Alliance Francais French Film Festival 2016: 3 Passionate French Films to Watch

What happens to you when there is ‘passion’? Something inside is ignited that ‘moves’ you. It brings about a new energy, a ‘hum’ that makes you do things, create things, say things, write things, not because you have been asked to or paid to, but you have a desire to. There is a joy, a pure joy, when something is done with passion. I’m a firm believer of disrupting routine and carving time away for passionate pursuits to bring in new energy and reinvigorate the soul. Every year I carve time out to watch the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival and this year brings an excellent array of French cinema across seven cities in Australia.

I love the French romance comedy films. They are easy watch, give me good chuckle and always give me this warm fuzzy feeling inside. Here are my picks of 3 passionate French flicks to watch at the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival 2016 that made me come out and say “I really enjoyed that film”.

#1 Blind Date

Imagine developing a relationship with someone you have never seen before. You both agree not to know each other’s names, you are able to hear what they say and do everyday, but you never see them. In Blind Date, an intriguing relationship develops between two neighbours, an attractive young pianist and an obsessive designer who originally demands to be in absolute silence, who are separated by a very thin common wall due to an architecture defect. This film is about how relationships can just develop from the most basic requirement of just being present and sometimes not seeing, is when you see things more clearly. There were a few moments when I was in fits of laughter, and moments that brought tears. This film is highly entertaining, quirky and loads of fun to watch.

Duration: 90 minutes PG
Director: Clovis Cornillac
Cast: MÉLANIE BERNIER, CLOVIS CORNILLAC, LILOU FOGLI, PHILIPPE DUQUESNE

#2 All About Them

What happens when there is an intertwined love with three people involved? The film, All About Them is a naughty but nice comedy of erotic complications between an impassioned lawyer Melodie who is entwined with Charlotte. The return of Charlotte’s boyfriend Micha comes as a shock and soon Micha falls for Melodie and vice versa while Melodie still loves Charlotte. How long can two parallel affairs continue? Is three really a crowd? Perhaps there’s only one way that will please everyone. Definitely a fresh and quirky twist on the classic ménage à trois. This film is guaranteed to raise a smile.

Duration: 86 minutes 15years +
Director: Jerome Bonnell
Cast: Anais Demoustier, Felix Moati, Sophi Verbeeck, Patrick D’Assumcao

#3 Courted

This film is an interesting blend of courtroom drama and a suppressed love. The film is about Xavier Racine, a judge that presides in a country court over a tragic murder case. He recognises jury member Ditte, an anaesthetist he fell in love with several years ago when he was admitted to hospital. The judge, breaking all protocol, connects with her outside. In wistful contemplative dialogue scenes, the judge softens his heart as they recall a past of missed opportunities, all while revelations of the murder unfold. The acting is brilliant in this film and very engaging to watch. I didn’t realise how quickly time went by whilst watching this film. Wonderfully done.

DurationL 98 mins PG
Director: Christian Vincent
Cast: Fabrice Luchini, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Eva Lallier, Corinne Masiero

The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival 2016 is on now for the next few weeks. Check out the Festival’s website for session times in your capital city.

http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/