The Best Of The French Film Festival 2018

Bonjour!  It was quite a pleasure for me seeing all these new French films at the recent French film festival in Sydney.  I have listed my favourites, all highly recommended viewing.  Watch them when you get the chance!

CUSTODY… Intense, highly controlled divorce drama that packs a punch in the end.  From its restrained set-up and understated score, this film grabs you by the throat.  Superbly directed and acted, quite riveting… my best film of the lot!

CATCH THE WIND… A serene and emotional drama about adjustment and dislocation as a working-class French woman relocates to Morocco… a mesmerising and culturally awakening journey for its audience.

THE GUARDIANS… A World War I period piece drama with battles set internally within a family, supported with both great classical cinematography and solid storyline which capture the essence of that era.

BLOODY MILK… Very tense and Coen-esque dark thriller about a dairy farmer desperate to save his cows from an epidemic, avoiding the threat of decimation of his herd by the health authorities.  Brave in theme and approach!

MR STEIN GOES ONLINE… A quirky dramedy that tackles ageing and relationships in a very mature and funny way; never boring and quite provocative.

JEALOUS… Jealousy is the subject of this really zany dramedy about a menopausal mother who feels her life is falling apart.  Wry and authentic!

DOUBLE LOVER… A psychosexual thriller treat that borders on outrageous camp and subliminally repressed desires as only Ozon can deliver.

THE PRICE OF SUCCESS… A quite engaging drama about stardom and the rift it brings to a family, interestingly told from a French-Algerian perspective.

TWO IS A FAMILY… A feel-good father and daughter comedy that hits all the right notes.  It is light and sentimental and touching… perfectly executed!

COBY… A sparse quiet documentary on the life of a female-to-male trans person in the process of transition.  Gentle, unassuming yet affecting.

LOLA PATER… A bittersweet drama about a transgender mother reconnecting with her long-lost son capped with strong lead performances.

GOLDEN YEARS… From the masterful Téchiné, a bizarre but true story about a World War I deserter turned crossdresser to avoid capture.  Quite enough of a draw for this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction film.