Today marks Bastille Day, the French national holiday, so we decided to celebrate by talking about the brilliance of French cinema, or should we say, cinéma.
While we have lots of (edible, drinkable) things to thank our European neighbours for, like the baguette, the croissant, cheese, and wine, they have also given us some extraordinary, unforgettable movie moments over the years.
Here are six films from the last twenty years that are absolute classics and demand to be seen:
1. Amélie
This colourful film is full of life and was responsible for setting off the career of its lead actress, the gorgeous Audrey Tautou. Tautou plays a shy waitress who is all kinds of quirky. She falls in love with a man in her hometown of Montmartre but doesn’t quite know what she’s meant to do about it – something very relatable I’m sure! The film paints a quaint, postcard-like image of Paris and there’s a delightful, whimsical quality to the soundtrack.
2. La Haine
This gritty urban film gained a huge cult following after its release and it’s easy to see why. The three leads – Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé and Saïd Taghmaoui – are a thrill to watch. They play three friends struggling to survive in the banlieues of Paris, wandering around the city in boredom and frustration. The movie’s dominant themes of prejudice and discrimination are particularly timely now.
3. The Chorus/Les Choristes
The Chorus is touching and emotive with incredible performances from its young cast members. Music teacher Clément Mathieu sets up a choir in a boarding institution for "difficult" boys, allow the children to thrive and gain a confidence they never had before. The music in the film is simply beautiful, and the story stays with you long after viewing.
4. Blue is the warmest colour
Obviously this film gained a bit of a rep in the wake of its release for its queer and highly sexual content, but actually the most striking accomplishment of the film is how eloquently it captures the joy and heartache of love and relationships. The film stars Inglorious Basterds actress Léa Seydoux and newcomer Adèle Exarchopoulos. It’s a long film, clocking in at 3 hours, but it’s also one of a kind.
5. A Prophet/ Un prophète
This adrenaline-pumped crime film about a young Arab man who becomes enlisted in the mafia while in prison became the surprise hit at Cannes in 2009, where it won the Grand Prix. The film also won a BAFTA and nine Cesar awards. Director Jacques Audiard has since directed Rust and Bone, starring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts, another film which is also stunning and well worth seeing.
6. The Intouchables
Of course, one can’t forget The Intouchables, released five years ago to widespread acclaim. Its premise sees an impertinent but admirably resolute man named Driss become the caretaker for a wealthy quadriplegic named Philippe, in spite of having no qualifications whatsoever. As we see a friendship burgeon between the two, it becomes fairly predictable what’s going to happen. In spite of that, the film’s sharp-witted script and endearing characters give it that extra push to make the film extraordinary.
