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 Tree (2010)
6.6/10
Director: Julie Bertuccelli
Starring: Aden Young, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marton Csokas, Tom Russell, Christian Byers
After the sudden death of her father, 8-year-old Simone shares a secret with her mother Dawn. She's convinced her father speaks to her through the lea... Read more
The Trial of Joan of Arc (1962)
7.6/10
Director: Robert Bresson
Starring: Florence Carrez, Jean-Claude Fourneau, Roger Honorat, Marc Jacquier
A masterful retelling of the trial of one of history's most famous martyrs, this beautiful film focuses on the psychological and physical torture Joan... Read more
The Trouble With You (2018)
6.5/10
Director: Pierre Salvadori
Starring: Adele Haenel, Pio Marmai, Vincent Elbaz, Audrey Tautou
While a French Riviera police officer discovers her late husband led a criminal double life, the man who was imprisoned for her husband's crimes is re... Read more
The Truth (2019)
6.5/10
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawke, Ludivine Sagnier, Maya Sansa,...
A stormy reunion between scriptwriter Lumir with her famous mother and actress, Fabienne, against the backdrop of Fabienne's autobiographic book and h... Read more
The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1976)
7.7/10
Director: Henri Gruel, Pierre Watrin
Starring: Asterix, Obelix, Vitalstatistix
Caesar is bemused when Roman soldiers claim the indomitable Gauls must be gods because they are so powerful. To defeat the Gauls once and for all, he... Read more
The Two of Us (1967)
7.8/10
Director: Claude Berri
Starring: Michel Simon, Alain Cohen
A Jewish boy living in Nazi-occupied Paris is sent by his parents to the countryside to live with an elderly Catholic couple until France's liberation... Read more
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
7.8/10
Director: Jacques Demy
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon
A beautifully restored version of Jacques Demy's classic, bittersweet musical of two young lovers (a luminous Catherine Deneuve and handsome Nino Cast... Read more
The Valet ( La Doublure ) (2006)
6.6/10
Director: Francis Veber
Starring: Gad Elmaleh, Daniel Auteuil, Alice Taglioni, Kristin Scott Thomas, Richard Berry...
Master of the French farce, Francis Veber, combines wacky slapstick with quick-fire dialogue in this tale of marital deception, as the ubiquitous Fran... Read more
The Villa (2022)
5.3/10
Director: Thomas Gilou
Starring: Mylene Demongeot, Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Prevost, Antoine Dulery, Kev Adams
With an all-star ensemble cast, The Villa joins the ranks of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Calendar Girls and The Intouchables, with it’s touching a... 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