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!
Les Grandes Manoeuvres (1955)
Director: Rene Clair
Starring: Michele Morgan, Gerard Philipe, Jean Desailly, Brigitte Bardot
AKA "Summer Manoeuvres" A rakish army lieutenant takes a bet from his comrades that he can make love to any woman in the town. The bet of course backf... Read more
Les hommes de l'ombre: Season 1 ( aka The Shadow Men, aka Spin ) (2012)
Starring: Nathalie Baye, Gregory Fitoussi, Bruno Wolkowitch
The French President is assassinated in an explosion that appears to be a terrorist attack.Simon Kapita, the president's spin doctor and best friend s... Read more
Les hommes de l'ombre: Season 2 ( aka The Shadow Men, aka Spin ) (2014)
Starring: Carole Bouquet, Aure Atika, Bruno Wolkowitch, Nicolas Marie, Gregory Fitoussi
Continuing from Season One, the naked trading in French politics to hold onto power is exposed with searing accuracy. Marjorie's deal to be PM is comp... Read more
Les hommes de l'ombre: Season 3 ( aka The Shadow Men, aka Spin ) (2016)
Starring: Philippe Magnan, Gregory Fitoussi, Bruno Wolkowitch
Six months before the Presidential elections, the leader of the extreme right party who is ahead in the opinion polls, is assassinated before the eyes... Read more
Les Uns Et Les Autres ( Bolero ) (1981)
7.5/10
Director: Claude Lelouch
Starring: James Caan, Robert Hossein, Nicole Garcia, Geraldine Chaplin, Jacques Villeret,...
A.k.a. "Bolero: The Dance of Life". A sweeping epic from internationally acclaimed director Claude Lelouch ("A Man and a Woman") chronicling three gen... Read more
Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot ( Mr Hulot's Holiday ) ( Blu-ray ) (1952)
Director: Jacques Tati
Starring: Nathalie Pascaud, Michelle Rolla, Jacques Tati
Monsieur Hulot, Jacques Tatis endearing clown, takes a holiday at a seaside resort, where his presence provokes one catastrophe after another. Tatis... Read more
Les Valseuses (Going Places) (1974)
3.2/10
Director: Bertrand Blier
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Jeanne Moreau, Patrick Dewaere
Two whimsical, aimless thugs harass and assault women, steal, murder, and alternately charm, fight, or sprint their way out of trouble. They take what... Read more
Les Vampires (1915)
6.9/10
Director: Louis Feuillade
Starring: Musidora , Edouard Mathe
Ten-part silent serial from French pioneer Louis Feuillade. Made at a time when France was in the grip of fear and suspicion due to WWI, this hugely p... Read more
Let the Sunshine In (2017)
6/10
Director: Claire Denis
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Xavier Beauvois, Josiane Balasko, Nicolas Duvauchelle
Following Isabelle, a middle-aged Parisian artist and divorced mother, as she looks for love and meets different characters. Read more
Life is a Bed of Roses (1983)
6.5/10
Director: Alain Resnais
Starring: Fanny Ardant, Geraldine Chaplin, Ruggero Raimondi, Sabine Azema, Vittorio Gassma...
A homage to some of France's greatest film makers - Georges Melies, Marcel L'Herbier and Eric Rohmer - Alain Resnais' triptych film pays tribute to th... Read more