A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Reviews of films from France and French-language films from Belgium and Switzerland. At this stage, I’m not sure if there’ll be many French-language films from African and other countries coming within my orbit – probably I’ll create a separate category for them and call it French-language Films from outside Europe, or something hopefully more succinct and graceful!
French and French-language Films
Olivier Assayas, “The Wizard of the Kremlin” (2025) Based on the novel of the same name by Giuliano da Empoli, published in 2022, “The Wizard of…
French and French-language Films
Thierry Klifa, “The Richest Woman in the World” (2025) This film by Thierry Klifa is loosely based on the so-called Bettencourt Affair that held France in…
French and French-language Films
Rebecca Zlotowski, “Vie Privée” (“A Private Life”) (2026) Billed as a crime / mystery thriller, this film is best seen as a psychological character study revolving…
French and French-language Films
François Ozon, “L’Étranger” (2025) The third film adaptation of Albert Camus’s famous novel, and the first made in France – previous adaptations having been made in…
French and French-language Films, Northern European Films
Cédric Klapisch “La Venue de l’avenir” / “The Colours of Time” (2025) A derelict country house in Normandy, long abandoned by its last occupant, is an…
French and French-language Films
Emmanuel Courcol, “En Fanfare!” (English title: “My Brother’s Band”) (2024) Initially the advertising for “En Fanfare!” suggested this was going to be fairly straightforward light-hearted fare…
British Films, French and French-language Films
Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance” (2024) It may be called “The Substance” but this film’s style – in its boldly colourful (and confrontational) visual style, its minimal…
French and French-language Films, Northern European Films
Gilles Legardinnier, “Complètement cramé! / Mr Blake at your service!” (2023) It’s twee and artificial in style, but nevertheless this light French comedy-drama film highlights the…
French and French-language Films
Léa Domenach, “Bernadette” (2023) Any time Catherine Deneuve takes on a film role is reason enough to watch that film, and so it is with “Bernadette”…
French and French-language Films, Northern European Films
Joachim Lafosse, “A Silence” (2024) Smooth, sober and straightforward in its minimal style, this Belgian film delivers its punches hard and heavy in its fictional retelling…