Jumbo
MA15+
France, 2020
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Stars: Noémie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot, Bastien Bouillon, Sam Louwyck, Tracy Dossou, Jonathan Bartholmé, Eduard Nemcsenko, Noah Daccrissio
Director: Zoé Wittock
What's it about?
Portrait Of A Lady On Fire's Noémie Merlant brings her trademark daring, warmth and authenticity to the topic of objectophilia as Jeanne. Fascinated by all the carousels and attractions, the amusement park employee begins a very special relationship with Jumbo. And soon it turns out that this attraction also communicates with her.
The Mystery of Henri Pick
M
Belgium, France, 2019
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: French, Russian
Director: Rémi Bezançon
Starring: Fabrice Luchini, Camille Cottin, Alice Isaaz, Bastien Bouillon
What's it about?
They may have been actor and agent in Call My Agent! but Fabrice Luchini and Camille Cottin are co-stars in this charming light-hearted caper. In a bizarre Breton library that collects rejected manuscripts, a young editor discovers a novel that she considers a masterpiece. It was written by a certain Henri Pick, a cook who died two years earlier and who, according to his widow, had never read a book in his life or written anything but a shopping list... Did he have a secret life? When the book becomes a best-seller, Jean-Michel, a sceptical and stubborn literary critic, teams up with Joséphine, Pick’s daughter, to unravel the mystery.
Diva
M
France, 1981
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Language: English, French, Italian
Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix
Starring: Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Frédéric Andréi, Richard Bohringer, Roland Bertin, Thuy An Luu, Chantal Deruaz, Anny Romand, Dominique Pinon, Brigitte Lahaie
What's it about?
Jean-Jacques Beineix's classic follows a young mail carrier who is captivated by the voice on a recording; he stumbles into a grand adventure with two tapes, mob killers, a corrupt policeman and an opera fan.
[link title="Why You Should Watch: Diva" url="node/35318"]
Two of Us
M
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, 2020
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, 2020
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: German, French
Director: Filippo Meneghetti
Starring: Barbara Sukowa, Martine Chevallier, Lea Drucker, Jérôme Varanfrain, Denis Jousselin, Aude-Laurence Clermont Biver
What's it about?
A tender romantic drama about pensioners Nina and Madeleine, who have hidden their deep and passionate love for many decades. From everybody's point of view, including Madeleine's family, they are simply two neighbours living on the top floor of their building. They come and go between their two apartments, sharing the tender delights of everyday life together. Until the day their relationship is turned upside down by an unexpected event leading Madeleine's daughter to slowly unveil the truth about them.
[link title="Moving drama: 'Two of Us' review" url="node/208070"]
Just a Breath Away
M
France, 2018
Genre: Science Fiction
Language: French
Director: Daniel Roby
Starring: Romain Duris, Olga Kurylenko, Fantine Harduin, Michel Robin, Anna Gaylor
What's it about?
A strange and deadly mist envelops Paris. A group of survivors finds refuge on the upper floors of apartment blocks and on the roofs of the capital. With no information, electricity, food or water, a couple attempts to survive this disaster and save their daughter… But as the hours go by, one thing becomes quite clear: there is no help on the way, and if they want to make it through this catastrophe alive, they will have to try their luck in the mist…
Amour
M
France, Germany, 2012
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Michael Haneke
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva
What's it about?
Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack and the couple's bond of love is severely tested. Written and directed by Michael Haneke, and with an all-star cast, this incredibly moving film went on to win many awards, including the 2013 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year and the Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or in 2012.
[link title="Amour review: Leave it to the master to tackle dying with dignity" url="node/5843"]
Beautiful Lies
M
France, 2000
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Language: French
Director: Pierre Salvadori
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Nathalie Baye, Sami Bouajila
What's it about?
One fine spring morning, Emilie receives a love letter. It's beautiful, inspired, but it's also anonymous. She initially throws it in the bin before realising it could be the way to rescue her mother, who has become isolated and alone since the departure of her husband. Without thinking further, she immediately sends the letter on to her. But Emilie doesn't yet know that Jean, her shy employee, is the letter's author. If you are looking for something lighter, then you can't go past this rom-com.
[link title="Beautiful Lies Review" url="node/5539"]
Cyrano, My Love
M
Belgium, France, 2019
Genre: History, Comedy
Language: French, Russian
Director: Alexis Michalik
Starring: Thomas Solivérès, Olivier Gourmet, Mathilde Seigner, Tom Leeb
What's it about?
December 1897, Paris. Edmond Rostand is not yet thirty but already has two children and a lot of anxieties. He has not written anything for two years. In desperation, he offers the great Constant Coquelin a new play, a heroic comedy, in verse, for the holidays. His only concern: it is not yet written. Ignoring the whims of actresses, the demands of his Corsican producers, the jealousy of his wife, the stories of his best friend's heart and the lack of enthusiasm of all those around him, Edmond starts writing this piece which nobody believes. For now, he has only the title: Cyrano de Bergerac.
A Prophet
MA15+
Italy, France, 2000
Genre: Thriller, Crime
Language: French
Director: Jacques Audiard
Starring: Tahar Rahim, Adel Bencherif
What's it about?
Condemned to six years in prison, 19-year-old Malik El Djebena cannot read or write. Arriving at the gaol entirely alone, he appears younger and more fragile than the other convicts. Cornered by the leader of the Corsican gang who rules the prison, he is given a number of 'missions' to carry out, toughening him up and gaining the gang leader's confidence in the process. But Malik is brave and a fast learner, daring to secretly develop his own plans. Directed by Jacques Audiard the film went on to win the Grand Prize of the Jury at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year.
[link title="A Prophet Review" url="node/4606"]
Coco avant Chanel
PG
France, 2009
Genre: Drama, Biography
Language: French
Director: Anne Fontaine
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Benoét Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain
What's it about?
In an orphanage, silently standing next to a perfectly made bed, is a frail and slender ten-year-old girl with thick black hair. Gabrielle Chanel, known as Coco, and her many lives. The story of the path taken by Coco from her obscure beginnings to the blinding lights of Paris.
Jean de Florette
PG
France, 1986
Genre: Drama
Language: Italian, French
Director: Claude Berri
Starring: Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Auteuil, Elisabeth Depardieu, Margarita Lozano, Ernestine Mazurowna, Armand Meffre, André Dupon, Pierre Nougaro, Jean Maurel, Roger Souza, Didier Pain, Pierre-Jean Rippert, Marc Betton, Clément Cal, Benedetto Bertino, Marcel Champel, Chantal Liennel, Fransined, Marcel Berbert, Christian Tamisier, Jo Doumerg
What's it about?
In a rural French village, an old man and his only remaining relative cast their covetous eyes on an adjoining vacant property. They need its spring water for growing their flowers, and are dismayed to hear that the man who has inherited it is moving in. They block up the spring and watch as their new neighbour tries to keep his crops watered from wells far afield through the hot summer. Though they see his desperate efforts are breaking his health and his wife and daughter's hearts, they think only of getting the water.
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