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 Little Soldier ( Le Petit Soldat ) (1962)
7/10
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Starring: Anna Karina, Michel Subor, Paul Beauvais, Henri-Jacques Huet, Laszlo Szabo
Director Jean-Luc Godard's controversial look at the French-Algerian War stars Michel Subor as an army deserter recruited by right-wing forces to assa... Read more
The Magnificent Tati (2009)
6.9/10
Director: Michael House
Starring: Jacques Tati
Director Michael House explores the life and work of the magnificent Tati through clips and interviews with those who know his work best. Tati is foll... Read more
The Man from London (2007)
7.2/10
Director: Bela Tarr
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Janos Derzsi, Erika Bok, Gyula Pauer, Istvan Lenart, Miroslav Kro...
Four years in the making, the new film from the acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker Bela Tarr is an adaptation of a novel by thriller writer Georges Simenon... Read more
The Man In The Basement (2021)
5.6/10
Director: Philippe Le Guay
Starring: Francois Cluzet, Jeremie Renier, Berenice Bejo, Jonathan Zaccai, Patrick Descamp...
Simon and Helen live in Paris together, they decide to sell a basement in their building. The man who buys it has a troubled past and the couple's lif... Read more
The Man on the Train ( L'Homme Du Train ) (2002)
7.5/10
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Johnny Hallyday, Jean Rochefort
Travelling to a small village to rob the local bank, an ageing criminal (Johnny Hallyday) strikes up an unlikely friendship with a retired poetry prof... Read more
The Man Who Laughs (2012)
6/10
Director: Jean-Pierre Ameris
Starring: Emmanuelle Seigner, Gerard Depardieu, Marc-Andre Grondin, Christa Theret
In the middle of a harsh winter, Ursus (Gérard Depardieu), a colourful carnival boss, rescues two orphans lost in a storm: Gwynplaine (Marc-André Gron... Read more
The Man Who Loved Women (1977)
7.5/10
Director: Francois Truffaut
Starring: Charles Denner, Brigitte Fossey, Nelly Borgeaud, Nathalie Baye, Leslie Caron
Renowned French director Francois Truffaut is at the top of his form with this whimsical, lively story about an eccentric casanova (Charles Denner) wh... Read more
The Midwife (2017)
6.8/10
Director: Martin Provost
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Mylene Demongeot, Olivier Gourmet, Catherine Frot, Audrey Dan...
Two of Frances most distinguished stars, Catherine Deneuve and Catherine Frot share the screen in this touching tale of the unlikely connection of op... Read more
The Minister (2011)
6.7/10
Director: Pierre Schoeller
Starring: Michel Blanc, Olivier Gourmet, Zabou Breitman
Transport Minister Bertrand Saint-Jean is awoken in the middle of the night by his head of staff. A bus has gone off the road into a gully. He has no... Read more
The Monk (2011)
5.8/10
Director: Dominik Moll
Starring: Catherine Mouchet, Geraldine Chaplin, Sergi Lopez, Vincent Cassel, Deborah Franc...
A thrilling Gothic melodrama which follows the rise and fall of Ambrosio (Vincent Cassel), a Capuchin Monk in 17th century Madrid. Abandoned as a baby... Read more