Best Of...
French cinema: History
Les Adieux à la reine (2012)
Benoît Jacquot
In 1789, on the eve of the French Revolution, life at the Palace of Versailles continues in its carefree vein, far from the tumult that is starting to overtake Paris...
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Benoît Jacquot
L'Affaire Dreyfus (1899)
Georges Méliès
In 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus is tried before a military court and found guilty of high treason, having passed sensitive documents to a foreign power...
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Georges Méliès
L'Agonie de Byzance (1913)
Louis Feuillade
On 6th April 1453, the armies of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II surround the holy Christian city of Constantinople, poised to attack when the command is given...
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Louis Feuillade
L'Aigle à deux têtes (1948)
Jean Cocteau
Natasha, the queen of an unhappy kingdom, lives as a recluse, ten years after the king, her beloved husband, was assassinated...
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Jean Cocteau
L'Ami: François d'Assise et ses frères (2016)
Renaud Fely
In Italy at the start of the 13th century, the son of a wealthy merchant has turned his back on riches and now leads a simple life in the service of the poor and infirm...
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Renaud Fely
L'Anglaise et le duc (2001)
Eric Rohmer
Grace Elliott, a well-connected English lady, is living in Paris at the time of the French Revolution. She was once the lover of the Duke of Orléans, cousin of King Louis XVI, who remains her closest friend and confidant... [More...]
Eric Rohmer
Grace Elliott, a well-connected English lady, is living in Paris at the time of the French Revolution. She was once the lover of the Duke of Orléans, cousin of King Louis XVI, who remains her closest friend and confidant... [More...]
L'Apollonide (Souvenirs de la maison close) (2011)
Bertrand Bonello
In a Parisian brothel at the start of the 20th century there lives a young prostitute whose face is disfigured by a scar that takes the form of a tragic smile... [More...]
Bertrand Bonello
In a Parisian brothel at the start of the 20th century there lives a young prostitute whose face is disfigured by a scar that takes the form of a tragic smile... [More...]
L'Armée du crime (2009)
Robert Guédiguian
In Paris during the Nazi occupation, a labourer named Missak Manouchian leads a group of young Jewish immigrants, of various nationalities: Spanish, Rumanian, Hungarian, Polish, Italian and Armenian... [More...]
Robert Guédiguian
In Paris during the Nazi occupation, a labourer named Missak Manouchian leads a group of young Jewish immigrants, of various nationalities: Spanish, Rumanian, Hungarian, Polish, Italian and Armenian... [More...]
L'Assassinat du duc de Guise (1908)
André Calmettes
On 23rd December 1588 the long-running power-struggle between the opposing houses of de Guise and Valois will come to a dramatic climax with the assassination of Henri I of Lorraine, the Duke de Guise... [More...]
André Calmettes
On 23rd December 1588 the long-running power-struggle between the opposing houses of de Guise and Valois will come to a dramatic climax with the assassination of Henri I of Lorraine, the Duke de Guise... [More...]
Au revoir, les enfants (1987)
Louis Malle
France, 1944, during the Nazi Occupation. The Christmas holidays over, 12-year-old Julien Quentin must leave his comfortable middleclass home in Paris and return to his Catholic boarding school in the country... [More...]
Louis Malle
France, 1944, during the Nazi Occupation. The Christmas holidays over, 12-year-old Julien Quentin must leave his comfortable middleclass home in Paris and return to his Catholic boarding school in the country... [More...]
La Bande à Bonnot (1968)
Philippe Fourastié
In 1911, a group of hard-line anarchists - including Raymond-la-science, Garnier, Carouy, Soudy and Marie la Belge - give up their peaceful struggle against the bourgeoisie and, led by Jules Bonnot, become a gang of desperate armed criminals... [More...]
Philippe Fourastié
In 1911, a group of hard-line anarchists - including Raymond-la-science, Garnier, Carouy, Soudy and Marie la Belge - give up their peaceful struggle against the bourgeoisie and, led by Jules Bonnot, become a gang of desperate armed criminals... [More...]
La Bataille de l'eau lourde (1948)
Jean Dréville
Not long after Norway comes under Nazi Occupation at the start of World War II, the Germans commandeer a hydroelectric power plant in the mountains outside Rjukan... [More...]
Jean Dréville
Not long after Norway comes under Nazi Occupation at the start of World War II, the Germans commandeer a hydroelectric power plant in the mountains outside Rjukan... [More...]
Le Bataillon du ciel (1947)
Alexander Esway
Spring, 1944: a decisive moment in the Second World War. Colonel Rouvier, a respected soldier who lost an arm in combat in Tunisia, is put in charge of training a parachute regiment of the French Free Forces in England... [More...]
Alexander Esway
Spring, 1944: a decisive moment in the Second World War. Colonel Rouvier, a respected soldier who lost an arm in combat in Tunisia, is put in charge of training a parachute regiment of the French Free Forces in England... [More...]
Beaumarchais, l'insolent (1996)
Edouard Molinaro
In France of the 1770s, the reign of King Louis XV is drawing to an end. Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, the son of a clocksmith, enjoys fame and notoriety as a playwright and outspoken critic of the ruling elite... [More...]
Edouard Molinaro
In France of the 1770s, the reign of King Louis XV is drawing to an end. Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, the son of a clocksmith, enjoys fame and notoriety as a playwright and outspoken critic of the ruling elite... [More...]
Blaise Pascal (1972)
Roberto Rossellini
Blaise Pascal is 16 years old when his family moves to Rouen in 1639 so that his father Étienne can take up his new position as the king's commissioner of taxes... [More...]
Roberto Rossellini
Blaise Pascal is 16 years old when his family moves to Rouen in 1639 so that his father Étienne can take up his new position as the king's commissioner of taxes... [More...]
Le Bossu (1960)
André Hunebelle
In the dying days of the reign of Louis XIV, the scheming prince Philippe de Gonzague decides to murder his cousin, Philippe de Nevers, so that he can take both his fortune and his wife, Isabelle de Caylus... [More...]
André Hunebelle
In the dying days of the reign of Louis XIV, the scheming prince Philippe de Gonzague decides to murder his cousin, Philippe de Nevers, so that he can take both his fortune and his wife, Isabelle de Caylus... [More...]
Cagliostro (1929)
Richard Oswald
In the late 18th century, Joseph Balsamo, alias the Count of Cagliostro, finds fame throughout Europe as a magician, alchemist and fortune teller... [More...]
Richard Oswald
In the late 18th century, Joseph Balsamo, alias the Count of Cagliostro, finds fame throughout Europe as a magician, alchemist and fortune teller... [More...]
Le Capitaine Fracasse (1929)
Alberto Cavalcanti
Sigognac, a penniless young aristocrat, lives alone in his ruined castle. One day, a troupe of travelling actors arrive at his door and ask for shelter for the night... [More...]
Alberto Cavalcanti
Sigognac, a penniless young aristocrat, lives alone in his ruined castle. One day, a troupe of travelling actors arrive at his door and ask for shelter for the night... [More...]
La Chartreuse de Parme (1948)
Christian-Jaque
At the beginning of the 19th Century, the Marquis Fabrice del Dongo returns to Parma, his home town, after having completed his studies in Naples... [More...]
Christian-Jaque
At the beginning of the 19th Century, the Marquis Fabrice del Dongo returns to Parma, his home town, after having completed his studies in Naples... [More...]
Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge (1914)
Albert Capellani
Paris, 1793. After four years of turmoil, the French Revolution has reached its bloodiest phase with the execution of King Louis XVI, the old monarchy replaced by a reign of terror... [More...]
Albert Capellani
Paris, 1793. After four years of turmoil, the French Revolution has reached its bloodiest phase with the execution of King Louis XVI, the old monarchy replaced by a reign of terror... [More...]
Le Colonel Chabert (1943)
René Le Hénaff
Paris, 1817. The wealthy Countess Ferraud is distressed when she begins to receive letters from her husband, Colonel Chabert, who was reported to have died during the Napoleonic wars ten years before... [More...]
René Le Hénaff
Paris, 1817. The wealthy Countess Ferraud is distressed when she begins to receive letters from her husband, Colonel Chabert, who was reported to have died during the Napoleonic wars ten years before... [More...]
Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
Jean-Paul Rappeneau
The popular swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is consumed by his ardent love for his cousin Roxanne but, tragically, his features are so deformed by his large nose that he has little chance of gaining her affections... [More...]
Jean-Paul Rappeneau
The popular swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is consumed by his ardent love for his cousin Roxanne but, tragically, his features are so deformed by his large nose that he has little chance of gaining her affections... [More...]
D'homme à hommes (1948)
Christian-Jaque
In 1858, the Swiss-born Henri Dunant is having difficulties managing a colony in Algeria. He decides to visit the Emperor Napoléon III, who is currently in the middle of a campaign in Italy, to ask for support to build a system of irrigation... [More...]
Christian-Jaque
In 1858, the Swiss-born Henri Dunant is having difficulties managing a colony in Algeria. He decides to visit the Emperor Napoléon III, who is currently in the middle of a campaign in Italy, to ask for support to build a system of irrigation... [More...]
Danton (1983)
Andrzej Wajda
France, 1793. The newly established French Republic is threatened both from within and without. To prevent the Revolution from ending in ignominious failure the Committee for Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, has no option but to instigate a Reign of Terror... [More...]
Andrzej Wajda
France, 1793. The newly established French Republic is threatened both from within and without. To prevent the Revolution from ending in ignominious failure the Committee for Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, has no option but to instigate a Reign of Terror... [More...]
Les Destinées sentimentales (2000)
Olivier Assayas
Jean Barnery is the pastor of a small village in Charente, Shortly after separating from his wife Nathalie, he meets Pauline, the daughter of one of his parishioners who runs a cognac distillery... [More...]
Olivier Assayas
Jean Barnery is the pastor of a small village in Charente, Shortly after separating from his wife Nathalie, he meets Pauline, the daughter of one of his parishioners who runs a cognac distillery... [More...]
Le Diable boiteux (1948)
Sacha Guitry
Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord was born in Paris on 2nd February 1754. Afflicted with a game leg (which earned him the nickname Le Diable boiteux or Lame Devil), he was unable to follow his father in pursuit of military honours and instead opted for an ecclesiastical career... [More...]
Sacha Guitry
Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord was born in Paris on 2nd February 1754. Afflicted with a game leg (which earned him the nickname Le Diable boiteux or Lame Devil), he was unable to follow his father in pursuit of military honours and instead opted for an ecclesiastical career... [More...]
Le Dialogue des Carmélites (1960)
Philippe Agostini
May, 1789. In Compiègne, a town in northern France, two young women enter a Carmelite convent, each determined to devote their lives to the service of Christ... [More...]
Philippe Agostini
May, 1789. In Compiègne, a town in northern France, two young women enter a Carmelite convent, each determined to devote their lives to the service of Christ... [More...]
Diplomatie (2014)
Volker Schlöndorff
It is the night of the 24th-25th August 1944. The fate of Paris is in the hands of one man, General Von Choltitz, who has just received orders from the Fuhrer to blow up the capital... [More...]
Volker Schlöndorff
It is the night of the 24th-25th August 1944. The fate of Paris is in the hands of one man, General Von Choltitz, who has just received orders from the Fuhrer to blow up the capital... [More...]
Don Quichotte (1933)
Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Don Quixote squanders his fortune by buying books about chivalry, which he reads assiduously. After doing so for many years, he believes he is himself a knight, sent on a divine mission to wrong all of the injustices in the world... [More...]
Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Don Quixote squanders his fortune by buying books about chivalry, which he reads assiduously. After doing so for many years, he believes he is himself a knight, sent on a divine mission to wrong all of the injustices in the world... [More...]
L'Enfant sauvage (1970)
François Truffaut
Summer, 1798. In the forests of a rural area of southern France, a party of hunters discover and capture a 12 year old boy who appears to have spent his life living like a wild animal... [More...]
François Truffaut
Summer, 1798. In the forests of a rural area of southern France, a party of hunters discover and capture a 12 year old boy who appears to have spent his life living like a wild animal... [More...]