French Cinema

[Great Gable]

I can't think of any shockingly bad French film transfers in my collection Harry (although there might well be). I do have one dubbed film, however, purely because it was very cheap, and that was a BIG mistake. Of all the foreign films I have I never use the English dubbing, just sub-titles. It'd be like listening to an opera in English - yuk! I have picked up a smattering or French this way, so it serves some purpose.

[Great Gable]

I can't think of any shockingly bad French film transfers in my collection Harry (although there might well be). I do have one dubbed film, however, purely because it was very cheap, and that was a BIG mistake. Of all the foreign films I have I never use the English dubbing, just sub-titles. It'd be like listening to an opera in English - yuk! I have picked up a smattering or French this way, so it serves some purpose.

[Que]

Bought these yesterday to get more into French cinema, I've seen "Jean de Florette" and "Manon des Sources" before. I hope I chose wisely. 



Q

[Harry]

Bought these yesterday to get more into French cinema, I've seen "Jean de Florette" and "Manon des Sources" before. I hope I chose wisely. 



Q

Well I could say you did, because I bought them too. So if your taste in films is like mine, you will have some pleasant days ahead watching these......

[pjme]

French films can be unbearably bad ( from burlesque comedy to would-be philosophical drama...).

However, there are (great) masterpieces that will stand the test of time :

Marcel Carné : Les enfants du paradis - a real monument
Jean Cocteau : La belle et la bête ( a non-sentimental fairy tale)
François Ozon : 8 femmes ( a cruel tale...an a-typical musical ), Le temps qui reste ( extremely sad....)
Patrice Chéreau :'l Homme blessé, Son frère ( Chéreau is serious about la condition humaine...)
Phillippe de Broca : Le roi de coeur ( 1966 - a little gem)
Georges Franju : Les yeux sans visage ( 1960 - almost a horror film/ not quite a masterpiece/ stiil, creepy!.....with Pierre Brassseur ,Edith Scob and Alida Valli - black&white)



François Truffaut : Jules et Jim ( modernist masterpiece)

[M forever]

That, for a non-French speaker is the equivalent of not being available. Most of the films released ONLY in France do not come with Englich subtitles. Bizarre but there you have it. Another example of that is "Le Grand Chemin" - one of my faves but French version only.

Time to learn French then. It's a very "useful" and "relevant" language anyway, tons of interesting literature (if you are into that kind of thing, you know, books and stuff) and many good movies - a lot of which you already have. Movies are also a very good tool to practice listening to and understanding a language. I hope you watch these at least with the original language track and subtitles, not the dubbed version! I violently hate dubbing, especially since in Germany, everything is dubbed. And even though they do it very well, I find it bizarre and it completely destroys the movie for me. Fortunately, there have been video stores in Berlin which stocked OVs for a long time, and with DVDs, there is now typically the option of watching the movie in the original language, and there are cinemas in the larger German cities which show movies in the OV. Not that it matters much to me now that I live in the US. Where it's really hard to see any "foreign" movies anyway. But at least the English language productions are all shown in the OV 

Regarding France vs Hollywood. Many of my favourite fims of all time are from England and USA during the 40's and 50's. None of my favourites come from either country since around 1990. My favourite French films come from all eras, which speaks volumes.

There are still some very good recent British and American movies, by any standard. Yours I gather is that you look for original and inividual productions, not assembly line. There are a lot of really intelligently and originally written and produced American movies, you can't hold it against the people who made these movies that they come from an environment which has a huge, heavily commercialized film industry, as much as the standardized and clichéed mainstream products of that industry get on your nerves (same here, BTW). In fact, this industry provides and environment in which a lot of "smaller" movies can still be made which couldn't be in smaller industries. Even "low budget" movies cost alot of money, and that has to come from somewhere.
A lot of the American "classics" from the 40s and 50s come from the studio system, too, which cranked out thousands and thousands of films, and some of these turned out to be really good while most of the other ones are now forgotten. Still, without that production environment none of the better ones would have been made either.

I must say M, that if something is a "mega-hit" I usually avaoid it. For example, I didn't watch "The Exorcist" for about 15 years due to the original hype. It is often the case that if it's popular I won't like it.

The difference between fake hype and true quality is time. Every movie gets hyped, especially since the box office targets are now very short term. The ridiculous "opening weekend" fixation has really downgraded movie quality in general a lot. But if a movie has staying power and leaves a lasting impression with many people, there is usually some substance behind the hype.

[Solitary Wanderer]

Breathing life into this thread...



What a fantastic movie! I really felt for the struggling family [who were as asset to the small minded community] and felt anger towards the neighbours from hell.

The elemental stuff was great too; scorching summer heat, thunder storms, glorious spring water etc.

And no dumb Hollyweird ending either.

I look forward to the sequel 

[Great Gable]

Glad you liked it Chris. Manon is even better imo - and a nice, sting in the tail, ending.

I love the way the weather plays a major factor - the heat is stifling and oppresive and goes a long way to conveying the heightened tension and ostracism of the family.

[Shrunk]

Glad you liked it Chris. Manon is even better imo - and a nice, sting in the tail, ending.

Seconded.  Plus it has the added bonus of Emmanuelle Beart at her most ravishing.

[Great Gable]

Seconded.  Plus it has the added bonus of Emmanuelle Beart at her most ravishing.

Steady Tiger! (Although he has a point - and she is certainly not as attractive now!). Of course that's a minor point - artistically it's a cracker.

[pjme]

Tonight, "Jules et Jim" is on ARTE!

[Great Gable]

Tonight, "Jules et Jim" is on ARTE!

I never could get into that - perhaps it's just the concept of a menage a trois that makes me uncomfortable.

[paulb]

Hire a student! Give me strength Harry! 

I have to maintain lists for insurance purposes. My collection is small compared to yours (3950 CDs and 1550 DVDs) but keeping records is essential as even a modest collection is outside the scope of normal insurance.

Great Gable
Thanks for posting the topic

I have some of the ones you mentioned in my amazon wish list.

I hope my philips portable DVD plays the ones that are imported and need special players.
not what the "all regions " mean?

I see I've missed out on some great french films.

Does anyone know the name of the french film with the famous french actor who plays the part of a  adopted boy and yrs later receives all sorts of ugly threats and come to find out it was the other adopted boy he lived with.

I should not have told the ending, for those who missed the movie. Came out last yr in american theaters.



Paul

[Shrunk]

Does anyone know the name of the french film with the famous french actor who plays the part of a  adopted boy and yrs later receives all sorts of ugly threats and come to find out it was the other adopted boy he lived with.

I should not have told the ending, for those who missed the movie. Came out last yr in american theaters.

Do you mean Cache by Michael Haneke?  We had a bit of a discussion on it here.  Although, if that's the film you mean, I don't know if there's really an ending to give away

[paulb]

Do you mean Cache by Michael Haneke?  We had a bit of a discussion on it here.  Although, if that's the film you mean, I don't know if there's really an ending to give away

No thats not it.
It was shown in american theaters in 2006.
Plot is this mystery of threats and strange notes with blood on them and the guy can't figure out who is doing these dark threatening assults to his peaceful life style in paris. He does not know of any enemies.
He is finally given tips as to where to find this intruder into his life, and goes to this apatment and there discovers its the person that he once lived with as a  youth, now an old bitter man. Bitter because the main character had pinned dirty deeds when both were playing around the house. So the parents had the adopted kid sent away to a  detention home.
Found it, its Daniel Auteuil in CACHE (Hidden) 2005.
Story of how bad deeds in youth , unrepenred, come back to haunt one later in life.
I made sure to see that french american release, as there are too few french films shown in New orlean theathers.
I guess NYC and other big cities receive more foregin films.

Highly recommended film, alot of suspense and mystery.

[Shrunk]

No thats not it.

Umm, don't you mean "Yes, that's it."? 

Plot is this mystery of threats and strange notes with blood on them and the guy can't figure out who is doing these dark threatening assults to his peaceful life style in paris. He does not know of any enemies.
He is finally given tips as to where to find this intruder into his life, and goes to this apatment and there discovers its the person that he once lived with as a  youth, now an old bitter man. Bitter because the main character had pinned dirty deeds when both were playing around the house. So the parents had the adopted kid sent away to a  detention home.
Found it, its Daniel Auteuil in CACHE (Hidden) 2005.

I think you're making the story sound much more straightforward than it is.  It's never made clear who is sending the messages, and in an  interview on the DVD the director makes it clear he intended to leave that ambiguous.  But I agree, it's an excellent film.

[paulb]

Umm, don't you mean "Yes, that's it."? 

I think you're making the story sound much more straightforward than it is.  It's never made clear who is sending the messages, and in an  interview on the DVD the director makes it clear he intended to leave that ambiguous.  But I agree, it's an excellent film.

yes that is it
I forgot to go back after i looked up the name.
It was the man's son that was sending the messages, at least what we are led to believe.
Great film.
French FILMS are so far superior than HOLLOW-wood "movies"

[val]

Great Gable


I own the following French films on DVD

Alphaville, Une Etrange Aventure de Lemmy Caution - Criterion Special Edition
Amants Du Pont-Neuf, Les (aka The Lovers on the Bridge)
Amelie (aka Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie Poulain)
Armée Des Ombres, L'  (aka Army In The Shadows)
Bandera, La
Bob Le Flambeur
Bon Voyage
Bossu, Le
Breathless (aka "A Bout De Souffle")
Bride Wore Black, The (aka La Mariee Etait En Noir)
Brotherhood Of The Wolf (aka Le Pacte Des Loups)
Cercle Rouge, Le (aka The Red Circle) - Criterion Special Edition
City of Lost Children (Dubbed version) (aka La Cité des Enfants Perdus)
Clockmaker, The (aka L' Horloger de Saint-Paul)
Confidentially Yours  (aka Vivement Dimanche!) (aka Finally Sunday)
Corbeau, Le (aka The Raven)
Crimson Rivers 2:Angels Of The Apocalypse (aka Rivières Pourpres II, Les Anges de L'Apocalypse)
Crimson Rivers, The - Special Edition (aka Rivières Pourpres, Les)
Crying Freeman  (dubious inclusion - given it's English Languauge - and I have to say - it is DIRE)
Death In A French Garden (aka Péril en la Demeure)
Delicatessen
Diabolique, Les - Criterion Special Edition
Diva
Doulos, Le (Wide Screen)
Egouts Du Paradis, Les
Empire of the Wolves (aka L' Empire des Loups)
Espions, Les
Femme Nikita, La
Flic, Un (aka Dirty Money)
Girl From Paris, The (aka Une Hirondelle a Fait le Printemps)
Girl On The Bridge, The (aka La Fille sur le Pont)
Grande Illusion, La - Criterion Special Edition
Happenstance ( aka Le Battement d'ailes du Papillon)
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (aka À la Folie... Pas du Tout)
Homme Du Train, L'
Horseman on the Roof, The (aka Le Hussard Sur le Toit)
Jean de Florette
Lady And The Duke (aka L' Anglaise et le Duc)
Laissez-Passer (aka Safe Conduct)
L'Appartement
Last Metro, The (aka Le Dernier Metro)
Lift to the Scaffold (aka Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud / aka Elevator to the Gallows)
Lucie Aubrac
Ma Vie Est Un Enfer (aka My Life Is Hell)
Man Escaped, A (aka Un Condamné à Mort S'est Echappé)
Manon de Sources (aka Manon Of The Spring)
More
My Father's Glory (aka La Gloire De Mon Pere)
My Mother's Castle (aka La Chateau De Ma Mere)
Olivier, Olivier
Paltoquet, Le [1986]
Pepe Le Moko - Criterion Special Edition
Place Vendome
Professionnel, Le (aka The Professional)
Pura Formalita, Una (aka A Pure Formality)
Quai Des Orfevres (aka Jenny Lamour) - Criterion Special Edition
Reine Margot, La (aka Queen Margot)
Revenge of the Musketeers (aka La Fille de d'Artagnan)
Rififi - Criterion Special Edition (aka Du Rififi Chez Les Hommes)
Samouraï, Le - Criterion Special Edition
Sorrow And The Pity, The (aka Le Chagrin et la Pitié)
Subway
Sunday In The Country (aka Un Dimanche à la Campagne)
Trois Couleurs: Blanc (aka "Three Colours: White")
Trois Couleurs: Bleu (aka "Three Colours: Blue")
Trois Couleurs: Rouge (aka "Three Colours: Red")
Trou, Le (aka The Hole) - Criterion Special Edition
Vallee, La (aka "The Valley - Obscured By Clouds")
Very Long Engagement, A (aka Un Long Dimanche De Fiancailles)
Veuve De Saint-Pierre, La (aka "The Widow of Saint-Pierre")
Visiteurs, Les
Wages Of Fear, The (aka "La Salaire De La Peur") - Criterion Special Edition

A remarkable list. I didn't see all these movies, but I would add 6 other films that I always loved:

La belle et la bête, de Jean Cocteau

Les visiteurs du soir, de Marcel Carné

Mr. Klein, de Joseph Losey (a French production, with Alan Delon)

Week-end, de Godard

Boudu sauvé des eaux, de Jean Renoir (there is a very bad Hollywood remake)

Tous les matins du monde (a delightful movie about Sainte-Colombe et Marin Marais)

[longears]

Allow me to use this comment from IMDB,

Why do so many people need to "get into the characters" "care about the characters" "identify with the characters", to enjoy or appreciate a great film? I think it's a type of selfishness, as shallow as the urge to reject an outcome one doesn't like.

Why would you quote an idiot from the responses at IMDB?  To me, film is a visual medium, primarily about images.  There are many movies in which story is just an excuse for imagery, so if it's visually interesting, I can enjoy the film, no matter how shallow the story.  Case in point:  Zhang Yimou's fantasy swordplay flicks.

Most movies, however, are largely about story.  And story starts and ends with character (except for the most superficial, which are about plot).  Interest in the characters, in their choices and consequences, in what drives them, shapes them, motivates them, and changes them, is anything but "shallow," regardless of what drooling 12-year-olds might think.  The depths are found in character and how your character responds to conflict.  And though Jules et Jim is largely about style--a very superficial thing--it is (like all of Truffaut's work) mostly about story, about how characters respond to their situations in life.

Thinking of Jules et Jim reminds me of George Roy Hill's homage to this movie in the midst of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

[Shrunk]

yes that is it
I forgot to go back after i looked up the name.
It was the man's son that was sending the messages, at least what we are led to believe.

I'm still not convinced that anyone was clearly sending the videotapes.  I don't think the movie is meant to be taken as a literal narrative with a tidy, coherent plot.  As someone pointed out to me on the other thread, in the last shot someone is visible filming the two sons. Is that the culprit?  Or are the two boys co-conspirators? It's also not always clear whether we're watching a video or an actual scene from the film.  For instance, the penultimate scene is a long shot of Majid, as a child, being taken away to the home.  It's structured exactly like the threatening videos, but obviously it couldn't be.  Or is it so obvious?  It's hard to know how the film of Auteil arguing with Majid in the kitchen could have been made without Auteil being aware of it.

My wife actually thought the protagonist's mother was responsible for the videos.  I think that's a bit of a stretch.  Still, it shows what I feel is the film's greatest strength:  its openness to various interpretations.

Great film.French FILMS are so far superior than HOLLOW-wood "movies"

I suspect we're going to find out exactly how superior; Ron Howard is apparently working on an American version of Cache.