The recent French Film Festival featured a generous 54 films in their lineup. Out of this eclectic collection, I am recommending 23 of them as the best of the lot. These films got my five-star approval rating so catch them when you can if they ever get a cinema release.
Drama: I consider French drama to be one of the best in world cinema and the offerings this year will truly transport you. This category is so diverse and plentiful that I will divide it into two subcategories: human struggle and family drama.
In terms of human struggle, the French are the real masters in the art of restraint in both emotion and film style. This is strongly captured in the unbearable union battle of AT WAR and the child adoption struggles of IN SAFE HANDS. Then, there are the against all odds personal journeys such as the unlikely piano student of IN YOUR HANDS as well as an untrained builder in THE IDEAL PALACE. Check out the latest from Francois Ozon in his riveting expose of the church scandals in BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
Family drama is rife in the theme of grief over the loss of a loved one in the following films: AMANDA, CLAIRE DARLING, THE SUMMER HOUSE and PROMISE AT DAWN. Each film explores enduring family bonds but, at most times, dysfunctions in family relationships.
Romance: Nothing like a good romance to lose yourself in cinema. There is the very affecting firefighting tragedy THROUGH THE FIRE and the touching 80s AIDS drama SORRY ANGEL, both films deal with relationships surmounting all obstacles. For the unconventional, there is the interestingly framed mystery romance thriller in WHO YOU THINK I AM and the very dark territories of an exploitative relationship in AN IMPOSSIBLE LOVE.
Comedy: The opening night film feel-good comedy SINK OR SWIM will not disappoint, tackling midlife crises in the most hilarious way. A pleasant surprise was ROLLING TO YOU which delicately treads on disability and dating. There is also the dark comedy on the twisted nature of fame in PLACE PUBLIQUE. Explore the angst-ridden life of teenagers in GENESIS and have a salacious getaway in the sex comedy OUR HAPPY HOLIDAY.
Thriller/Horror: The blood spilling slasher gore in REVENGE will keep you at the edge of your seat. Pair this with France’s own original contribution to the zombie apocalypse genre in THE NIGHT EATS THE WORLD.
Documentaries: Check out France’s meticulously competitive wine industry in WINE CALLING and be dazzled with their fashion in JEAN PAUL GAULTIER: FREAK & CHIC. I was also entertained with this very deceivingly believable mockumentary GUY.
Happy très bien viewing!
The Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) is back from 23 October to 22 November 2023, with screenings in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, and the Gold Coast.
In the enigmatic introspection of Kei Ishikawa’s A MAN, the boundaries of identity blur with the essence of truth, subjecting itself to endless scrutiny. Adapted from Keiichiro Hirano’s novel, Ishikawa artfully delves deep into self-discovery that challenges our perceptions of ourselves and others.
