Tag Archives: French cinema

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

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)

‘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

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)

‘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)

‘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)

‘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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decadent and fascinating (film: Les enfants terribles – Jean-Pierre Melville, 1950)

‘Les enfants terribles‘, made in 1950, is the result of the collaboration of two very talented filmmakers. Jean Cocteau was one of the most famous French writers – poet, playwright, novelist – of the 20th century, but also a screenwriter, … Continue reading →

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the playback girl (film: Étoile sans lumière – Marcel Blistène, 1946)

I have watched in the past few years several documentaries or docu-dramas dedicated to the life and career of Édith Piaf. The moment came to see one of the films in which she acted and sang. My curiosity was satisfied … Continue reading →

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historical entertainment (film: Madame Sans Gêne – Christian-Jaque, 1961)

Those who wish to watch a good early 60s historical entertainment can look for ‘Madame Sans Gêne‘, the 1961 film by Christian-Jaque. The historical character of the laundress in revolutionary Paris who married one of Captain Bonaparte’s sergeants and became … Continue reading →

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Romy’s farewell (film: La passante du Sans-Souci – Jacques Rouffio, 1982)

‘La passante du Sans-Souci‘ (distributed in the English language markets as ‘The Passerby‘) is the last film in which Romy Schneider appeared. It is a film that the actress really wanted to make, both for personal and professional reasons. It … Continue reading →

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