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!
The Golden Coach (1952)
7.3/10
Director: Jean Renoir
Starring: Anna Magnani, Odoardo Spadaro, Nada Fiorelli
Jean Renoir explores the complex relationship between theatre and life in this highly stylised account of the travels of a commedia dell'arte troupe i... Read more
The Green Ray ( aka Summer ) (1986)
7.9/10
Director: Eric Rohmer
Starring: Marie Riviere, Beatrice Romand
A sensitive young woman searches for companionship and her ideal man on her summer holiday. Perfectly capturing the season - charming, intelligent and... Read more
The Grocer's Son (2007)
7/10
Director: Eric Guirado
Starring: Nicolas Cazale, Clotilde Hesme, Daniel Duval, Jeanne Goupil, Stephan Guerin-Till...
Thirty-year-old Antoine thought he had left the family business far behind when he moved to the big city, but after his father suffers a heart attack... Read more
The Hairdresser's Husband (1990)
7.4/10
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Jean Rochefort, Anna Galiena, Roland Bertin
A young boy with a fixation on a bosomy hairdresser grows up to marry a woman who's practically a reincarnation of his childhood dream. This charming... Read more
The Hedgehog (2010)
7.4/10
Director: Mona Achache
Starring: Anne Brochet, Josiane Balasko, Ariane Ascaride, Wladimir Yordanoff, Garance Le G...
Eleven-year-old Paloma Josse is bored beyond belief. Despite living in a gorgeous apartment in the legendary city of Paris, young Paloma feels no conn... Read more
The Horde (2009)
5.9/10
Director: Yannick Dahan, Benjamin Rocher
Starring: Jean-Pierre Martins, Eriq Ebouaney, Aurelien Recoing, Claude Perron
When a group of vengeful cops descend on the hideout of a criminal gang, they get more than they expected when the building comes under siege from an... Read more
The Horseman On The Roof (1995)
7.1/10
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Olivier Martinez, Pierre Arditi
Rousing and romantic costume drama, set in 1830s France, from director/co-scripter Jean-Paul Rappeneau follows two strangers, a handsome horseman and... Read more
The Housekeeper (2002)
7.5/10
Director: Claude Berri
Starring: Jean-Pierre Bacri, Emilie Dequenne
Set in Paris and the majestic beaches of Normandy, Jacques is a forlorn bachelor living alone after his wife has left him. Deciding to get his life ba... Read more
The Illusionist (2010)
7.5/10
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Starring: Eilidh Rankin, Jean-Claude Donda
A wonderful hand-painted animated feature from Sylvain Chomet ("The Triplets of Belleville"), "The Illusionist" is based on an unproduced script that... Read more
The Innocent (2022)
6.7/10
Starring: Louis Garrel, Roschdy Zem, Anouk Grinberg
When Abel learns that his mother is about to marry a man in prison, he freaks out. With the help of his best friend, he will do whatever it takes to p... Read more