British Films | French and French-language Films
Tess: flat characters and subdued approach in adapting novel to screen ensure a slow-moving trudge
Roman Polanski, “Tess” (1979) Closely based on the original Thomas Hardy novel “Tess of the
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!
British Films | French and French-language Films | German and German-language Films
Mr Turner: a microcosm of 19th-century British society through the life of J M W Turner
Mike Leigh, “Mr Turner” (2014) I confess I always have the time of day for
French and French-language Films | West African Films
Timbuktu: a fragmentary set of parallel tales whose overall message is unclear
Abderrahmane Sissako, “Timbuktu” (2014) Set in northern Mali some time after the downfall of Colonel
French and French-language Films
Frantic: a cool and not at all frantic lightweight homage to Hitchcock
Roman Polanski, “Frantic” (1988) For a film proclaiming itself “Frantic”, this suspense thriller is surprisingly
British Films | French and French-language Films | German and German-language Films
The Ghost Writer: a straightforward story that deals fleetingly with the nature of US-UK relations
Roman Polanski, “The Ghost Writer” (2009) Circumstances surrounding this film were peculiar enough in themselves:
British Films | French and French-language Films
Mayerling: lavish visuals cannot hide workman-like script and direction, and wooden acting
Terence Young, “Mayerling” (1968) Better known perhaps for directing three James Bond films in the
Chinese and Chinese-language Films | French and French-language Films
Clean: a tale of caution and redemption lacking in spark and realism
Olivier Assayas, “Clean” (2004) Rare are the movies in which two main characters happen to
French and French-language Films
Hidden: a film about guilt, trust, colonial exploitation and manipulation of signs is overburdened by art and cleverness
Michael Haneke, “Caché / Hidden” (2005) An imaginative if overly layered thriller about a couple
French and French-language Films | German and German-language Films | Italian and Italian-language Films
The Name of the Rose: quite good if underrated adaptation of a literary novel with some extra features
Jean-Jacques Annaud, “The Name of the Rose” (1986) Based on Umberto Eco’s novel of the
French and French-language Films
The Grand Illusion: meditating on the effects of war on society and people’s loyalties
Jean Renoir, “The Grand Illusion” (1934) Jean Renoir’s film is a moving meditation on war