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!
L'Ennui (1998)
6.2/10
Director: Cedric Kahn
Starring: Charles Berling, Sophie Guillemin, Arielle Dombasle, Robert Kramer, Alice Grey,...
Charles Berling plays Martin, a 40-something philosophy teacher in the throes of a mid-life crisis. This takes a turn when he begins an affair with Ce... Read more
L'Humanite (Blu-ray) (1999)
6.8/10
Director: Bruno Dumont
Starring: Emmanuel Schotte, Severine Caneele
When an 11-year-old girl is brutally raped and murdered in a quiet French village, a police detective who has forgotten how to feel emotions--because... Read more
L'Idole ( The Idol ) (2002)
6.6/10
Director: Samantha Lang
Starring: Leelee Sobieski, James Hong
Aka "The Idol". Leelee Sobieski plays Sarah, a young actress who moves into a rambling old apartment block peopled by an odd assortment of ageing and... Read more
La Belle Noiseuse (1991)
7.8/10
Director: Jacques Rivette
Starring: Emmanuelle Beart, Jane Birkin, Michel Piccoli
Aka 'The Beautiful Troublemaker'. The riveting story of the relationship between a once-famed artist and the young woman who inspires him to paint aft... Read more
La Belle Saison ( Summertime ) (2015)
7.4/10
Director: Catherine Corsini
Starring: Cecile De France, Kevin Azais, Izia Higelin, Noemie Lvovsky
Catherine Corsini casts a delicate glance over womens liberation and female sexuality in the seventies set French drama, Summertime (La belle saison... Read more
La Bete Humaine (1938)
Director: Jean Renoir
Starring: Jean Gabin, Simone Simon, Julien Carette
Based on the classic Emile Zola novel, Jean Renoir's "La Bete Humaine" was one of the legendary director's greatest popular successes - and earned sta... Read more
La Chamade (1968)
Director: Alain Cavalier
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Michel Piccoli
Aka "Heartbeat". Catherine Deneuve delivers a heartfelt and multi-layered performance as a beautiful young woman who finds herself having to choose be... Read more
La Chevre ( The Goat ) (1981)
7.4/10
Director: Francis Veber
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Pedro Armendariz, Pierre Richard, Corynne Charbit
A classic French farce from Francis Veber, his first with comic duo Gerard Depardieu and Pierre Richard. Depardieu is the top private eye and Richard... Read more
La Danse (2009)
7.4/10
Director: Frederick Wiseman
The Paris Opera Ballet is one of the worlds great ballet companies. La Danse follows the rehearsals and performances of seven ballets: Genus by Wayne... Read more
La Grande Bouffe (1973)
7.2/10
Director: Marco Ferreri
Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Philippe Noiret, Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Piccoli
Four men, bored with everything in life, decide to end it all in one impeccably well catered marathon assault on their systems in this chilling, humou... Read more