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 Belier Family (2014)
Director: Eric Lartigau
Starring: Karin Viard, Francois Damiens, Louane Emera, Eric Elmosnino, Roxane Duran
For the Béliers their sixteen-year-old daughter Paula is a vital member of their eccentric clan. As the only non-deaf member of the family she acts as... Read more
Conversations With My Gardener (2007)
7.1/10
Director: Jean Becker
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Fanny Cottencon, Hiam Abbass, Alexis Bar...
An artist moves to the country and strikes up an unlikely friendship with the gardener - a man he knew as a child many years before. As the men talk t... Read more
Tell No One (2006)
7.5/10
Director: Guillaume Canet
Starring: Francois Cluzet, Marie-Josee Croze, Andre Dussollier, Kristin Scott Thomas, Fran...
A pediatrician, Alexandre Beck (Francois Cluzet), misses his beloved wife Margot (Marie-Josee Croze), who was brutally murdered eight years ago when h... Read more
The Innocents (2016)
7.3/10
Director: Anne Fontaine
Starring: Lou de Laage, Vincent Macaigne, Agata Buzek, Agata Kulesza
World War II is finally over, and doctor Mathilde (rising star Lou de Laage) is treating the last of the French survivors of Nazi work camps in Poland... Read more
My Best Friend (2006)
6.7/10
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Dany Boon, Julie Gayet, Julie Durand, Henri Garcin
Daniel Auteuil stars in this superbly-written French comedy as a successful antiques dealer whose business partner one day points out to him that he d... Read more
Joyeux Noel (2005)
7.8/10
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: Diane Kruger, Benno Furmann, Guillaume Canet, Daniel Bruhl, Gary Lewis
This Oscar-nominated film tells the true story of troops whose lives were changed on Christmas Eve of 1914 as they put down their weapons and celebrat... Read more
Betty Blue (1986)
7.4/10
Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix
Starring: Beatrice Dalle, Gerard Darmon, Jean-Hugues Anglade
Jean-Jacques Beineix has restored 62 minutes to his romantic masterpiece ('Version Integrale') expanding the adventures of Betty and Zorg. There are s... Read more
Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
7.1/10
Director: Christophe Gans
Starring: Samuel Le Bihan, Mark Dacascos, Vincent Cassel, Emilie Dequenne, Monica Bellucci...
This international box office hit from France is a real genre-buster, mixing up elements of period piece costume drama, horror films, melodrama, swash... Read more
The Housekeeper (2002)
7.5/10
Director: Claude Berri
Starring: Jean-Pierre Bacri, Emilie Dequenne
Set in Paris and the majestic beaches of Normandy, Jacques is a forlorn bachelor living alone after his wife has left him. Deciding to get his life ba... Read more
Russian Dolls (2005)
7/10
Director: Cedric Klapisch
Starring: Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cecile De France, Kelly Reilly, Kevin Bishop
Set five years after 'The Spanish Apartment', friends Xavier (Romain Duris), William (Kevin Bishop), Wendy (Kelly Reilly), Martine (Audrey Tatou) and... Read more