Click the image to watch each film in full at SBS On Demand.
Paris, Je T'aime
MA15+
France, 2006
Genre: Romance
Language: French, English
Director: Wes Craven, Gus van Sant, Coen Brothers, Olivier Assayas
Starring: Elijah Wood, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Juliette Binoche
What's it about?
Through the neighbourhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented and awakened. A series of five-minute stories from twenty internationally-renowned filmmakers illustrate the various styles, genres, encounters and lifestyles of Paris's arrondissements. Directed by a pleiad of filmmakers including Wes Craven, the Coen brothers and Gus Van Sant, and stars Natalie Portman, Steve Buscemi and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
[link title="Paris, je t'aime Review" url="node/4972"]
The Science of Sleep
M
France, 2006
Genre: Fantasy
Language: French, English
Director: Michel Gondry
Starring: Alain Chabat, Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg
What's it about?
Stéphane (Gael García Bernal), an illustrator moves back to Paris for a new job and to live in his mother's apartment. There, he experiences strange and intense dreams, including one relating to his one-man show, Stéphane TV. His dreaming meddles with his life and creates confusion for his love interest, Stéphanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg).
[link title="The Science of Sleep Review" url="node/4277"]
Source: SBS Movies
Romantics Anonymous
M
France, Belgium, 2010
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Language: French
Director: Jean-Pierre Améris
Starring: Isabelle Carré, Benoét Poelvoorde, Lorella Cravotta
What's it about?
In the vein of Chocolat, this charming comedy follows two people who fall in love through their love of chocolate. Angelique is a gifted chocolate maker, but her uncontrollable shyness leads her to take a sales assistant role at The Chocolate Mill. Her new workplace is owned by Jean-René, who suffers a similar bashfulness – especially when it comes to intimacy. Sparks fly when the two meet, but will they overcome their shyness and admit their sweet affection for one another?
[link title="Romantics Anonymous Review" url="node/5765"]
Hunting and Gathering
M
France, 2007
Genre: Romance
Language: French
Director: Claude Berri
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Guillaume Canet, Francoise Bertin
What's it about?
Young artist Camille (Audrey Tautou) works as an office cleaner and lives in the attic of a Parisian apartment. Philibert is an aristocratic history buff living in an apartment lower down with his flatmate Franck (Guillaume Canet), a gruff young chef. When Camille falls ill, Philibert insists she stay with them so he can look after her, but Franck doesn't take to her and they soon clash.
Nathalie
MA15+
France, 2003
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Anne Fontaine
Starring: Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Depardieu
What's it about?
Bernard (Gérard Depardieu) and Catherine (Fanny Ardant) have been happily married for many years when Catherine discovers that Bernard has been cheating on her. As a form of revenge, or perhaps for more complex reasons of her own, she hires a prostitute (Emmanuelle Béart) to seduce her husband under the name Nathalie – posing as a 'regular girl' – and report back to her on what takes place.
The Beat That My Heart Skipped
M
France, 2005
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Jacques Audiard
Starring: Niels Arestrup, Romain Duris, Emmanuelle Devos
What's it about?
Tom (Romain Duris) works as a real estate debt collector for his father Robert (Niels Arestrup). The work involves violence and he wishes he could be more like his late mother, who was a concert pianist. When offered a piano audition, he starts to practise again, and is coached by a beautiful Chinese teacher Miao Lin (Linh Dan Pham), who doesn't speak a word of French. To make life even more complicated, he is having an affair with his best friend's wife.
[link title="Why You Should Watch: The Beat That My Heart Skipped" url="node/25167"]
Source: SBS
Tomboy
G
France, 2011
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Celine Sciamma
Starring: Jeanne Disson, Zoé Héran, Sophie Cattani, Mathieu Demy
What's it about?
In this acclaimed drama from Girlhood director Celine Sciamma, ten-year-old Laure moves to a new apartment with her parents and younger sister. Cropped hair and masculine clothing are already the norm for Laure, so when new neighbour Lisa accidentally mistakes her for a boy, she takes the opportunity to live out a new persona. As Mikaël, Laure has a confidence that eludes her as a girl and she is soon adopted and admired by Lisa and the local youngsters.
[link title="Tomboy Review" url="node/5795"]
Delicacy
M
France, 2011
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Language: French
Director: Stéphane Foenkinos, David Foenkinos
Starring: Francois Damiens, Audrey Tautou
What's it about?
Natalie (Audrey Tautou) isn’t certain of anything anymore. One minute she is happily married, successful in her career and convinced the future is full of promise. But then a tragic accident occurs and her whole world is turned upside. Years later, still bruised by grief, she impulsively kisses her colleague Markus (François Damiens). For Natalie, it is just a kiss. For the awkward, unassuming Markus, it is the moment in which he falls hopelessly, helplessly in love. But how will he ever convince such a beautiful, intelligent, confused young woman that he is the man who can bring her back to life?
Source: SBS Movies
Summer Hours
M
France, 2009
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Olivier Assayas
Starring: Charles Berling, Jérémie Rénier, Juliette Binoche
What's it about?
In this beautifully nuanced film from acclaimed director Olivier Assayas (Clouds of Sils Maria), two brothers and a sister (Juliette Binoche) witness the disappearance of their childhood memories when they must relinquish their family belongings to ensure their deceased mother's succession. As the treasured heirlooms of a romantic family past drift away, the siblings must confront the value of their memories.
[link title="Summer Hours Review" url="node/4545"]
The Red Balloon
G
France, 1956
Genre: Classic
Language: French
Director: Albert Lamorisse
Starring: Pascal Lamorisse, Georges Sellier, Sabine Lamorisse
What's it about?
In this deceptively simple, nearly wordless tale, a young boy discovers a stray balloon, which seems to have a mind of its own, on the streets of Paris. The two become inseparable, yet the world’s harsh realities finally interfere. With its glorious palette and allegorical purity, this 1957 Oscar-winning classic short has enchanted generations of movie lovers.
The beloved 1956 Oscar-winning French short film 'The Red Balloon' leaves SBS On Demand on April 30th. Source: Supplied
