La fille du puisatier 26 Sept 2012 Director: Daniel Auteuil France 2011 107 min Love and forgiveness are the overwhelming themes of Daniel Auteuil’s beautifully shot and hugely enjoyable directorial debut. It is no coincidence that this film reminds viewers of ‘Jean de Florette’ and ‘Manon des Sources’ – all three stories share a writer… Continue reading The Well Digger’s Daughter
Tag: France
The Girl on the Bridge – La Fille sur le Pont
2 Apr 2003 Director: Patrice Leconte France 1999 90min A charming love story from the director of Monsieur Hire (1989) and The Hairdresser’s Husband (1990). Adele stands on a bridge in Paris leaning over the Seine intending to drown her sorrows. Then a stranger takes an interest in her plight. He is Gabor and needs… Continue reading The Girl on the Bridge – La Fille sur le Pont
The Lady
21 Nov 2012 Director: Luc Besson France, UK 2011 132 min Action thriller veteran Luc Besson may not be the obvious choice of director for the story of Aung San Suu Kyi (played with understated panache by Michelle Yeoh), the woman at the core of Burma’s democracy movement. Nonetheless the Frenchman brings a deft touch… Continue reading The Lady
City of God
Cidade de Deus Oct 22 2003 Brazil, France, USA 2002 130 min Directors: Katia Lund & Fernando Meirelles This is the critically acclaimed story of gang violence in Rio de Janerio. Cidade de Deus (City of God) is a poor housing project built in the 60’s, which became one of the most dangerous places in… Continue reading City of God
The Pianist
5 Nov 2003 UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland 2002 150 min Director: Roman Polanski The true story of celebrated composer and pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman. At the outbreak of World War Two, Szpilman’s world changes from that of concert halls is to the Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw. In the brutality and devastation of occupied Warsaw he… Continue reading The Pianist
Pauline & Paulette
Feb 18 2004 Belgium, France, Netherlands 2001 78 min Director: Lieven Debrauwer Martha, the senior of four elderly sisters, looks after the child-like Pauline. Pauline loves flowers and to run errands for her sister Paulette who runs a fabric shop in the town. When Martha suddenly dies, neither Paulette nor the youngest sister Cecile, who… Continue reading Pauline & Paulette
Read My Lips
Sur mes Lévres Mar 3 2004 Director: Jacques Audiard France 2001 118 min Carla is the under appreciated long-term secretary of a property firm. She is hard working, always the first to arrive and the last to leave and all this while suffering from a hearing defect. She persuades her employers to get her an… Continue reading Read My Lips
The Others
3 Dec 2003 USA, France, Spain 2001 101 min Director: Alejandro Amenabar Nicole Kidman stars as Grace, a strong-willed woman who lives isolated with her two children in their Jersey Mansion towards the end of the Second World War. Grace, who awaits the return of her soldier husband, is highly protective of her two children,… Continue reading The Others
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
A la Folie… pas du tout 21 Jan 2004 Director: Laetitia Colombani France 2002 92 min Angelique, a pretty and passionate young student, is in love. The object of her desire is Loic, a cardiologist. Loic’s attention to Angelique is neglectful and sometimes cruel, yet Angelique’s spirit is constant and her devotion for him never… Continue reading He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
The Motorcycle Diaries
Diarios de motocicleta 21 Sep 2005 Director: Walter Salles USA, Germany, UK, Argentina, Chile, Peru, France 2004 128 min Based on the diaries of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, this is the story of two Argentinean friends who travel across South America on the back of a rickety motorcycle. It is a thrilling and inspirational journey that… Continue reading The Motorcycle Diaries