Tag Archives: French cinema

the first Gabin-Delon (film: Mélodie en sous-sol – Henri Verneuil, 1963)

Posted on December 21, 2023 by admin

‘Mélodie en sous-sol‘ (1963) is an excellent heist film, one of the best of director Henri Verneuil‘s heyday and the first screen collaboration between Jean Gabin and Alain Delon. The great French star and the conqueror of hearts in the … Continue reading →

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the bored king meets the ambitious courtesan and they fall in love (film: Jeanne du Barry – Maïwenn, 2023)

Posted on December 16, 2023 by admin

‘Jeanne du Barry‘, the film that opened this year’s 2023 Cannes Festival (without being in competition) is at the same time an author’s film and a historical blockbuster. Maïwenn – once a child actor, then, at 16, the wife of … Continue reading →

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extreme vampires (film: Trouble Every Day – Claire Denis, 2001)

Posted on December 11, 2023 by admin

One way to look at Claire Denis‘s ‘Trouble Every Day‘ (2001) is as a realistic and gory vampire movie (yes, even bloodier than many other vampire movies). Critics and experts in film history will say that the film belongs to … Continue reading →

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art and truth (film: Marguerite – Xavier Giannoli, 2015)

Posted on December 9, 2023 by admin

‘Marguerite‘ (2015), directed by Xavier Giannoli, is one of two films made less than a year apart based on the fascinating story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the wealthy American amateur soprano who became famous and ridiculous for her flamboyant stage … Continue reading →

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one of the best political thrillers (film: I … comme Icare – Henri Verneuil, 1979)

Posted on December 8, 2023 by admin

Henri Verneuil is a director whose films need to be re-watched and re-evaluated. It is not necessarily about his blockbuster films, the ones for which he gained fame as ‘the most American of French directors’. Several of the films at … Continue reading →

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Citoyen Stavisky (film: Stavisky – Alain Resnais, 1974)

Posted on December 5, 2023 by admin

‘Stavisky‘ (1974) is Alain Resnais‘ most successful film with the public, which may be partly due to the fact that it’s one of his most accessible films, but mostly to the exceptional cast led including Jean-Paul Belmondo. For him, the … Continue reading →

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escape or die (film: Un condamné à mort s’est échappé

Posted on December 2, 2023 by admin

I can’t avoid superlatives. ‘Un condamné à mort s’est échappé‘, Robert Bresson‘s 1956 film is the best prison break movie I can remember ever seeing. And I’ve seen quite a few, even if it’s not exactly my favorite genre, from … Continue reading →

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the price of love (film: Partir – Catherine Corsini, 2009)

Posted on December 1, 2023 by admin

‘Partir‘ (2009) is my first encounter with a film by the French director Catherine Corsini. The impression is mostly positive. Corsini (who is also the main author of the film’s script) seems to me to be a mature filmmaker, master … Continue reading →

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a stellar triangle (film: Les félins – René Clément, 1964)

Posted on November 21, 2023 by admin

‘Les félins‘, René Clément‘s 1964 film released in the English-language market under the title ‘Joy House‘ – proposes a stellar encounter. Alain Delon was already established as one of the superstars of French cinema and had gained international fame after … Continue reading →

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A Midsummer’s Night Nightmare (film: L’appartement – Gilles Mimouni, 1996)

Posted on November 20, 2023 by admin

‘L’appartement‘ (1996) is a special film from many points of view. Young people’s love intrigues, especially those set in Paris, were among the favorite subjects of French filmmakers in the 90s. ‘L’appartement‘ would belong to this category describing the relationships … Continue reading →

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