Spotlight on France: the line-up

A healthy line-up of different genres and time periods forms a spotlight on French cinema.

Format: Film (Year, Director)

Early films: 40's-50's

La Belle et la bête/The Beauty and the Beast (1946, Jean Cocteau)

Le Salaire De La Peur/The Wages of Fear (1953, Henri - Georges Clouzot)

Rififi (1955, Jules Dassin)

Director Profile: Jacques Tati

M.Hulot's holiday (1953)

Mon Uncle (1958)

Playtime (1967)

Director Profile: Louis Malle

Elevator to the Gallows (1958)

Murmurs of the Heart (1971)

Lacombe Lucien (1974)

Au revoir les enfants (1987)

Was Louis Malle part of the French New Wave or not? As I have seen articles arguing for either case, I just had to find out for myself. Although, I only picked one movie which forms a genuine contender for the New Wave: Elevator to the Gallows.

Director Profile: Catherine Breillat

Romance (1999)

Brief Crossing (2001)

Anatomy of Hell (2004)

Catherine Breillat certainly fits the bill of "New French Extremity" cinema, a term coined by James Quandt. I wanted to visit some of the films which earned her that tag. Previously, the only two Breillat films I had seen were Fat Girl and Sex is Comedy.

Newer films: Comedy, Horror, Action & some Romance

The Valet (2006, Francis Veber)

Sheitan (2006, Kim Chapiron)

OSS 117: Le Caire nid d'espions (2006, Michel Hazanavicius)

Coeurs (2006, Alain Resnais)

A spotlight won't be the same without a dash of comedy, a pinch of romance or some horror to stir the pot up. And when all is said and done, a simple action is required to serve the dish.

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As it stands, I still have to see 4 films from the above list. So far the most satisfying films have been Elevator to the Gallows, The Wages of Fear & Rififi.