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French Film Festival · 2013

French Film Festival 2013

Preview

A chance to take an early look at films which will be distributed in the UK in the coming months.

Programme

8 films · 5 reviews

Jump to a film

Attila Marcel

Review preview for Attila Marcel

Chomet captures the way that memories can mislead or turn into a torrent but despite the jokes, he never loses sight of Paul's sadness.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A man rendered mute by childhood trauma finds a road into his memories with the help of a neighbour.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: Sylvain Chomet; Writer: Sylvain Chomet; Stars: Guillaume Gouix, Anne Le Ny, Bernadette Lafont, Hélène Vincent, Luis Rego, Fanny Touron, Kea Kaing, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Vincent Deniard, Cyril Couton, Philippe Soutan, Guilhem Pellegrin, Jean-Paul Solal, Jean-Pol Brissart, Elsa Davoine)

Becoming Traviata

A behind the scenes documentary about the staing of La Traviata at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.

(Country: France; Year: 2012; Director: Philippe Béziat)

Camille Claudel, 1915

Review preview for Camille Claudel, 1915

An inward, austere examination of ideas of madness, empathy and the creative impulse.

Jeff Robson · 4 out of 5
Confined to an asylum, the former mistress of sculptor Auguste Rodin tries desperately to obtain a release.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: Bruno Dumont; Writer: Bruno Dumont; Stars: Juliette Binoche, Jean-Luc Vincent, Emmanuel Kauffman, Marion Keller)

Chinese Puzzle (Casse-tête chinois)

The continuing adventures of Xavier who, after Pot Luck and Russian Dolls, is a fish-out-water in New York in pursuit of his estranged wife.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: Cédric Klapisch; Writer: Cédric Klapisch; Stars: Kelly Reilly, Audrey Tautou, Cécile De France, Sandrine Holt, Romain Duris, Cassandra Starr, Kevin Bishop, Amanda M. Rodriguez, Adrian Martinez, Toshiko Onizawa, Alex Ziwak, Ashley Lambert, Shuya Chang, Li Jun Li, Celia Au)

Fanny

The second part of Daniel Auteuil’sMarseilles Trilogy revival, begins where the last story ended, concentrating on the heroine’s efforts to survive back home while her lover sails the seven seas.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: Daniel Auteuil; Writer: Daniel Auteuil, Marcel Pagnol; Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Victoire Bélézy, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Raphaël Personnaz, Marie-Anne Chazel, Nicolas Vaude, Daniel Russo, Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Louis Barcelona, Georges Neri, Martine Diotalevi, Roger Souza, Bernard Larmande, Michèle Granier, Aline Choisi)

Love Is In The Air (Amour & turbulences)

Review preview for Love Is In The Air

There are no prizes for guessing where this sprightly romantic comedy is going, but it's more entertaining than most along the way.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
A man and the woman he split up with three years previously meet by chance on a plane.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: Alexandre Castagnetti; Writer: Xavier Nemo, Xavier Nemo, Nirina Ralanto, Nirina Ralanto, Julien Simonet, Julien Simonet, Vincent Angell, Nicolas Bedos, Nicolas Bedos, Brigitte Bémol, Alexandre Castagnetti; Stars: Ludivine Sagnier, Nicolas Bedos, Jonathan Cohen, Arnaud Ducret, Brigitte Catillon, Jackie Berroyer, Clémentine Célarié, Michel Vuillermoz, Lila Salet, Ina Castagnetti, Sophie-Charlotte Husson, Yves Espargilière, Cédric Nouet, David Capelle, Jean-Philippe Goudroye)

Marius

Review preview for Marius

A hug of a film which, despite being set in a sun-kissed fairytale style Marseilles, is perfect for those looking for a feel-good outing that's suitable for all the family in the run-up to Christmas.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Love story between a would-be sailor and his childhood friend.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: Daniel Auteuil; Writer: Daniel Auteuil, Marcel Pagnol; Stars: Raphaël Personnaz, Victoire Bélézy, Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Marie-Anne Chazel, Nicolas Vaude, Daniel Russo, Rufus)

Young & Beautiful (Jeune et jolie, Jeune & Jolie)

Review preview for Young & Beautiful

Keeps holding out a promise of insight into its young protagonist's mentality and makeup, but ends up merely observing her from a cool distance, as if through the binoculars from the opening scene.

Anton Bitel · 3 out of 5
Portrait of a 17-year-old, who sells her body for cash.

(Country: France; Year: 2013; Director: François Ozon; Writer: François Ozon; Stars: Marine Vacth, Géraldine Palhas, Frédéric Pierrot, Fantan Ravat, Johan Leysen, Charlotte Rampling, Nathalie Richard, Djedje Apali, Lucas Prisor, Laurent Delbecque, Jeanne Ruff )