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!
Madame de... ( Earrings of Madame de... ) (1953)
8/10
Director: Max Ophuls
Starring: Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica
Aka "The Earrings of Madame De...". Max Ophuls' lavish costume drama traces an 18th-century French countess's doomed affair with a handsome diplomat.... Read more
Made in France (2015)
6.2/10
Director: Nicolas Boukhrief
Starring: Nassim Si-Ahmed, Malik Zidi, Ahmed Drame, Francois Civil, Dimitri Storoge
Sam (Malik Zidi), a freelance journalist, decides to investigate the growing phenomenon of disaffected youth joining extremist groups. He infiltrates... Read more
Made in USA (1966)
6.8/10
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Starring: Marianne Faithfull, Anna Karina, Jean-Pierre Leaud, Laszlo Szabo
Set in the alternate-universe fictional location of Atlantic-Cite, with comic book-bright colours and playful sound effects, Jean-Luc Godard pays trib... Read more
Mademoiselle (1966)
7.4/10
Director: Tony Richardson
Starring: Ettore Manni, Jeanne Moreau, Umberto Orsini
Jeanne Moreau turns in an unforgettable performance as a psychotic, sexually repressed young teacher in a small French town who commits arson, starts... Read more
Mademoiselle Chambon (2009)
6.9/10
Director: Stephane Brize
Starring: Sandrine Kiberlain, Vincent Lindon, Aure Atika
A love story that has bewitched audiences and critics worldwide, 'Mademoiselle Chambon' is an "exquisite chamber piece" (LA Times) that delicately cap... Read more
Maigret (2022)
5.9/10
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Melanie Bernier, Aurore Clement
In Paris, a young girl is found dead in a Parisian square, wearing an evening dress. Commissioner Maigret will try to identify her and then understand... Read more
Mammuth (2010)
6.1/10
Director: Benoit Delepine, Gustave Kervern
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Isabelle Adjani, Yolande Moreau
In this odd but emotion-packed French comedy, Gerard Depardieu plays a recent retiree who discovers his company is attempting to welsh on his pension.... Read more
Manina - The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter (1952)
Director: Willy Rozier
Starring: Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Francois Calve, Howard Vernon
AKA "The Girl in the Bikini". Manina (Brigitte Bardot) is a beautiful young woman who lives with her father, who tends a lighthouse near the ocean. On... Read more
Marguerite (2015)
7/10
Director: Xavier Giannoli
Starring: Andre Marcon, Catherine Frot, Christa Theret, Michel Fau
1921, The beginning of the Golden Twenties. Not far from Paris. It is party day at Marguerite Dumonts castle. Like every year, an array of music love... Read more
Marie-Jo and Her Two Loves (2002)
Director: Robert Guediguian
Starring: Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Gerard Meylan
On the old smugglers' trail, during a picnic, Marie-Jo presses the blade of a knife to her wrist. She is very much in love with Daniel, her husband, a... Read more