French and French-language Films
Normandy Nude: a light-hearted if flat comedy with a message about exploiting people and land for profit
Philippe le Guay, “Normandy Nude / Normandy Nue” (2018) One of a distinctly French genre
Category: French and French-language Films
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
Back to Burgundy: a family melodrama beset by cliches and stereotypes blessed by a celebration of viticulture
Cedric Klapisch, “Back to Burgundy / Ce qui nous lie” (2017) An otherwise rather ho-hum
French and French-language Films
Diary of a Chambermaid: a bleak and realist comedy offering
Luis Bunuel, “Diary of a Chambermaid” (1964) Of the Spanish director’s late-autumn career in which
British Films | French and French-language Films
The Death of Stalin: an unfunny and insulting comedy satire lacking in imagination and original ideas
Armando Iannucci, “The Death of Stalin” (2017) A British-made comedy satire about the death of
British Films | French and French-language Films | North American Films
Final Portrait: a character study that doesn’t delve deeply into the nature of friendship and artistic endeavour
Stanley Tucci, “Final Portrait” (2017) Best seen as a character study and a superficial investigation
French and French-language Films
Les Biches: a coolly elegant and stylish film on obsessive love, the fragility of identity and class tensions
Claude Chabrol, “Les Biches / The Does” (1968) A beautifully elegant film of stylishness and
French and French-language Films
The Thief of Paris: a tedious, lacklustre comedy of one individual’s rebellion against social hypocrisy
Louis Malle, “Le Voleur / The Thief of Paris” (1967) A crime comedy caper starring
French and French-language Films | Northern European Films
The Passion of Joan of Arc: an experimental film let down by its narrow focus, story-line and characterisation
Carl Theodor Dreyer, “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) In itself, this silent film
French and French-language Films | Middle Eastern Films
The Congress: good ideas and astute criticism of Hollywood and technology undone by a confused narrative
Ari Folman, “The Congress” (2013) Partly based on Stanislaw Lem’s novel “The Futurological Congress”, in
French and French-language Films
The Children of Paradise: a sumptuous melodrama rich in character, the complexities of human nature and the grandeur of life
Marcel Carné, “The Children of Paradise / Les Enfants du Paradis” (1945) Made under difficult