Tag Archives: French cinema

first in bed and then in love … maybe (Film: The Singer / Quand j’étais chanteur – Gérard Depardieu, 2006)

Alain and Marion, the heroes of ‘Quand j’etais chanteur‘ (the English title is ‘The Singer‘) directed by Xavier Giannoliand released on screens in 2006, meet, feel attracted to each other, and spend together what could have remained a one-night stand. … Continue reading

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dead-end love (Film: Série noire – Alain Corneau, 1979)

‘Série noire‘ released on screen in 1979 is part of the gangster movie series that Alain Corneau made in the first decade of his directorial and screenwriting career. It is the French adaptation of a novel by Jim Thompson, co-writer … Continue reading

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film noir pre-Nouvelle Vague (Film: Bob le Flambeur – Jean-Pierre Melville, 1956)

Crime dramas and gangster stories became one of the most successful genres of American cinema during World War II and in the years that followed. In France, American movies had been banned during the German occupation, which only accentuated the … Continue reading

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bad people in love (Film: La Balance – Bob Swaim, 1982)

‘La Balance‘, released on screen in 1982, directed by Bob Swaim, an American with a long love affair with the French cinema, is a very modern movie. What is the secret? The story takes place on the streets of Paris, … Continue reading

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generation wars (Film: Choice of Arms/ Le choix des armes – Alain Corneau, 1981)

‘Choice of Arms‘ (the French title is ‘Le choix des armes‘) made in 1981 is a very typical film for the genre of film noir in the French cinema of the 70s and 80s. The master of the genre was … Continue reading

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sunset of the kingdom (Film: Les adieux à la reine / Farewell, My Queen – Benoît Jacquot, 2012)

‘Farewell, My Queen‘ (the original title in French is ‘Les adieux à la reine‘) made in 2012 by Benoît Jacquot is the story of the end of a world seen from a personal perspective. It is also a beautiful and … Continue reading

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film noir under the African sun (film: Coup de torchon – Bertrand Tavernier, 1981)

Before the Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino, on the other side of the Atlantic, there was Bertrand Tavernier. ‘Coup de torchon‘ (English title ‘Clean Slate‘) was made in 1981, the year Tarantino had just finished high school and three years … Continue reading

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debauchery and revolt (film: Que la fête commence… – Bertrand Tavernier, 1975)

If you think 2020 is a decadent historical period with dubious morality and opportunist, cynical leaders primarly concerned with satisfying their personal pleasures, then you should try to compare with the year 1719 as presented in the film ‘Que la … Continue reading

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the mayor and the philosopher (Film: Alice et le maire – Fabrice Luchini, 2019)

Politicians and the bureaucracy around them (political parties, parliaments, governments, mayors) do not enjoy a good rating nowadays. However, films about politicians and those around them seem to be more successful than the politicians themselves. A good example in this … Continue reading

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the ye-ye years (film: Cherchez l’idole – Michel Boisrond, 1964)

I chose ‘Cherchez l’idole‘ as my Christmas day movie. No, this is not a contest for discovering new talents but a French musical film made 55 years ago that transported me in time to the period when I was subscribed … Continue reading

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