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 Phantom of Liberty (1974)
8/10
Director: Luis Bunuel
Starring: Adolfo Celi, Adriana Asti, Bernard Verley, Jean Rochefort, Jean-Claude Brialy, M...
Bourgeois convention is demolished in Luis Buñuel's surrealist gem "The Phantom of Liberty". Featuring an elegant soiree with guests seated at toilet... 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
The Princess of Montpensier (2010)
6.5/10
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Starring: Lambert Wilson, Melanie Thierry, Gaspard Ulliel
Acclaimed filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier ('Round Midnight') directs this spectacular cast in a riveting, lush romantic drama set in the high court's of... Read more
The Red Turtle (2016)
7.5/10
Director: Michael Dudok de Wit
If one day Studio Ghibli decides to produce an animator from outside the studio, it will be him, was Miyazakis pronouncement after watching Dudok de... Read more
The Red Turtle (Blu-Ray) (2016)
7.5/10
Director: Michael Dudok de Wit
If one day Studio Ghibli decides to produce an animator from outside the studio, it will be him, was Miyazakis pronouncement after watching Dudok de... Read more
The Return Of Martin Guerre (1982)
7.4/10
Director: Daniel Vigne
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Nathalie Baye, Roger Planchon
Dramatisation of an extraordinary imposture that took place in the 16th century and became a legend; the husband leaves his family and years later, re... Read more
The Returned: Series 1 ( aka Les Revenants ) (2012)
8.2/10
Starring: Frederic Pierrot, Anne Consigny, Clotilde Hesme, Gregory Gadebois, Samir Guesmi
In an idyllic French Alpine village, a seemingly random collection of people find themselves in a state of confusion as they attempt to return to thei... Read more
The Returned: Series 2 ( aka Les Revenants ) (2015)
8.2/10
Director: Fabrice Gobert, Frederice Goupil
Starring: Frederic Pierrot, Anne Consigny, Clotilde Hesme, Samir Guesmi, Ana Girardot, Jen...
Six months after the flooding, the town is under control of the military as engineers work to fix the dam. With the military refusing to believe their... Read more
The Ring Finger ( L'annulaire ) (2005)
6.2/10
Director: Diane Bertrand
Starring: Olga Kurylenko, Stipe Erceg, Marc Barbe, Edith Scob
Yoko Ogawa's cult novel serves as the inspiration for director Diane Bertrand's haunting erotic drama starring Olga Kurylenko ('Quantum of Solace'). A... Read more
The Romance of Astrea and Celadon (2007)
6.4/10
Director: Eric Rohmer
Starring: Cecile Cassel, Andy Gillet, Veronique Reymond, Stephanie Crayencour
Veteran auteur Eric Rohmer's magical and extraordinary final film is a pastoral fantasy set in 5th century Gaul, based on a 17th century novel by Hono... Read more