Test sons
Without Category
Louise en Hiver & Ma Vie de Courgette
Tough Times and Salvation for Both Young and Old
After a good BD (bande dessinée, or graphic novel), what a French person loves best is a good animated film. I recently saw two that stand out for their great humanity and empathy: Louise en Hiver (Louise by the Shore) … Read More
Frantz
Pastiche or Homage? Entertaining in Either Case
François Ozon’s already prolific output of films is evidence of one of two things. Take your pick: 1. He is an outrageously talented director who revels in the variety of themes and styles that filmmaking affords him. 2. He is … Read More
Juste la Fin du Monde
Family Drama with an Anachronistic Twist
The plot of Juste la Fin du Monde (It’s Only the End of the World), the latest film by French-Canadian director Xavier Dolan, feels more appropriate to the last two decades of the 20th century than to 2016. Not surprising, … Read More
L’Effet Aquatique
Wafer-Thin Franco-Icelandic Delights
After the heroics of tiny Iceland in the Euro soccer tournament held in France (they managed unceremoniously to boot England out of the Euros, which seemed like poetic justice after Britain voted to boot themselves out of Europe), it felt … Read More
Elle
Scary Effects of Flat Affect
Paul Verhoeven’s Elle is a scary film, not so much because of the sickening violence and twisted sexuality – hey, we’re used to that – or because of its use of horror-film tropes – “Don’t do that,” you scream silently … Read More
L’Avenir & Quand On A 17 Ans
Hostility and High-Mindedness
Two highly regarded French directors have released favorably reviewed films within a week of each other, but to my mind one deserves all the praise it has been getting while the other flatters to deceive. Mia Hansen-Løve gained worldwide recognition … Read More
Francofonia: Le Louvre sous l’Occupation
Poetic Essay or Outmoded Ode to Art?
I wanted to see Alexandre Sokourov’s film Francofonia: Le Louvre sous l’Occupation because I am interested in the subject, especially after having read and reviewed the book Saving Mona Lisa: The Battle to Protect the Louvre and Its Treasures During … Read More
Dheepan
Montesquieu Revisited for The 21st Century
Jacques Audiard is deservedly the most internationally respected and fêted French director around at the moment. Every one of his films manages at the same time to be powerfully memorable, horrifically violent and yet unexpectedly lyrical, whether it be through … Read More
Mustang
Home Imprisonment for Girls Who Want to Have Fun
Mid-July is never a good month for new French movies. Almost always at this time of year, distributors tend to release the films they know are complete stinkers, usually “comedies” involving middle-aged men going on vacation. So this week’s movie … Read More