Tag Archives: France

Un condamné à mort s’est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut / A Man Escaped (1956) Robert Bresson, François Leterrier, Charles Le Clainche, Maurice Beerblock, Drama, Thriller, War

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A Man Escaped opens with the indelible image of a pair of restless hands belonging to a French resistance officer named Lieutenant Fontaine (Francois Leterrier). His face is inscrutable and impassive, concealing his calculated attempt to flee from the escorted prison transport vehicle. He reaches for the door handle, retreats, then reaches again. At a momentary distraction of a crossing railcar, he seizes the opportunity, but is immediately recaptured, and is severely beaten by the German guards for the attempt. Imprisoned and condemned to die, Fontaine finds the courage and determination to escape his certain fate.
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Pickpocket (1959) Robert Bresson, Martin LaSalle, Marika Green, Jean Pélégri, Crime, Drama

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Michel takes up picking pockets as a hobby, and is arrested almost immediately, giving him the chance to reflect on the morality of crime. After his release, though, his mother dies, and he rejects the support of friends Jeanne and Jacques in favour of returning to pickpocketing (after taking lessons from an expert), because he realises that it’s the only way he can express himself…
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Sib / The Apple (1998) Samira Makhmalbaf, Massoumeh Naderi, Zahra Naderi, Ghorban Ali Naderi, Drama

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This unusual Iranian documentary/drama is based on the true story of a poor and religious 65-year-old father who kept his two 12-year-old daughters locked in their small house from the day that they were born. Their blind mother agreed with the arrangement since she was unable to supervise them in any other way. Thanks to the concern of neighbors over the plight of Massoumeh and Zahra, a social worker looked into the matter and found the girls unable to talk or walk properly. They were given the first baths in their lives and then returned to their home. The father, believing that he has been publicly shamed by his neighbors, promises not to keep them imprisoned anymore.
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Leur dernière nuit (1953) Georges Lacombe, Jean Gabin, Madeleine Robinson, Michel Barbey, Drama

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Pierre Ruffin (Gabin), directeur d’une bibliothèque publique à Paris, une journée de l’homme estimée, la nuit devient le chef d’une bande de criminels. Cependant, pour Madeleine Marsan (Robinson), Pierre est l’homme qui l’a aidée quand elle était en difficulté, l’homme qui a découvert le véritable amour dans le milieu de l’adversité et de la tragédie …
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Préparez vos mouchoirs / Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (1978) Bertrand Blier, Gérard Depardieu, Carole Laure, Patrick Dewaere, Comedy, Drama, Romance

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Solange is depressed: she’s stopped smiling, she eats little, she says less. She has fainting fits. Her husband Raoul seeks to save her by enlisting Stephane, a stranger, to be her lover. Although he listens to Mozart and has every Pocket Book arranged in alphabetical order, Stephane fails to cheer Solange. She knits. She does housework. Everyone, including their neighbor a vegetable vendor, agrees that she needs a child, yet she fails to get pregnant by either lover. The three take a job running a kids’ summer camp where they meet Christian, the precocious 13-year-old son of the local factory manager. It is Christian who restores Solange to laughter.
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The Tit and the Moon (1994) Bigas Luna, Biel Duran, Mathilda May, Gérard Darmon, Art-house, Comedy, Romance

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This Spanish/French film presents a loving ode to a woman’s breasts and the three men who love them. The fairy tale is told from the viewpoint of 9-year old Tete, who jealous of his new brother’s access to his mother’s breasts, implores the moon to give him a nurturing breast of his own. French cabaret performers Estrellita, the Queen of Stuttgart, and her jealous husband Maurice, come to town with their surprisingly vulgar act. When Tete sees Estrellita, he knows his wish has been granted. Trailer-park electrician Miquel is also very attracted to Estrellita’s charming chest and begins serenade her. Tete gets to sample her charms after he brings her a frog.
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Terre battue / 40-Love (2014) Stéphane Demoustier, Olivier Gourmet, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Charles Mérienne, Drama

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Determined to no longer work for anyone else, Jérôme tries to set up his own company, no matter the cost and despite his wife’s reluctance. Ugo, their 11-year-old son, plays tennis and wants to become a champion. To do so, he must get into the French national tennis training school at Roland Garros.
Like his father, Ugo is ready to do anything to achieve his aims. Together, Ugo and Jérôme come to learn that you can’t bend the rules in order to succeed.
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Histoire d’O / The Story of O (1975) [UNCUT 105min] Just Jaeckin, Corinne Cléry, Udo Kier, Anthony Steel, Erotic, Drama

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A story about an unorthodox relationship The Story of O is still a controversial film many have found to be scandalous, unbearably graphic. Its explicit narrative, as well as unconventional depiction of human desire, is certainly amongst the boldest in mainstream cinema. Not surprisingly, moralistic watchdogs have dismissed it time and time again as pornography.
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Tarzoon La Honte de la Jungle (1975) Picha, Boris Szulzinger, Bernard Dhéran, Georges Aminel, Arlette Thomas, Adventure, Animation, Comedy

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Dans sa caravane perchée dans les arbres, Tarzoon (Shame) coule des jours heureux en compagnie de June sa femme, et Flicka, son singe. Un brave garçon dont il n’y a rien à dire. Mais, non loin de là, vit la reine Bazonga, protégée dans son royaume souterrain par une armée de créatures phalliques, les Zombits. Prête à conquérir le monde, elle n’a qu’un souci : sa calvitie. Seule une greffe pourrait la sauver et, justement June a les cheveux qu’il lui faudrait…
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