dir. Agnes Varda. Delightful but political
documentary about social marginals who “glean” a living from various means.
La Grande Bouffe Dir. Marco Ferreri, 1973. Ultra decadent star
studded classic. Rated R.
The Grocer’s Son Dir. Eric Guirado, 2007. This French box-office hit is about the coming-of-age of
a man rediscovering life and love in the Provence countryside.
La Haine/ Hate Dir. Mathieu Kassovitz. Powerful drama covers
24 hours in the Paris Projects. Rated R.
Harry He’s Here to Help (Harry, un ami qui vous
veut du bien) Dir.
Dominik Moll. Quirky comedy-thriller cum psychological study. (VHS)
Heading South/ Vers le Sud Dir. Laurent Cantet, 2005. Three
middle-aged, middle class North American white women travel to poverty-stricken
Haiti in search of sun, sea and young men.
A Heart in Winter/ Un Coeur en Hiver Dir. Claude Sautet, 1991. Deceptively
understated film about a ménage à trois, stars Daniel Auteil.
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not Dir. Laetitia Colombani, 2002. Audrey
Tautou stars in a romantic thriller.
Hell/ L’Enfer Dir. Danis Tanovic, 2005. Intense drama about
three sisters who share a connection to a violent childhood event. Script by
Kieslowski.
The Horseman on the Roof Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau. From the
director of “Cyrano De Bergerac” comes another romantic period film set in
Provence in 1832 during an outbreak of cholera. (VHS)
How Much Do You Love Me? Dir. Betrand Blier. A man who wins a
lottery offers a prostitute his fortune to live with him.
I Do/ Prête-moi ta main Dir. Eric Lartigau, 2006. Romantic
comedy stars Alain Chabat as a confirmed bachelor who hires a woman (Charlotte
Gainsbourg) to pretend to be his wife.
Indochine Dir. Regis Wargnier. Catherine Deneuve stars in
powerful portrait of the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam.
Inside Paris Dir. Christophe Honoré. An elegant beautifully
observed drama about a family dealing with a son’s depression.
Irma Vep Dir. Olivier Assayas. Maggie Cheung stars, in
lycra.
Irreversible Dir. Gaspar Noe. A cinematic tour de force which
utilises a number of shock tactics. Rated R.
I Stand Alone Dir. Gaspar Noe. Noe’s debut feature is just as
potent and confronting as Irreversible.
Also Rated R.
I’ve Loved You So Long Dir. Philippe
Claudel, 2008. Kristin Scott Thomas gives an extraordinary performance in
this devastatingly simple drama.
The Jean Vigo Collection – contains
all four of his films - Zéro de Conduite 1933, L’Atalante 1934, A Propos
de Nice 1930 & Taris roi de l’eau
1931.
Jesus of Montreal Dir. Denys Arcand, 1989 French Canadian drama
from the award-winning director of “The Barbarian Invasions”.
Joyeux Noel Dir. Christian Carion. Depicts the extraordinary
WWI armistice of Christmas Eve, 1914.
The Lacemaker (La Dentelliere) Dir. Yves Gasser, stars Isabelle
Huppert. (VHS)
Lady Chatterley Dir. Pascal Ferran, 2006. Splendid French
adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s infamous novel.
La Vie En Rose Dir. Olivier Dahan, 2007. Marion Cotillard is
extraordinary in this recreation of the life of the legendary chanateuse
Edith Piaf.
Léolo Dir. Jean Claude Lauzon. Léo is no ordinary
child, he is convinced that his mother was impregnated by an Italian tomato! (VHS)
Les Liaisons Dangereuses Dir. Roger Vadim, 1959. 20th century
version of 18th century story, stars Jeanne Moreau. (VHS)
The Liars Dir. Elie Chouraqui. Part thriller, part
adventure & part comic love story, has been likened to a modern “All
About Eve”. (VHS)
LOL (Laughing Out Loud) Dir. Liza Azuelos, 2008. A must-see for girls of all ages. Smart, sassy and oh-so
hip, LOL stars Sophie Marceau as the put-upon mother of a rebellious teenaged
daughter.
Look at Me/ Comme une image Dir. Agnes Jaoui.
Loulou Dir. Maurice Pialat, a cynical portrait of
France in the 70s (VHS)
Ma Vie En Rose/ My Life in Pink Dir. Alain Berliner. Likeable drama
about a child’s pre-sexual intimations of gender identity. (VHS)
Maitresse Dir. Barbette Schroeder. Gerard Depardieu stars
in a kind of underground “Last Tango in Paris”. Rated R. (VHS)
A Man and Two Women (Un Homme et Deux Femmes) Dir. Valerie Stroh, based on the
stories of sexual manners by Doris Lessing. Rated R. (VHS)
Man Bites Dog (C’est Arrivé Près de Chez Vous) Dirs. Belvaux, Bonzel &
Poelvoorde. Makes “Reservoir Dogs” look like muzzled mongrels. Rated R. (VHS)
Marie-Jo and Her Two Loves/ Marie-Jo et ses deux
amours Dir. Robert
Guediguian. An exploration of the emotional strain of adultery.
Marquis Dir. Henri Xhonneux, a bestial satire. Animated,
rated R. (VHS)
Marquise Dir. Vera Belmont. Sophie Marceau stars in 17th
Century tale of a lusty dancer of both the vertical and horizontal variety. (VHS)
Me, Two Dir. Nicholas Charlet and Bruno Lavaine, 2008.
Daniel Auteuil stars in a comedy about split personality.
Mina Tannenbaum Dir. Martine Dogosawa. Poignantly comic tale of
a female friendship. (VHS)
Mon Homme Dir. Bertrand Blier. A somewhat misanthropic
tale of a prostitute and her pimp.
Molière Dir. Laurent Tirard 2007. Biopic on the life of
the 17th century dramatist.
Mon Père Ce Heros Dir. Gerard Langier. Original French version of
parenthood comedy with Depardieu. (VHS)
Monsieur Batignole Dir. Claude Parnet. Set in Paris in 1942 during
the German occupation, starring Jean-Paul Rouve.
Monsieur Ibrahim Dir. Francois Dupeyron. Omar Sharif gives one of
the best performances of his long career as an elderly widower who befriends
a teenage boy.
The Music Teacher Dir. Gerard Corbiau. A romance with a faintly
demonic edge - it stands with “Amadeus”.
My Friends, My Loves Dir. Lorraine Levy, 2008. Romantic comedy.
My Father’s Glory / La Gloire de mon Père Dir. Yves Robert, based on the
autobiographical works of Pagnol.
My Mother’s Castle / Le Château de ma Mère Dir. Yves Robert, the glorious
sequel.
My Wife is an Actress/ Ma Femme est une actrice Dir. Yvan Attal. Stars Charlotte
Gainsborough and Terence Stamp.
Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud/ Nelly and Mr Arnaud Dir. Claude Sautet. Another
understated study in adult emotions by the director of “A Heart in Winter”. (VHS)
La Nuit de Varennes Dir. Ettore Scola, stars Harvey Keitel, Marcello
Mastroianni & Hannah Schygulla. (VHS)
Olivier, Olivier Dir. Agnieska Holland. A child goes missing only
to reappear years later, or does he?
Orchestra Seats Dir. Daniéle Thompson, 2006. A young woman from
the provinces arrives in Paris and gets a job waitressing in the arts
precinct.
The Ordeal Dir. Fabrice du Welz, 2004. Black comic
nightmare descibed as “Misery” meets “Deliverance”.
The Pact of Silence/ Le Pacte du Silence Dir. Graham Guit. Gerard Depardieu is
a Jesuit priest with a dark secret who finds himself caught in a web of
intrigue when a young nun is rushed to his hospital.
The Page Turner/ Tourneuse de pages Dir. Denis Dercourt, 2006. A classy
classical music thriller.
Paris Dir. Cédric Klapisch, 2008. A homage to the
eternal magic city through the eyes of a dying dancer.
Paris Je T’Aime Dir. Various, 2006. A compilation homage to the
city of love by some of the world’s greatest directors.
Paris Vu Par.... Dirs. Jean Douchet, Jean Rouch, Jean-Daniel
Pollet, Eric Rohmer, Jean-Luc Godard & Claude Chabrol, 1964. Six shorts
by the fathers of the French “New Wave”
Une Parisienne Dir. Michel Boisrond, stars Brigitte Bardot,
1957. (VHS)
Peekaboo Dir. Yves Caumon. Comedy about an expropriated
farmer excluded from family life who contemplates things from the bottom of
his well.
Pépé le Moko Dir. Julian Duvivier, 1937. Jean Gabin stars as
the quintessential seductive loner who lives as a gang leader in the Algerian
Casbah. (VHS)
Poltergay Dir. Eric Lavaine, 2006. Comedy about a couple of
newlyweds who buy a property that was once a gay disco and it turns out to be
haunted.
A Pornographic Affair Dir. Frederic Fonteyne, stars Sergi Lopez and
Nathalie Baye.
Priceless Dir. Pierre Salvadori, 2006. Audrey Tatou stars a
scheming young adventuress who mistakenly targets a barman believing him to
be a millionaire.
Public Enemy #1 Dir. Jean-Francois Richet, 2008. The true story
of France’s most notorious criminal., Jacques Mesrine.
Queen Margot Dir. Patrice Chereau, 1994. Based on a Dumas
novel of the events surrounding the notorious 16th century St
Bartholomew’s Day massacre.
Read My Lips/ Sur Mes Levres Dir. Jacques Audiard. Clever workplace
thriller notable for its fresh approach to genre.
The Red Violin Dir. François Girard. Meditation on the enduring
nature of music through the 300 year history of one violin. Largely in
English.
The Return of Martin Guerre Dir. Daniel Vigne, stars Gerard
Depardieu. In 1542 a young man disappears from his village only to return 9
years later - or does he?
Rififi Dir. Jules Dassin 1955. Classic heist thriller -
a band of villains come together for a daring jewell robbery and then fall
out afterwards.
Roman de Gare/ Crossed Tracks Dir. Claude Lelouch, 2007. Intriguing
drama playing with the mixing up of fact(s) and fiction(s).
Rue Cases Negres Dir. Euzhan Palcy. (VHS)
Russian Dolls Dir. Cédric Klapisch. Reunites the tenants/
protagonists of “ The Spanish Apartment” 5 years on.
Le Samourai Dir. Jean-Pierre Melville, 1967. A great movie,
stars Alain Delon as an enigmatic killer. (VHS)
The Science of Sleep Dir. Michel Gondry, 2006. A shy man finds escape
in the world of his dreams.
Un Secret Dir. Claude Miller, 2007. An adolescent boy
unearths a family’s dark secret about the past.
Séraphine Dir. Martin Provost, 2008. Based on the life of French painter Séraphine
de Senlis.
Shall We Kiss? Dir. Emmanuel Mouret, 2007. Romantic comedy
about the impossibility of indulging your desires without unexpected
consequences.
Since Otar Left Dir. Juli Berturcelli. Winner of the Grand Priz
Cannes 2004.
The Singer Dir. Xavier Giannoli, 2006. Romantic drama stars
Gerard Depardieu as an aging dance band singer.
The Sorrow and the Pity Dir. Marcel Ophuls, 1969.
Extraordinary film about the Vichy Government’s collaboration with the Nazis
during WWII.
The Spanish Apartment Dir. Cédric Klapisch, stars Audrey Tatou as a
French student living in a share house in Barcelona whilst on holiday.
State of Siege Dir. Costa-Gavras, 1973. Controversial film
based upon fact about political assassination in Uraguay. (VHS)
Summer Hours Dir. Olivier Assayas, 2008. How much or how little are we obliged to honour the
wishes of our parents after they're gone? This is the question posed by
Assayas in this rueful and wise film.
The Swimming Pool Dir. Francois Ozon. Stars Charlotte Rampling and
Charles Dance. A British crime writer holidays at her publisher’s French
holiday home.
Swing Dir. Tony Gatlif. Another journey into the heart
of the gypsy world and their music.
The Taste of Others Dir.Agnes Jaoui. Sharply observed romantic
comedy, 2000.
Tatie Danielle Dir. Etienne Chatilez. Black comedy about a very
bad aunt.
Tell No One Dir. Guillaume Canet, 2006. Tense thriller based
on the novel by Harlan Coben.
36 Quai des Orfevres Dir. Oliver Marchel. Two police officers vying
for promotion attempt to capture a violent street gang.
Three is a Crowd Dir. Diane Kurys. A witty and fresh satire about
the nature of love and modern relationships.
Time Out/ L’Emploi du temps Dir. Laurent Cantet. Sobering movie
that explores the subtle distinctions between what separates who we are from
what we do.
Time Regained/ Le Temps Retrouvé Dir. Raoul Ruiz, 1999. An
extraordinary conflation of avant-garde art film and literary period drama,
this ambitious assault on Proust is a triumph.
Too Beautiful for You/
Trop Belle Pour Toi Dir. Bertrand Blier. Winner of 5 French Oscars,
stars Gerard Depardieu.
Tous les Matins du Monde Dir. Alain Corneau. This 17th
fable about music and musicians is no ordinary costume drama. (VHS)
Transylvania Dir. Tony Gatlif, 2007. The latest gypsy musical
odyssey this time into the heart of Romania.
The Triplets of Belleville Dir. Sylvain Chomet. Academy award
winning and delightfully inventive animated film.
Twice Upon a Time/ Désaccord Parfait Dir. Antoine de Caunes, 2006.
Charlotte Rampling and Jean Rochefort star in a romantic comedy about the
second time around.
Under the Sand Dir. Francois Ozon. Charlotte Rampling gives an
astounding perfomance as a once happily married woman traumatised by her
husband’s sudden death by drowning.
A Very Long Engagement Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Audrey Tatou
stars in romantic quest set during WWI.
Welcome to the Sticks Dir. Dany Boon, 2008. Comedy about a post office
employee who is banished to France’s rural redneck territory.
Wild Reeds Dir. Andre Techine, 1994. Set in rural France
during the Algerian War in the early 60s. (VHS)
Wild Target Dir. Pierre Salvadori. Comedy. (VHS)
A World Without Pity Dir. Eric Rochant. (VHS)
Les Yeux Sans Visage/ Eyes Without a Face Dir. Georges Franju, 1959. An
incredible amalgam of horror and fairytale in which scalpels thud into
quivering flesh and the tremulous heroine remains a prisoner in a waxen mask.
Wildly surreal - it’s a must!
“Z” Dir. Costa Gavras, famous political thriller with Yves Montand and
Irene Papas. (VHS)
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