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!
Life of Jesus (1997)
7.1/10
Director: Bruno Dumont
Starring: Kader Chaatouf, David Douche
Far from the religious biopic its title implies, this powerful French drama follows the slacker-like existence of 20-year-old epileptic, Freddy, who s... Read more
Little Nicholas' Treasure (2021)
Director: Julien Rappeneau
Starring: Audrey Lamy, Jean-Paul Rouve, Pierre Arditi, Gregory Gadebois, Jean-Pierre Darro...
What Nicholas (9) loves most is playing with his gang of middle school pals, The Invincibles. Adorable, yet mischievous, they have all sorts of advent... Read more
Little White Lies ( Les petits mouchoirs ) (2010)
7.1/10
Director: Guillaume Canet
Starring: Benoit Magimel, Francois Cluzet, Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lellouche, Marion Cotilla...
Director Guillaume Canet has assembled an outstanding cast, headed by Academy Award-winning Marion Cotillard - to make an entertaining and acutely obs... Read more
Livid (2011)
5.7/10
Director: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
Starring: Chloe Coulloud, Jeremy Kapone, Felix Moati
Young caregiver Lucie finds new work with an ex-teacher in making home visits to elderly patients. Their last stop of the first day is at a dark, laby... Read more
Locked-in Syndrome (1997)
8/10
Director: Jean-Jacques Beineix
A 1995 stroke left French writer/magazine editor Jean-Dominique Bauby unable to move any part of his body except one eyelid. Despite his condition, he... Read more
Lol ( Laughing Out Loud ) (2008)
6.3/10
Director: Lisa Azuelos
Starring: Sophie Marceau, Christa Theret
In text-speak, LOL means "laughing out loud", but in this case it is also the nickname of fifteen year old Lola, who lives with her mum, Anne. When Lo... Read more
Lola Montes (1955)
7.4/10
Director: Max Ophuls
Starring: Peter Ustinov, Martine Carol, Anton Walbrook, Oskar Werner
A lush romantic drama that was filmmaker Max Ophuls' last work and his only film in colour. Martine Carol is mesmerizing as the famous adventurer and... Read more
Long Way North (2015)
7.3/10
Director: Remi Chaye
Starring: Feodor Atkine, Christa Theret
In the 19th century, a young Russian girl (Christa Théret) embarks on an adventure-filled quest to find her grandfather at the North Pole. Read more
Look At Me (2004)
6.9/10
Director: Agnes Jaoui
Starring: Virginie Desarnauts, Keine Bouhiza, Gregoire Oestermann, Serge Riaboukine, Miche...
Lolita is the daughter of a famous writer, struggling to define her own identity in this witty French comedy. She's self-concious about her weight but... Read more
Looking for Hortense (2012)
6.2/10
Director: Pascal Bonitzer
Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Claude Rich, Isabelle Carre
A.k.a. "Cherchez Hortense". "Looking for Hortense" is a bittersweet comedy of manners that is French in spirit but universal in appeal. It tells the s... Read more