French film will always be considered as the most stylish and influential of the cinematic cannon. In the late 50s through to the 60s Hollywood took note from the iconic and artistic films of the French New Wave, which taught America how to be simultaneously intellectually engaging, politically provocative and visually beautiful. While the popularity of this movement later began to fade and be parodied as something pretentious and dated, French Cinema in the 21st century has hit back by proving itself to be continually innovative, boasting a mix of both French and Hollywood influences whilst retaining its commitment to home grown talent.
To celebrate the release of the latest French import ‘The Informant’ from director Julien Leclercq (A Prophet) we take a look at some of the most popular French films to grace our cinema screens for the past ten years.
THE INFORMANT in cinemas from Today Friday 25th April 2014.
The Informant (2014)
An intense thriller based on true events that tells the tale of one man’s attempt to stay alive while caught between both sides of the law. The film’s excellent cast led by a captivating Gilles Lellouche ensures the plot is character driven without unnecessary melodramatics. The Informant sees Leclercq stay true to his subtle French style whilst also creating a Hollywood thrill ride, perfectly blending drama and reality to build tension throughout.
Juene et Jolie (2013)
A critically acclaimed French drama that follows the emotionally complex Isabelle as she explores her burgeoning sexuality via the world of high end prostitution with varying levels of consequence. Marine Vacth’s subtle performance as Isabelle was universally praised, showcasing the new young talent coming out of France.
Amour (2012)
This heart wrenching drama starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva sees Austrian director Michael Haneke tell the story of an elderly French couple’s struggle after Anne (Riva) suffers a stroke and becomes paralysed. The film takes on the heavy topics of ageing and death to create a moving and inspiring piece of cinema that is carried by the impressive talent of its leading cast.
The Artist (2011)
The Artist recreated the magic of early French Cinema in this playful and inventive film which was considered both a crowd pleaser and an incredible piece of film-making. The black and white silent romantic-comedy takes place in Hollywood during the Golden Age of cinema where a love story between two stars is compromised by the rise of ‘talkie’ films which are replacing silent cinema. The film’s use of an old cinema style to stunning effect meant it became the first French film to win an Academy award and also saw Jean Dujardi pick up the award for Best Actor. (The Artist is on BBC2 Sunday, 27th April, 9pm)
March of the Penguins (2005)
This 2005 French-nature documentary was a surprise global hit and showed the diversity and originality of what French cinema had to offer. The film depicts the yearly journey of the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica and was praised for its cinematography and the subtle political and social commentary that runs throughout. While some of the international versions varied from the original narration and sound track, the heart-warming story at the core of the film appealed to audiences worldwide.
