French Cinema

Our class in French and Francophone cinema and film offers a diverse mix of classic and contemporary French language films.  The instructor, Manon Bellet, is a French cinephile who has a real passion for movies. 

In this course, after watching French language films, we will examine their directors and actors, analyze the themes and language, and learn vocabulary and expressions related to a specific film and to cinema in general.  Each class includes an open discussion in French and English. 

This course provides a deeper understanding and analysis of French language films in a relaxed environment on Zoom.  Because the class is virtual, the students are asked to watch the film (in French with English subtitles) before the lesson.

Class meets Wednesday night (see dates below) at 6:30 p.m. online on Zoom.

Fee: $70 for the summer semester.

Please find below the list of dates and films for this semester. For more information, please contact Manon Bellet at manon@lunionfrancaise.org

Below is a breakdown of the films to be discussed, which are publicly available and will be shared by Manon:

May 28 • The Taste of Things • 2024, Anh Hung Tran

Set in France in 1889, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant as a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.

June 4 • Olive Trees of Justice • 1962, James Blue

The first and only narrative feature by American documentarian James Blue (Oscar-nominated for A Few Notes On Our Food Problem), The Olive Trees of Justice holds the dual distinctions of being the only French film to have been shot in Algeria during the Algerian War, and to have been the winner of the Prize of the Society of Film and Television Writers at the inaugural Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival in 1962.

Filmed in Algiers and the surrounding countryside during the late stages of the Algerian War, under the pretext that it was a documentary about the wine industry, the film depicts the Algerian struggle for independence from the French by concentrating on a young “pied-noir” (Frenchman of Algerian descent) who returns to Algiers to visit his dying father. His memories of boyhood on his father's farm are told in flashbacks with a lush serenity that contrasts to the teeming, tank-filled streets of contemporary Algiers. Giving the film a neorealist tone by shooting in a documentary style and enrolling a cast that consisted largely of non-professional actors, including author Jean Pelegri who wrote the autobiographical novel from which the film is based, Blue tells a powerful story of common people living and struggling in their daily lives, while providing a valuable testimony to the complexity of the Algerian situation in that time period. in the film. The struggle and endurance of the teacher reveals her to be a dedicated and passionate educator.

The children, their parents or care takers, teachers and administrators were involved as part of the filmmaking process. Issues of immigration, cultural assimilation, social integration and educational philosophy are analyzed within the context of this film.

June 11 • Spend It All • 1971, Les Blank

Ethnographer of the offbeat and hyper-regional Les Blank offers a rich, fragrant look at the vitality of the Cajun lifestyle, paying special attention to the food, music (including legendary figures like the Balfa Brothers, Marc Savoy, and Nathan Abshire), and humor of the culture. Infused with the filmmaker’s zest for life and people, this is a joyous immersion into a culture steeped in tradition and an unshakeable sense of community.

June 18 • Haute Cuisine • 2012, Christian Vincent

This French comedy-drama film is based on the true story of Danièle Mazet-Delpeuch and how she was appointed as the private chef for François Mitterrand. The original French title is Les Saveurs du palais.

In the film, Hortense Laborie (Catherine Frot), a renowned chef from Périgord, is astonished when the President of the Republic (Jean d'Ormesson) appoints her as his personal chef, responsible for creating all his meals at the Élysée Palace. Despite jealous resentment from the other kitchen staff, Hortense quickly establishes herself, thanks to her indomitable spirit. The authenticity of her cooking soon seduces the President, but the corridors of power are littered with traps. The story is framed by Laborie's later role cooking at a French Antarctic research station.

June 25 • The Big Restaurant • 1966, Jacques Besnard

The Big Restaurant (French: Le grand restaurant) is a French comedy-thriller film from 1966, directed by Jacques Besnard.

In the film, protagonist Septime runs a top Paris restaurant, fawning to customers (unless they are German) and bullying his staff. Novalès, head of a Latin American country who is on a state visit to France, comes to dinner and is served a speciality of the house, a flambéed dessert. When Septime lights it, it explodes. Once the smoke has cleared, the president has vanished. The police, led by the commissaire, first think Septime arranged the abduction. When they realise that he is innocent, they wire him up as a decoy, expecting the kidnappers to contact him. They do, telling him to meet them in the French Alps, where the police follow him. Enrique and Sophia, loyal aides of Novalès, also follow Septime to try to recover their boss.

After a chase through snow-covered mountains, Septime decoys the kidnappers into the hands of the police. Free and back in Paris, he is abducted and flown to the Mediterranean coast. In a beautiful garden, he meets Novalès, who arranged his own abduction in order to have a holiday. But he knows he will have to go back to his duties and, returning to Paris, gives Septime the credit for finding him.Coming with his aides for a last celebratory dinner at Septime's restaurant, they are served the special flambéed dessert. When Septime lights it, it explodes again.