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 Country Doctor (2016)
6.5/10
Director: Thomas Lilti
Starring: Christophe Odent, Francois Cluzet, Marianne Denicourt
François Cluzet (The Intouchables) is Jean-Pierre, a much-loved doctor in a rural French town. He reassures and cares for his patients day and night,... Read more
Personal Shopper (2016)
6.2/10
Director: Olivier Assayas
Starring: Sigrid Bouaziz, Ty Olwin, Anders Danielsen Lie, Kristen Stewart, Lars Eidinger
Olivier Assayas, the internationally-acclaimed director of 'Clouds of Sils Maria' and 'Summer Hours', returns with this ethereal and mysterious ghost... Read more
Up for Love (2016)
6.3/10
Director: Laurent Tirard
Starring: Cedric Kahn, Jean Dujardin, Virginie Efira
A lawyer dating a dashing, wealthy architect four and a half feet tall gets ribbed by her family, employees and jealous ex about his stature. Read more
Saint Amour (2016)
6.1/10
Director: Benoit Delepine, Gustave Kervern
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Benoit Poelvoorde, Celine Sallette, Vincent Lacoste
Every year, Bruno (Benoît Poelvoorde), a disheartened cattle breeder, attends the Paris Agricultural Show. This year, his father, Jean, (Gérard Depard... 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
Un village francais: Volume 6 ( A French Village ) (2016)
8.4/10
Starring: Robin Renucci, Emmanuelle Bach, Nade Dieu, Audrey Fleurot, Marie Kremer, Francoi...
Volume 6 contains Series 7. Autumn 1945. And so, after years of war, the peace has arrived, and with it comes the commissions and the public hearings... 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
A Bag of Marbles (2016)
7.3/10
Director: Christian Duguay
Starring: Christian Clavier, Elsa Zylberstein, Bernard Campan, Patrick Bruel, Dorian Le Cl...
In occupied France, Maurice and Joseph, two young Jewish brothers left to their own devices, demonstrate an incredible amount of cleverness, courage,... Read more
Planetarium (2016)
7.8/10
Director: Rebecca Zlotowski
Starring: David Bennent, Natalie Portman, Emmanuel Salinger, Louis Garrel, Damien Chapelle...
"Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp star in this eerie wonder from visionary French director Rebecca Zlotowski. A film about speaking to spirits and c... Read more
The Passion of Augustine / The Olive Tree (2015)
Director: Lea Pool, Iciar Bollain
Starring: Javier Gutierrez
Set contains both The Passion of Augustine (2015) and The Olive Tree (2016) Mother Augustine puts all her energy and musical talent into her studen... Read more