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!
Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidocq (2001)
Director: Pitof
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Guillaume Canet, Ines Sastre, Andre Dussollier, Edith Scob, Mo...
Based on the memoirs of famous 19th century French detective Francois-Eugene Vidocq, this fantasy mystery was the directorial debut of visual effects... Read more
Day For Night (1973)
8.1/10
Director: Francois Truffaut
Starring: Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Valentina Cortese, Jean-Pierre Leaud, Ale...
The leading lady is recovering from a nervous breakdown, another performer is soused on the set, trade unions threaten to walk, shooting must somehow... Read more
Days of Glory (2006)
7.1/10
Director: Rachid Bouchareb
Starring: Bernard Blancan, Sami Bouajila, Jamel Debbouze, Samy Naceri
When the French army recruited men from its North African colonies to join in the fight against the Nazis, the soldiers found themselves targets of bo... Read more
De Gaulle (2020)
6/10
Director: Gabriel Le Bomin
Starring: Lambert Wilson, Isabelle Carre, Olivier Gourmet, Catherine Mouchet, Sophie Quint...
Paris, June 1940. The de Gaulle couple is confronted with the military and political collapse of France. Charles de Gaulle joins London while Yvonne,... Read more
Declaration of War (2011)
7/10
Director: Valerie Donzelli
Starring: Valerie Donzelli, Jeremie Elkaim
Romeo and Juliette are two young actors. They fall in love at first sight, move in together and make a baby. A love story and the founding of a home l... Read more
Delicacy (2011)
6.6/10
Director: David Foenkinos, Stephane Foenkinos
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Bruno Todeschini, Francois Damiens, Pio Marmai, Melanie Bernier,...
After the abrupt and tragic death of her ideal husband (Pio Marmai), a young widow (Audrey Tautou) steeps herself in her workaday office world, certai... Read more
Delicatessen (1991)
7.6/10
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro
A post-apocalyptic future becomes the setting for pitch black humor in this visually intricate French comedy. A circus performer takes a position as a... Read more
Delicious (2021)
7/10
Director: Éric Besnard
Starring: Gregory Gadebois, Isabelle Carre, Benjamin Lavernhe, Guillaume de Tonquedec
France, 1789, just before the Revolution. With the help of a surprising young woman, a chef who has been sacked by his master finds the strength to fr... Read more
Demonlover (2002)
5.8/10
Director: Olivier Assayas
Starring: Connie Nielsen, Charles Berling, Chloe Sevigny, Gina Gershon, Dominique Reymond,...
"Demonlover" from Olivier Assayas ("Irma Vep") takes us deep into the underbelly of the illicit and financially lucrative world of 3D animated pornogr... Read more
Diamond 13 (2009)
5.2/10
Director: Gilles Beat
Starring: Asia Argento, Gerard Depardieu, Olivier Marchal
"Diamond 13" traces the slow descent into hell of a policeman faced with a society ruled by money, the corruption of his colleagues and the shadow of... Read more