French Cinema
The influence of France on the world screen is undeniable. From early inventors and pioneers such as the Lumiere Brothers, George Melies and Alice Guy Blache, the birth of cinema can virtually be traced back to French shores. Cinematic innovators such as Jean Renoir and Michael Carne followed. By the 1960s New Wave directors like Truffaut, Godard and Chabrol had an indelible impact on fledgling American film makers such as Scorsese, Coppola and Bogdanovich who revolutionised the way films were made in the US; studios fell, auteurs ruled. With the advent of television, French film budgets shrank but thanks to government intervention and a good deal of imagination, French cinema is still going strong with contemporary talents like Jean-Jaques Beineix, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Luc Besson and the controversial Gaspar Noe.
At Alice we're very proud of our extensive French collection, covering all genres from French farce to period drama, magical realism to mystery and suspense. Viva la France!
The 400 Blows (1959)
8.1/10
Director: Francois Truffaut
Starring: Jean-Pierre Leaud, Claire Maurier, Albert Remy
Aka 'Les quatre cents coups'. Francois Truffaut's first feature is also his most personal. Told through the eyes of Truffaut's cinematic counterpart,... Read more
Incendies (2011)
8.2/10
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Remy Girard, Melissa Desormeaux-Poulan, Lubna Azabal, Maxim Gaudette
In the highly-acclaimed suspense thriller 'Incendies', a mothers dying wish creates a painful puzzle her children are forced to solve. At the reading... Read more
L'Ennui (1998)
6.2/10
Director: Cedric Kahn
Starring: Charles Berling, Sophie Guillemin, Arielle Dombasle, Robert Kramer, Alice Grey,...
Charles Berling plays Martin, a 40-something philosophy teacher in the throes of a mid-life crisis. This takes a turn when he begins an affair with Ce... Read more
Breathless ( A bout de souffle ) (1960)
7.9/10
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Starring: Daniel Boulanger, Jean Seberg, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Henri-Jacques Huet
A.k.a. "A bout de souffle". There was before "Breathless", and there was after "Breathless". Jean-Luc Godard burst onto the film scene in 1960 with th... Read more
The Man on the Train ( L'Homme Du Train ) (2002)
7.5/10
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Johnny Hallyday, Jean Rochefort
Travelling to a small village to rob the local bank, an ageing criminal (Johnny Hallyday) strikes up an unlikely friendship with a retired poetry prof... Read more
Children of the Marshlands (1999)
Director: Jean Becker
Starring: Jacques Villeret, Michel Serrault, Jacques Gamblin
AKA 'Les Enfants Du Marais'. A charming, beautifully told tale set in a provincial French community in the 1930s which recalls the warm friendship of... Read more
The Dreamers (2003)
7.2/10
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Starring: Michael Pitt, Eva Green, Louis Garrel, Robin Renucci, Anna Chancellor
Aka "Les Innocents". Director Bernardo Bertolucci's provocative, sensual drama centers on American exchange student Matthew (Michael Pitt) who befrien... Read more
The Visitors ( Les Visiteurs ) (1993)
5.9/10
Director: Jean-marie Poire
Starring: Valerie Lemercier, Jean Reno, Christian Clavier
A record-breaking hit in its native France, Jean-Marie Poire's fantasy/comedy stars Jean Reno and Christian Clavier (who co-scripted with Poire) as a... Read more
Venus Beauty Institute (1999)
Director: Tonie Marshall
Starring: Nathalie Baye, Samuel Le Bihan, Bulle Ogier, Jacques Bonnaffe, Mathilde Seigner,...
Aka "Venus Beauty". The Venus Beauty Salon is the local beauty shop run by Nadine, a glamorous businesswoman, who in turn, employs three beauticians.... Read more
The Piano Teacher (2001)
7.5/10
Director: Michael Haneke
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoit Magimel
"The Piano Teacher" is a powerful and controversial new drama from the award winning filmmaker Michael Haneke ("Funny Games"). Isabelle Huppert ("8 Wo... Read more