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!
Orchestra Seats (2006)
Director: Daniele Thompson
Starring: Claude Brasseur, Cecile De France, Albert Dupontel, Valerie Lemercier, Laura Mor...
A whirlwind ensemble comedy/drama set in the buzzing theatre district of Paris, where fresh-faced waitress Jessica (Cecile de France) dreams of fame a... Read more
Orpheus ( aka Orphee ) (1949)
8/10
Director: Jean Cocteau
Starring: Maria Casares, Jean Marais, Francois Perier
Jean Cocteau's 1940s update of the Orphic myth depicts Orpheus (Jean Marais), a famous poet scorned by the Left Bank youth, and his love for both his... Read more
OSS 117 - Cairo: Nest of Spies (2006)
7.1/10
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Aure Atika, Philippe Lefebvre, Berenice Bejo, Jean Dujardin, Jean-Francois Halin...
Introducing Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, French special agent OSS 117. After the mysterious death of his colleague Jack Jefferson while on assignment... Read more
OSS 117 - From Africa With Love (2001)
7/10
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Pierre Niney, Natacha Lindinger, Wladimir Yordanoff
The third entry in secret agent OSS 117's parodic spy adventures. Read more
OSS 117 - Lost in Rio (2009)
6.9/10
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Rudiger Vogler, Jean Dujardin, Louise Monot, Alex Lutz
The year is 1967 and Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath (Jean Dujardin) - or, OSS 117 - is a dashing French intelligence officer whose handsome looks and deb... Read more
Outside the Law ( Hors la Loi ) (2010)
6.6/10
Director: Rachid Bouchareb
Starring: Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila, Jamel Debbouze
After losing their family home in Algeria, three brothers and their mother are scattered across the globe. Messaoud (Roschdy Zem) joins the French arm... Read more
Parade (1974)
6.1/10
Director: Jacques Tati
Starring: Jacques Tati
This final film from Jaques Tati (made for Swedish TV) is a lively spectacle that celebrates man's passion for performing arts and pure entertainment.... Read more
Paris (2008)
6.9/10
Director: Cedric Klapisch
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Romain Duris, Fabrice Luchini, Albert Dupontel, Francois Cluze...
Love and life pose dilemmas for a handful of friends in the City of Lights in this romantic drama with interweaving narratives. Pierre (Romain Duris)... Read more
Paris 36 (2008)
6.6/10
Director: Christophe Barratier
Starring: Gerard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad, Pierre Richard, Nora Arnezeder
A working-class district in the Paris of 1936 is in upheaval following the closing of the local music hall. Ex-stage hand Pigoil fears he will lose cu... Read more
Paris Vu Par... ( aka Six in Paris ) (1965)
5.7/10
Director: Claude Chabrol, Eric Rohmer, Jean-Luc Godard, Jean Douchet, Jean Rouch, Jean-Daniel Pollet
Starring: Stephane Audran, Claude Chabrol, Jean-Pierre Andreani, Jean-Francois Chappey, Ba...
Six young guns from the French New Wave combined their talents for this entertaining and evocative anthology of shorts, set of course, in Paris. Jean... Read more