Have you seen a decent French film in recent years?

Chocolat is a French film?

is it not?

I think it has/had more to do with the change in preferences of the viewing audiences I agree from the mid-60s on to late 70s it seemed that French films actors, directors appealed to American audiences. Here in DC there was a great theater near GW that was purposely committed to these types of films and another on Connecticut Ave. Star Wars bumped, smart intelligent films off the charts...it was a slippery slope from which we have note recovered. I remember going to a Belmondo marathon and seeing a U.S. Senator who was in fact a Hawk and in my mind and enemy...I was in school and working on the Hill we exchanged opinions on Jean-Paul Belmondo...so funny didn’t want my antiwar friends to see me chatting with him.

"Chocolat" starred a French woman and took place in France, R2, but it was produced by an American studio, directed by a Swede, and starred a mix of American and British actors alongside Juliette Binoche. Plus, it's in English.

So I'd say it's not a French film.

Ok - ditch my Chocolat reference.

L'Amour, a couple years ago, about an elderly couple, was devastating. Emanuelle Riva, 86,or so, was nominated for an Oscar, but cunt Lawrence won.

Wonderful film of 15 years back--Va Savoir, by Rohmer

The Gleaners and I was a rich documentary by always fascinating Agnes Varda.

I do find a lot the French work now to be cloying

Can't stand Bignose Depardieu..

I saw one that was nominated this year...from last year...it was great but can't think of the name.

Jean de Florette and its sequel, Manon of the Spring.

the big nose guy I was referring to was Daniel Auteuil.

He was in every other French film - for years!

[quote]I saw one that was nominated this year...from last year...it was great but can't think of the name.

Elle?

Elle, was a really good film, good actors.

The Clouds of Sils Maria, with Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart (who turned in a surprisingly good performance). 2015, I think.

I remember boatloads of really good French movies up to the 80s. No more. But that's not France's fault, because no country is making,any good films anymore.

[quote]The Clouds of Sils Maria, with Juliette Binoche

OMG! another one who's in all of them.

how many films has she made, for goodness sake?

& what happened to Miou Miou?

I've wondered for years if there's an actor's union in France that only allows five different actors to be accepting roles at any given time. Not only is the pool of actors small but they all fall into one of a very few categories; gnarl faced big nose guy, chic and cold non- emotive older woman, pretty and imaginative ingenue, brave little girl, sex man (oftentimes played by big nose)

[quote]Jean de Florette and its sequel, Manon of the Spring.

They were 30 years ago!! -

and boring as hell.

yucky @ r15

who wants to see a film about teenage girls?

R17, there's a nice boner attached to a hot guy as well.

Grande École. Not a great film really but I love the gay storyline, and the guys.

"The Measure of a Man"- good workplace drama with Vincent Lindon

"Raw"- horror film about cannibalism and female sexuality

The newest film by Agnes Varda which was in competition last month at Cannes sounds excellent

Le Cinquante Load Week-End De Dawson

I think Assayas (Clouds of Sils Maria, Carlos, etc) consistently makes interesting movies. I liked Farewell My Queen quite a bit. Sadly, most of the New Wave era directors are gone (Varda and Godard are still hanging in there) but a lot of them were still working up to the end - Rohmer, Rivette, Resnais.

La Piscine with Charlotte Rampling (2004, I think) is a fantastic film.

Some French films since 2010 that I've enjoyed:

The Princess of Montpesier (2010; Bertrand Tavernier) -- the leading lady in this costume epic is pretty bland, but the men -- Gaspard Ulliel, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Raphaël Personnaz -- are hot.

Of Gods and Men (2010; Xavier Beauvois) -- deliberately paced drama, based on the true story of Catholic monks who died under mysterious circumstance during the Algerian civil war of the 1990s.

Amour (2012; Michael Haneke) -- already cited above, but worth another mention; as fantastic as Emmanuelle Riva was, Jean-Louis Trintignant was even better -- it's absolutely criminal that he's never won a César or been nominated by the Academy.

Chinese Puzzle (2013; Cédric Klapisch) -- latest installment in the tale of Xavier Rousseau (Romain Duris) following L'Auberge Espagnole (2002) and Russian Dolls (2005), with a reliably terrific performance from Kelly Reilly.

Stranger by the Lake (2013; Alain Guiraudie) -- sexually explicit thriller set at a gay beach where cruising turns to murder; gay audience preferring only "positive portrayals" will probably hate it.

Clouds of Sils Maria (2014; Olivier Assayas) -- yeah, so Juliette Binoche is in every other French movie, but maybe it's because she's a terrific actress and she's absolutely mesmerizing here.

Elle (2016; Paul Verhoeven) -- Isabelle Huppert should've won the Oscar, hands down; film itself was received very divisively by my group of friends (I loved it, with reservations, they didn't).

Frantz (2016; François Ozon) -- undoubtedly Ozon's best film in probably a decade, a magnificent exploration of grief, nationalism, love and truth; absolutely gorgeous black & white photography.

[quote]La Piscine with Charlotte Rampling (2004, I think) is a fantastic film.

Yes, I saw that. It was good. Not 'fantastic'.

plus - thanks for your great list, R23.

I'll check them out.

I can also highly recommend THIS film >>

A French actor I've liked is Gregoire Colin. He was in "Beau Travail" by, I think, Claire Denis. Lots of great shots of half-naked soldiers exercising. I think it was inspired by "Billy Budd."

Another of her films was the haunting "The Intruder" with veteran Michel Subor.

A few years ago there was the touching "Time Out" about a man who loses his job and doesn't tell his family. I think Laurent Cantet is the director.

"With a Friend Like Harry" was a sly black comedy. It might have been Swiss.

I'd recommend anything directed by André Téchiné.

Two Days, One Night with Marion Cotillard!! Heartbreaking story of desperation and hope

I used to get so bored of THIS guy.

He had no screen charisma.

him NOW >>

[quote]Two Days, One Night with Marion Cotillard!! Heartbreaking story of desperation and hope

Technically, the Dardenne Bros are Belgian, but they do make consistently good films.

Yes, Jean-Pierre Leaud, [30]. Charm-free. Never liked the sad sack. Truffaut used him a lot.

Anyone remember Bernadette Lafont? Nice open quality.

JPL does seem to have kept his hair at least.

Bernadette LaFont was in a charming film called Paulette (2012)

Jean-Pierre Leaud can be seen in La mort de Louis XIV (2016)

Other French films of note:

In Bed with Victoria (2016)

Our Children (2012) Actually Belgian starring Dandenne favourite Emily Duquenne

Another vote for Haneke's brilliant Amour

Venus in Furs (2013)

Bicycling with Moliere (2013)

Vous n'avez encore rien vu (2012)

Our Children was definitely one of the most devastating films I've seen in the last few years.

Wow. I never heard of that and was just looking it up. If it's the one with Emilie Duquesne, it sounds devastating indeed.

Va te faire foutre, bifstek

Agree w/ you OP French Cinema is currently lame. Amelie, A very Long Engagement, The Artist, Venus Beauty Institute, are about all I can think of off the top of my head over the last 20 years.

Rust and Bone with Marion Cotillard and the delicious Matthias Schoenaerts

I liked Holy Motors

I liked Them until the endin. Good horror film but the ending is undeserved. Just saw it on Amazon think it came out 2006 I liked the lead actress looked her up she is 44 now.

I'm a big Audrey Tautou fan I believe she just released a goo movie that hasn't been released here yet.

In trying to get their output noticed by Hollywood, the quality of French movies has collectively plummeted. Spain, still churns out quality stuff.

[quote]Agree w/ you OP French Cinema is currently lame. Amelie, A very Long Engagement, The Artist, Venus Beauty Institute, are about all I can think of off the top of my head over the last 20 years.

Amelie was awful. Another example of the French cutesyness of more recent years.

[quote]Jean-Pierre Leaud can be seen in La mort de Louis XIV (2016)

I'll pass on that one

Rust and Bone R40 was très ennuyeux even with the lovely nakedness of Matthias. The last film I saw in French was the biography of Yves, which was quite enjoyable.

[quote]In trying to get their output noticed by Hollywood, the quality of French movies has collectively plummeted.

yes, they started to do gross violent stuff, like the British and boring period stuff.

I liked in the 80s (& before) how they just made simple films, often set in contemporary Paris - without gimmicks.

Is that Colette, [45]?

gurlfriend @ R48- type R and then the number. No gaps.

I'm looking at the trailers to some of these recommended films.

I'll post them here for others to see.

DON'T fancy this at all.

aargh - gritty AND cutesy!

fucking hell!

Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis

WTF? R35

another pass

Caught this on Amazon Prime, though now it's a $1.99 rental. I enjoyed it.

I feel sick

Manon des Sources and its porn counterpart, Manon des Ours

Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis.

Binoche does a weird American accent now?

It's even more annoying than the 'cool' English accent she used to do.

She's a pain!

My two favorites R8

I like the look of that one, R59. Looks funny.

Wow! FINALLY.

Thanks for links.

I remembered the bio "Violette" with Emanuelle Devos. Not bad, but I really liked her "Read My Lips," where she plays a deaf woman.

Jean Hugues-Anglade I believe still does nudity and still look good; he was hot as hell in "Betty Blue". Daniel Auteil certainly used to be quite cute and he also did full-frontal nudity, as did Depardieu. Depardieu actually used to be quite cute when he was young and skinnier.

Dheepan (2015), excellent film about "refugees" to France.

When I want to go to the movies, I pick a French film. I have a hankering for them now and then. Takes me off the loud, stupid stuff around. I like Fremch cinema: the grownup subject matter, the smart scripts that dont dumb down or preach, the elegant execution.

"When he was young and skinnier."

Yes, about 40 years ago.

[quote] Depardieu actually used to be quite cute when he was young and skinnier.

gurl, he was VERY cute.

[quote]Jean Hugues-Anglade I believe still does nudity and still look good; he was hot as hell in "Betty Blue".

That film has NOT stood the test of time.

[quote]Thanks for links.

you're welcome. though they are mostly AWFUL.

[quote]I remembered the bio "Violette" with Emanuelle Devos. Not bad, but I really liked her "Read My Lips," where she plays a deaf woman.

I agree. I was trying to remember that title. VERY good. Went on too long, though.

Les Intouchables - one of the best films in recent years

Re the idea that there are fewer French stars. Is this because a French film needs an internationally recognized star to get distribution overseas?

A very small percentage of French films are actually distributed overseas. Presumably, the English-speaking market gets only the very best.

PRETENSION ALERT:

NEW YORK AND FRENCH FILM.

UGH.

[quote]Re the idea that there are fewer French stars. Is this because a French film needs an internationally recognized star to get distribution overseas?

NO. It's the same internally.

They're the same about their pop stars.

They used to go on and on about Johnny Hallyday - ALL THE TIME - for YEARS.

Maybe they still do.

In fact they used to have 'celebrity' gossip magazine way before the USA & UK and it was ALWAYS about Johnny and Alain and Catherine.

here's Johnny

& Johnny

seems they're still going on about Johnny.

[quote]In fact they used to have 'celebrity' gossip magazine way before the USA & UK and it was ALWAYS about Johnny and Alain and Catherine.

Sorry, I think I meant celebrity 'lifestyle' magazines - like Paris Match.

Voici, Closer and Gala for gossip.

I've seen dozens of excellent French (and Belgian) films in recent years. Off the top of my head: Love Songs, Swimming Pool, Frantz, Summer Hours, Things to Come, Tell No One, L'Enfant, The Kid With the Bike, Under the Sand, Rust and Bone, Cezanne et Moi, Two Days One Night, Heading South, the documentary Dior, the two biopics about Yves St. Laurent, and, best of all, Blue is the Warmest Color.

is Marion Cotillard one of their new ubiquitous film stars?

Binoche, again >>

there seem to be TWO French 'Tell No One's' in recent years.

"Farewell My Queen" about the last days of Marie Antoinette as seen through the eyes of her 'reader' (the woman who served to read books to the Queen and/or chose her reading material) was good. As with most French films the pacing is slow, but overall I thought it was a good film.

R84. The Tell No One I saw is the one in the trailer you posted. An excellent thriller.

Ok, here are some good ones:

(As mentioned: Tell No One, Read My Lips (Ne le dis à personne ); Read My Lips (Sur mes lèvres); Two Days, One Night

And

King and Queens ( Rois et reine)

A Christmas Tale (Un conte de Noël)

The Beat That My Heart Skipped (De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté )

The TV show Les Revenants is good, too (I only saw the first season, though)

Several people upthread mentioned Jean-Pierre Leaud being a boring actor, but that wasn't true re his appearances in the movies he did for Godard.

FWIW he turned to shit right after Truffaut died.

Jean-Pierre Leaud kind of looks like Griffin Dunne

If you like comedies, I Do was pretty good.

The french connection was awesome.

Ridicule

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Ponette

I don't think the French are good at comedy.

I loved Ponette.

That little dollface!

how they got such a performance out of a little kiddie, I do not know.

[quote][R84]. The Tell No One I saw is the one in the trailer you posted. An excellent thriller.

Oh, right - there's a gay one as well, it seems.

R94 looks like baby Jennifer Garner

yes, she does.

where are most of you seeing these French films?

au cinéma?

or

on demand

(I have no idea for any of the French words for anything to do with the internet - my French is pre-internet)

In the cinema and on DVD

[quote]The TV show Les Revenants is good, too (I only saw the first season, though)

started well - lost its way.

hard to make out from the trailer

Paris is burning.

some of these French trailers tell you NOTHING. all EFFECT.

PLUS this actor's another one who appears or did appear in every other French film

Un Prophète was very good. I think there will be an American remake soon. Not necessary IMO.

He is in at least three good ones, though R103

[quote]Un Prophète was very good. I think there will be an American remake soon. Not necessary IMO.

[quote]He is in at least three good ones, though [R103]

yes, looks Good, R105

what are the other two?

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Kings & Queen, and A Christmas Tale, R107

My King

J'adore le DL. Merci beaucoup, everybody.

[quote]I remembered the bio "Violette" with Emanuelle Devos. Not bad, but I really liked her "Read My Lips," where she plays a deaf woman.

>>

There are some great old films, however. Diabolique will always be the greatest mystery. Les Enfants du Paradis is one of the greatest classics. I love Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, but i concede that not everyone does.

The 1930s to early 60s were good years for French movies

[quote]There are some great old films, however. Diabolique will always be the greatest mystery. Les Enfants du Paradis is one of the greatest classics. I love Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, but i concede that not everyone does.

let's not make this about every French film ever made

[quote]I remembered the bio "Violette" with Emanuelle Devos. Not bad,[bold] but I really liked her "Read My Lips," where she plays a deaf woman.[/bold]

You can see how good it was from the trailer >>

Depardieu actually used to be quite cute when he was young and skinnier.

—Anonymous

he was, but i was hotter

On tour (Tournée) 2010

Little White Lies (Les petits mouchoirs) 2010

Polisse 2011

MR 73 (AKA The Last Deadly Mission) 2008 (Daniel Auteuil in his best role)

OMG >>

BTW this film has a wicked sense of humor

"Je crois que Tatie est...méchante".

I also recommend The Beat My Heart Skipped. I find Romain Duris very sexy. One of his best movies is Heartbreaker, with Vanessa Paradis. I almost skipped it because its trailer is really cheesy, but it's a fast-paced romp that's great fun.

The French movie stars should do more than smoke and sign left wing petitions.

Thought I would hate it because the subject matter is unappealing to me but I loved it.

no one's mentioned Charlotte Gainsbourg. wasn't she in everything a few years ago?

anyway, I will - just watched a piece of shit 'quirky comedy' called 'Ma Femme Est Une Actrice' - I hope she's better in other things.

She was ok in Melancholia, R123

La Cage aux Folles hilarious

If people are going to mention old AF French films then I have to say this is one is one of my favorites.

Anything new since then?

I’ve Loved You For So Long

Being 17 is one of my favorite gay films in the past decade.

Ozon’s “Swimming Pool”

And I really loved “Les Revenants”, from 2012 (that long ago?!). It was a series, but the first season was so fucking creepy and good.

Sauvage

Simply excellent, about absolute freedom through rough story of gay sex workers

Not a movie, bit great TV show: Call my Agent. Loved "Potiche" with Deneuve 2010 by Francois Ozon. "A Christmas Take" with Deneuve 2008 by Arnaud Desplechin. I agree with poster above, Betty Blue has not aged well, the psycho sexy pixie girlfriend part seems so dated. Can't wait to see The Truth with Binoche and Deneuve, I don't think it is streaming in the US yet.

"Custody" is a good (though not great) recent French film. The last 15 minutes of the film were so tense I almost wet my panties while watching it.

"Revenge" is a fun film too. Amazing soundtrack and Kevin Janssens gets totally naked in it.

Stranger By The Lake!!!

Francois Ozon’s new film Summer Of ‘85 was just announced to premiere at Cannes this year. I can’t wait!

8 Femmes is one of my Top 10 favorite films ever - I watch it every Christmas. A perfect film.

CALL MY AGENT!/DIX POUR CENT is up on Netflix streaming. Each of the 18 episodes features a major French star (i.e Isabelles Adjani and Huppert). It's all about French "luvvies" and is very entertaining, and the name-dropping is off the charts.

I like Ozon since he never repeats himself and often surprises with a twist. Here is a trailer for the new film from R136, apparently autobiographical. He is one of the most prolific film makers and his opus ranges from great to boring. Frantz is the best. Other good ones are The New Girlfriend, Time to Leave, 5x2, The Refuge, Criminal Lovers, 8 Women and Sitcom.

Yet another interesting french film from 2018: Nothing to Hide. I think it is on Netflix.

Portrait de la jeune fille en feu is good, from last year.

[quote]Portrait de la jeune fille en feu is good, from last year.

HARD pass.

Dawson et Son Week-end à 50 Charges

R140 is correct—it’s a great film. Open your mind, OP.

How is the recent Ethan Hawke film with Binoche and Deneuve.?

[quote]Binoche and Deneuve.

ZZZZzzzz....

Can't the French find a few NEW stars?

Strongly recommend I've Loved You So Long.

Excellent film. One of my all time favorites.

Kristin Scott Thomas should have won the Oscar. She is excellent.

Cache, with the inevitable Juliette Binoche.

Binoche must own a Caribbean island by now.

The tv series THE BUREAU is excellent.

At times when I need to cleanse my film palate I watch a French film. Sometimes one simply needs to watch a French movie.

Any movie by Francois Ozon.

Another vote for the TV series Le Bureau des Légendes (The Bureau). Brilliant!

Le Belle Epoque. Daniel Auteuil, Fanny Ardant, Guillaume Canet. Superb acting, script, directing.

Plaire, aimer et courir vite (Sorry Angel). Christophe Honoré's foray into gay romantic drama. Palme d'Or nominated at Cannes.

Oui oui oui to Christoph Honore! All are wonderful, but Chanson D’Amour and Dans Paris are especially divine (and both are musicals). Ma Mere may be a bit dark for lost, but it’s unforgettable.

R153 Speaking of Louis Garrel, his missus Laetitia Casta was in an excellent film with Belgian comedian Benoit Poelvoorde. Check out Une histoire d'amour (2013). Surprisingly good performances from both.

R141 You are missing out. Celine Sciamma is an amazing minimalist French director —- Portrait Of a lady on fire is amazing regardless of gender/sexual orientation. Same for Sciamma’s other movies like Water Lilies (forgot the French name—La Naissance de something) and others are understated yet poignant. Give them a try. I’m a gay woman and I’ve watched and enjoyed plenty of films featuring gay men, etc.

R141 also, if a movie with two women who are attracted to each other is automatically a “hard pass” when asking about quality French films, makes me wonder how narrow your definition is of interesting French films if it can’t include a movie about two women....

BPM is the best movie made so far about AIDS in the 90s

Eden, about the late 90s French House music scene (Daft Punk, Cassius, Etienne de Crecy etc)

The Class/Entre les murs (Cannes Palme d’or) about a banlieue high school. Superb.

Trailer for BPM at the link.

I see very few recent movies but this one was on TV and really drew me in.

It's a drama about a grieving husband but later it turns into thriller with one of those Hitchcock Maguffins who indulges in crazy athletics and almost-farcical scenes in the ugly side of the Paris banlieu. Kristin Scott Thomas has tiny scene as a lesbian.

Tell No One / Ne le dis à personne (2006))

I thought BPM was a huge disappointment. It started off great but it quickly turned into the usual AIDS grief porn. I had to fast forward the last third of the movie.

Many of you must be quite ancient and experience the years flashing by, to consider some of these movies from "recent years".

I really liked La Haine (HATE) starring Vincent Cassel and Said Tagmoui.

It was directed by Mathieu Kassovitz who also was in Amelié, but went on to different American crap films Gothika and Babylon a d

Is the poster formerly known as French Film Critic still around?

The Dreamers

2003, The Dreamers. Really?

All right then. Diva, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, Zéro de conduite.

Ladri di Biciclette.

Madame X, Lana's recent foray into French cinema.

Les Temoins (2007). André Téchiné's take on AIDS in 1984 Paris.

The very recent L'Homme fidèle (A Faithful Man) with the very hot Louis Garrel is pretty good.

I will say Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet and Louis Garrel were at a perfect jeune homme age in Chansons and you wouldn't see that kind of tendresse in anything but a French movie. Well, possibly an Asian movie.

Blue room, BPM, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Stranger by the Lake, and cache were pretty good. I recently watched domestic thriller Custody and found it incredibly gripping . But lately I've come to enjoy German films far more than French. They are more sophisticated than simplistic American films but not ridiculously dark or dull. I recommend Petzold in particular.

I saw one I enjoyed, by not sure the name or when it was released. A French woman is on a ship and meets a younger man. She seems very lonely. He has sex with her out of pity, I think, and then begins to fall in love with her. At the end, she gets off the boat and is met by her husband and children and walks off with them, smiling, leaving the young guy devastated.

There was a GAY film about these men/drag queens who go to a Porn theatre. It's called PORN THEATRE. That was a good movie.

R172 ah, la connasse

[quote]The Diving Bell

Interesting you mention Diving Bell - I've had it on my watch list for ages and never get round to watching it...something puts me off. I might rectify this now.

I like the sound of R172's movie.

Will someone be able to name it?

[quote]Stranger by the Lake

I gave up on that after about half an hour, can't remember why.

[quote] But lately I've come to enjoy German films far more than French. They are more sophisticated than simplistic American films but not ridiculously dark or dull. I recommend Petzold in particular.

There's no such thing.

"Speaking of Louis Garrel, his missus Laetitia Casta"

They are together? I thought he was dating Carla Bruni's sister, non?

The director, R178.

R179 Laetitia Casta is lovely, good for him.

[quote]They are together? I thought he was dating Carla Bruni's sister, non?

Non! Garrel and actress/director Valeria Bruni Tedeschi were together for 5 years years, adopted a daughter from Senegal, Oumy Bruni Garrel, who appeared in Bruni Tedeschi's Les Estivants. They split up, Garrel started up with his Laetitia Casta in 2015, married her 2017. No children together as yet, though Casta has three enfants, two with Italian actor Stefano Accorsi.

Laetitia Casta is 42 and may have the good sense to close down the baby making.

r154, thanks! I had no idea.

I think we need another French gossip thread, we had a good one many years ago.

Not recent, but don't see it listed here: [italic] Elle s' appelaite Sarah, [/italic] or en Anglais [italic] Sarah's Key [/italic] 2010, Directed by Stéphane Marsel. Starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

Dame Scott Thomas seems like such a cold fish, both onscreen and off. Are we supposed to be impressed by her lackluster performances just because she happens to be bilingual?

Portrait of a Woman on Fire is fantastic.

Agree with those who say: anything by Francois Ozon. This guy is a master and nearly everything he makes is of interest. A particular favorite is Time to Leave (Le Temps qui Reste) from 2005. It is about an angry young gay fashion photographer who learns he is dying of a brain tumor and his process of gradually making peace with himself. Also stars the great Jeanne Moreau. It is has some missteps, but I find it a incredibly moving film. Also, Melvil Poupaud, who plays the lead, is FUCKING HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT.

[italic] The Intoucheables [/italic] 2011, directed by Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano.

I love, love, LOVE Ozon's kinky mindfuck L'AMANT DOUBLE/DOUBLE LOVER (2018), with two Jeremie Reniers. And Jacqueline Bisset's performance is a total shocker!

Streams for no charge at Kanopy. Otherwise available at Cohen Media and its for-fee streaming outlets.

R188 It is interesting that you singled out Time to Leave (2005). Ozon said he was at the time worried about possibly being HIV positive and while he was waiting for test results contemplating what he would do if he knew he had limited time more to live, the idea for the movie developed (and he deliberately decided for tumor, not AIDS though the character is gay). IIRC his partner/ex (?) died of AIDS. The latest movie (Summer of 85) is also apparently drives from Ozon's experience. He is also very attractive, here is his interview in English (Toronto Film Festival 2010), he is charming.

Ozon knows how to exploit KST's chilly affect in DANS LE MAISON/ IN THE HOUSE (2012), another super mindfuck of a movie.

An enigmatic high school boy "toys" with his literature professor. KST plays the prof's bitchy, cold wife.

Correction, R190 is touting IN THE HOUSE.

From 11:00 to 15:00 in the interview (link R191) Ozon speaks about France vs America, private life vs job, his love/understanding for women, gays vs straight women etc. Mentioned both Summer Dress (short film) and Time to Leave. Later he explains why he is not interested in shooting movie in America.

Mamam killed papa. With poison.

Well, when someone dies, a doctor has a look and if there's anything suspicious, they do what's called an autopsy.

Mamam slept with the doctor.

Yes to Ozon! Swimming Pool of course, Under the Sand. Anything with La Rampling is going to be good. More recently, anyone seen The New Girlfriend? It's terrific. Romain Duris plays a tranny. Also it stars Raphael Personnaz who deserves his own thread on DL. He is absolutely gorgeous and great shot of his bum in this movie.

Any of the seven flicks Isabelle Huppert made with Claude Chabrol are fantastic. Start with RIEN VA PLUS (97) or MERCI POUR LE CHOCOLAT (00). She plays a con artist and poisoner, respectively.

Stream at Kanopy or Cohen Collection (at Amazon).

RECENT, whores.

OK thanks to this thread I watched Ozon's Double Lover. OMG what a sleazy chic movie. Merde. Et j'ai des questions... Like how cynical is the entire movie based on the ending. I want to nikker those actors - the muffe and the keum.

Theo et Hugo

Swimming Pool was released 17 years ago, you bimbos. Recent!

And Bicycle Thief is Italian. But this is DL, dear. Be grateful for crumbs. At least this is about something FRENCH.

Has anyone mentioned Swimming Pool yet? It’s really good!

The Earrings of Madame de…

I know he’s technically Quebecois, but Xavier Dolan has done some fascinating and affecting films. Juste Le Fins Du Monde was heartbreaking and beautiful with superb performances. Mommy and Tom A Le Ferme are excellent as well. A shame his new movie was so bad. Hopefully he will release a new cut with all the extra footage because as is it’s a disaster.

I love what a nasty cunt Cassel is here. This conversation could only be in French.

It's been a while since I saw a french film...

any good french TV series to watch?

I saw soooo many donkey years ago...Red, white, blue etc, I think I saw most of Juliet Binoche's work. Then someone told me she's a real cunt. fucking CUNT. mean and nasty, throws things when angry.

à propos de rien, what causes the hole in Gaspard Ulliel's right cheek? The crease forms over a small, deep indent.

It's obviously a scar, you moron.

Merci. So I googled cicatrice:

Pendant longtemps, les fans de l'acteur, 30 ans, se sont interrogés sur cette fameuse cicatrice canaille. Toutes les hypothèses ont été envisagées. Les admirateurs virils de Gaspard Ulliel l'ont imaginé en belliqueux des bars. Les admiratrices romantiques ont, elles, visualisé Gaspard blessé durant un sauvetage romantique. Ceux qui l'aiment moins ont envisagé que Gaspard avait gagné sa cicatrice durant une bagarre sur un plateau de cinéma.

En fait, rien de tout ça n'est vrai. C'est l'intéressé lui-même qui a levé le voile sur l'origine de la fameuse cicatrice. Gaspard, enfant, a été attaqué par un doberman un peu fébrile alors qu'il avait six ans. Lors de l'accident, le petit garçon qu'il était a eu un vrai coup de chance : pas de coup de dent qui, pour le coup, aurait pu le défigurer, mais un bon coup de griffe. Et, pour la postérité, un irrésistible "souvenir" qui n'est pas pour rien dans le charme physique que dégage l'acteur.

Do the French still make movies about adults having sex with kids? There was one called "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs" that featured a mentally disturbed woman in her twenties who was having an affair with a homely 13 year old boy. The boy eventually impregnates her. It was supposed to be a romcom! I saw it and thought it was very strange. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film that year. It starred two actors who were staples of French film, Gerard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere.

Another one of this type was "Beau Pere", which also starred Patrick Dewaere. The movie was a "comedy drama". Deawere played an immature man, rather neurotic; his wife dies unexpectedly and he's left with his wife's daughter from a previous relationship. He's been a father-figure to her since she was a little girl; she's now a nubile 15 year old who, for some reason, develops a sexual fixation on him and keeps after him to have sex with her. He eventually succumbs to her advances. It's supposed to be a comedy, but the subject matter is cringeworthy. Critics liked the film.

And there's another rather icky French "romcom" called "Cousin, Cousine." It did so well and was so well received by critics that an American version was made. It concerns a couple, cousins by marriage, who have bad marriages and unfaithful spouses. They decide to get back at their spouses by pretending to have an affair. Then they stop pretending. Then they become totally blatant, rubbing their lust for each other in not only their cheating spouse's faces, but in the faces of their family as well. At a family Christmas gathering they go into a bedroom and fuck while their families, seemingly oblivious to what is obviously going on, have Christmas. Yech! But it's supposed to be so amusing.

I haven't seen a French movie in a long time. I wonder if they're still making movies like ones previously mentioned. If so, I can understand why I haven't had any interest in French cinema.

Oui, Rose.

Chant de Loup. Omar Sy, Reda Kateb, Mathieu Kassovitz, Francois Civil and a submarine.

Hors Normes. Vincent Cassel, Reda Kateb and a bunch of kids.

Alceste à bicyclette. Fabrice Luchini, Lambert Wilson, a bicycle and Molière.

And finally, for those with a basic understanding of French, Astérix & Obélix : Au service de Sa Majesté. The best of the series. Depardieu, Baer, Boon, Gallienne, Luchini and Deneuve as the Queen of England. Hysterical!

I loved Faces Places

OP! I found the movie about the older woman/young man on the ferry. It’s called Brief Crossing and was directed by Catherine Breillat. On a side note, all of her films are haunting (not always in a good way).

Thank you, R217.

I don't know how easy it will be to actually see it.

OMG. I've seen it.

Re Gaspard Ulliel I recently watched Eva which you can only get in French with no English subtitles. My French is basic but I was able to follow the gist of the storyline. Gaspard plays a hustler opposite Isabelle Huppert as a prostitute.

[quote]Do the French still make movies about adults having sex with kids?

I don't know about "still", but I saw one where Jane Birkin "fell in love" with Charlotte Gainsbourg's 14-year-old school friend.

Things to Come (2016) is a nice counterpoint to Elle for Isabelle Huppert fans. "Huppert's brilliance is indisputable, her performance alternately playful and deeply moving." Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.

Trailer for Eva.

Things to Come trailer.

EVA looks like complete trash. I will definitely watch that tonight.

R219 / OP did you like it? I remember watching it in late 2010, early 2011 (dvd from Netflix - I was working my way through all Breillat films) and it was a snow day so my job closed. I remember drinking hot Earl Grey tea and eating Green & Black’s chocolate. It was very cozy, snowy day.

Also from Breillat, have you seen Bluebeard and Fat Girl? Also, See the Sea. That one stayed with me *shudder.*

I teach doctoral students who were born the year Regarde la mer was on the silver screen. But, carry on.

[quote][R219] / OP did you like it? I remember watching it in late 2010, early 2011 (dvd from Netflix - I was working my way through all Breillat films) and it was a snow day so my job closed. I remember drinking hot Earl Grey tea and eating Green & Black’s chocolate. It was very cozy, snowy day.

I don't think I did much. No. I think your cozy day at home might have affected your experience of it.

r226, loved Fat Girl and Bluebeard

The Beat that Skipped My Heart is very good. I love the relationship between the Vietnamese girl who cannot speak a word of English and the main character. I also cracked up when he said "I KILL you mothafucka"! And that face he has when he walks into the room with that dead body? That's great acting.

R6, I was caring for both my elderly parents at that time (Mom had a particularly EVIL vascular dementia + Alzheimer's), while Dad had had 2 strokes + MI within 9 months. I was chronically exhausted, angry, resentful and grieving all at once.

One morning after giving the parents breakfast, cajoled them into changing their pissy Depends and basically forcing them to take morning meds and hydrate a little bit; then cleaned kitchen and entire house and washed their linens and clothes. I was beyond whipped. I took a break and flipped the TV on; that film happened to be just starting.

Within two minutes I was in tears, and barely drew breath until the very end. My God in Heaven, that film was dead on. EVERY note, dead on.

Mama died several months later (March 2018). Haven't been able to re-watch since.

Still, what a gorgeous film.

A fun French TV show was Au Service de la France /A Very Secret Service.

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