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 Pact of Silence (2002)
Director: Graham Guit
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Elodie Bouchez, Carmen Maura, Isaac Sharry
Aka "Le Pacte Du Silence". Harbouring a secret from his violent past and having found solace in the church, Dr. Joachim Ferrer (Gerard Depardieu), a J... Read more
The Page Turner (2006)
7.1/10
Director: Denis Dercourt
Starring: Pascal Greggory, Julie Richalet, Catherine Frot, Deborah Francois
A decade after her hopes of becoming a concert pianist were dashed, bitter Melanie hatches a plot to get revenge. Using her considerable wits, she fig... Read more
The Passengers of the Night (Les passagers de la nuit) (2022)
7/10
Director: Mikhaël Hers
Starring: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emmanuelle Beart
Left by her husband, Elisabeth finds herself alone, responsible for the day-to-day care of her two children. She picks up a job on a night-time radio... Read more
The Passion of Augustine / The Olive Tree (2015)
Director: Lea Pool, Iciar Bollain
Starring: Javier Gutierrez
Set contains both The Passion of Augustine (2015) and The Olive Tree (2016) Mother Augustine puts all her energy and musical talent into her studen... Read more
The Past (2013)
7.8/10
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Starring: Berenice Bejo, Tahar Rahim, Ali Mosaffa
Following a four-year separation, Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) returns to Paris from Tehran in order to finalise a divorce from his estranged French wife, Mari... Read more
The Perfume of Yvonne ( aka Yvonne's Perfume ) (1994)
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Hippolyte Girardot, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Sandra Majani
Intriguing and sensuous, this is the tale of one man's haunting romance during the summer of 1958. In a stately resort hotel on picturesque Lake Genev... Read more
The Phantom of Liberty (1974)
8/10
Director: Luis Bunuel
Starring: Adolfo Celi, Adriana Asti, Bernard Verley, Jean Rochefort, Jean-Claude Brialy, M...
Bourgeois convention is demolished in Luis Buñuel's surrealist gem "The Phantom of Liberty". Featuring an elegant soiree with guests seated at toilet... Read more
The Piano Teacher (2001)
7.5/10
Director: Michael Haneke
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoit Magimel
"The Piano Teacher" is a powerful and controversial new drama from the award winning filmmaker Michael Haneke ("Funny Games"). Isabelle Huppert ("8 Wo... Read more
The Princess of Montpensier (2010)
6.5/10
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Starring: Lambert Wilson, Melanie Thierry, Gaspard Ulliel
Acclaimed filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier ('Round Midnight') directs this spectacular cast in a riveting, lush romantic drama set in the high court's of... Read more
The Red Turtle (2016)
7.5/10
Director: Michael Dudok de Wit
If one day Studio Ghibli decides to produce an animator from outside the studio, it will be him, was Miyazakis pronouncement after watching Dudok de... Read more