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New York's Rendez-Vous With French Cinema · 2015

New York's Rendez-Vous With French Cinema 2015

Feature line-up

Programme

22 films · 13 reviews

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40-Love (Terre battue)

Review preview for 40-Love

Gourmet is phenomenal as the shopping centre aficionado who makes us understand a little more why the world is in the state it is in today.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4 out of 5
When a man loses his job he is forced to become more involved with his tennis prodigy son.

(Country: France, Belgium; Year: 2014; Director: Stéphane Demoustier; Writer: Stéphane Demoustier, Gaëlle Macé; Stars: Olivier Gourmet, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Charles Mérienne, Vimala Pons, Jean-Yves Berteloot, Sam Louwyck, Husky Kihal, Sandrine Dumas, Olivier Brabant, François Godart, Fanny Roussel, Sylvain Pottiez, Elisabeth Tissot-Guerez, Antoine Loison, Tristan Martins)

Full review

Breathe (Respire)

A passionate relationship develops between two adolescent girls.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Mélanie Laurent; Writer: Julien Lambroschini, based on the book by Anne-Sophie Brasme.; Stars: Lou de Laâge, Joséphine Japy, Roxane Duran)

The Connection

A magistrate becomes determined to nail a heroin kingpin.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Cédric Jimenez; Writer: Audrey Diwan, Cédric Jimenez; Stars: Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lellouche, Céline Sallette, Mélanie Doutey, Benoît Magimel, Guillaume Gouix, Bruno Todeschini, Féodor Atkine, Moussa Maaskri, Pierre Lopez, Eric Collado, Cyril Lecomte, Jean-Pierre Sanchez, Georges Neri, Martial Bezot)

US premiere.

The Dorkels (Mange Tes Morts, Eat Your Bones)

A teenager is torn between his gangster roots and his religious beliefs.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Jean-Charles Hue; Writer: Jean-Charles Hue; Stars: Jason François, Michael Daube, Frédéric Dorkel, Moïse Dorkel, Philippe Marti)

US premiere.

Fidelio, Alice's Odyssey (Fidelio, L'odyssée d'Alice, Fidelio: Alice's Journey)

Review preview for Fidelio, Alice's Odyssey

We see events from Alice's perspective, meaning that, unusually, she is positioned more as the desiring subject than the desired object within the narrative.

Rebecca Naughten · 4 out of 5
Alice replaces a recently deceased mechanic onboard Fidelio, an old freighter, and sets off on a voyage of self-discovery.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Lucie Borleteau; Writer: Lucie Borleteau, Clara Bourreau; Stars: Ariane Labed, Melvil Poupaud, Anders Danielsen Lie, Pascal Tagnati, Jean-Louis Coulloc'h, Nathanael Maïni, Bogdan Zamfir, Corneliu Dragomirescu, Manuel Ramirez, Thomas Scimeca, Jan Priva, Luc Catania)

Full review

French Riviera (L'homme qu'on aimait trop, In The Name Of My Daughter)

Review preview for French Riviera

Production designer Olivier Radot and costume designer Pascaline Chavanne revel in the colors and textures of Seventies casino ambiance.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 3.5 out of 5
Nice, 1976, Following the failure of her marriage, Agnès Le Roux returns from Africa to her mother Renée, owner of the Casino Le Palais de la Méditerranée and falls in love with Renée's confidant, Maurice Agnelet.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: André Téchiné; Writer: Cédric Anger, Jean-Charles Le Roux, André Téchiné; Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Guillaume Canet, Adèle Haenel, Pierre Michiels)

Full review See: Cédric Anger on working with André Téchiné

North American premiere.

Gaby Baby Doll

A recently ditched woman strikes up a relationship with a man who lives in a shack.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Sophie Letourneur; Writer: Sophie Letourneur, Anne-Louise Trividic; Stars: Lolita Chammah, Benjamin Biolay, Félix Moati, Pascal Joyeux, Benaser Kandoussi, Jean-François Ducrot, Dorothée Lécuyer, Guillemette Coutellier, Camille Genaud, Laetitia Goffi, Emmanuel Rabita, Raoul Hym Letourneur, Yoann Guimard, Grégoire Lécuyer, Philippe Cheneau)

North American premiere.

Hippocrates (Hippocrate)

Review preview for Hippocrates

Hippocrates is an engaging coming-of-age drama centring on the problems within public medicine in France as budget cuts bite.

Rebecca Naughten · 3.5 out of 5
A young doctor encounters challenges he didn't expect in his first post, working for his father.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Thomas Lilti; Writer: Thomas Lilti, Baya Kasmi, Pierre Chosson, Julien Lilti ; Stars: Vincent Lacoste, Reda Kateb, Jacques Gamblin, Marianne Denicourt, Felix Moati, Thierry Levaret, Julie Brochen, Carole Franck, Philippe Rebbot, Jeanne Cellard)

Full review

North American premiere.

In The Courtyard (Dans la cour)

Review preview for In The Courtyard

Where is the plot? What is the hook?

Angus Wolfe Murray · 2.5 out of 5
Life, cracked ceilings, friendship and despondency in a Parisian apartment block

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Pierre Salvadori; Writer: Pierre Salvadori, David Léotard; Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Gustave Kervern, Pio Marmaï, Michele Moretti, Nicolas Bouchaud, Oleg Kupchik)

Full review

Love At First Fight (Les Combattants, Fighters)

Review preview for Love At First Fight

Cinematographer David Cailley, the director's brother, offers stark beauty and wicked humor.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4 out of 5
Between his friends and the family business, Arnaud’s summer looks set to be a peaceful one. Peaceful until he runs into Madeleine, as beautiful as she is brusque.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Thomas Cailley; Writer: Thomas Cailley, Claude Le Pape; Stars: Adèle Haenel, Kévin Azaïs, Léa Pelletant, Pascal Bernagaud, Antoine Laurent)

Full review

May Allah Bless France!

A frank account of the filmmaker's journey from delinquency to redemption in the housing projects of Strasbourg.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Abd Al Malik; Writer: Abd Al Malik; Stars: Marc Zinga, Sabrina Ouazani, Larouci Didi, Mickaël Nagenraft, Matteo Falkone, Stéphane Fayette-Mikano, Mireille Perrier, Abdelmajid 'Mickey' Barja, Fatou-Clo, Sims Francis Matula, Zesau, Maxime Tshibangu, Gianni Giardinelli, Karim Belkhadra, Djemel Barek)

Métamorphoses

Review preview for Métamorphoses

Honoré is not afraid of magic and he has fun with grand gestures. Metamorphoses at heart is a defense of myths in all their offensive allure.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4.5 out of 5
Modern-day version of the Ovid tales of transformation.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Christophe Honoré; Writer: Christophe Honoré, based on the stories by Ovid; Stars: Amira Akili, Sébastien Hirel, Mélodie Richard, Damien Chapelle, George Babluani, Matthis Lebrun, Samantha Avrillaud, Coralie Rouet, Nadir Sonmez, Vincent Massimino, Olivier Müller, Myriam Guizani, Gabrielle Chuiton, Jean Courte, Rachid O.) , Official site

Full review See: Christophe Honoré in conversation on Métamorphoses, part 2 , Christophe Honoré in conversation on Métamorphoses, part 1

North American premiere.

My Friend Victoria (Mon amie Victoria)

Review preview for My Friend Victoria

Only in France can a film of such delicate sensibility be made

Angus Wolfe Murray · 4 out of 5
The story of two young Parisiennes and their different destinies

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Jean-Paul Civeyrac; Writer: Jean-Paul Civeyrac, based on the novel by Doris Lessing; Stars: Guslagie Malanga, Nadia Moussa, Keylia Achie Beguie, Keemyah Omolongo, Catherine Mouchet, Pascal Greggory, Pierre Andrau, Alexis Loret, Tony Harrisson, Moussa Sylla, Aurore Broutin)

Full review

North American premiere.

Next Time I'll Aim For The Heart

Review preview for Next Time I'll Aim For The Heart

Canet is fantastic in opening up more and more of the secret chambers in this frightening man's heart.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4.5 out of 5
A notorious serial killer is also a cop tasked with his own apprehension.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Cédric Anger; Writer: Cédric Anger, based on the book by Yvan Stefanovitch; Stars: Guillaume Canet, Ana Girardot, Jean-Yves Berteloot, Patrick Azam, Arnaud Henriet, Douglas Attal, Pierick Tournier, Alexandre Carrière, François-Dominique Blin, Franck Andrieux, Arthur Dujardin, Alice de Lencquesaing, Hélène Vauquois, Jean-Paul Comart, Michel Cassagne)

Full review See: Cédric Anger on working with André Téchiné , Cédric Anger in conversation on Next Time I’ll Aim For The Heart (La Prochaine Fois Je Viserai Le Coeur)

Party Girl

Review preview for Party Girl

Amachoukeli-Barsacq, Burger and Theis direct with one voice, staying close to their characters and finding rhythm in the details of dance or a walk.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
A nightclub hostess decides to settle down.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Marie Amachoukeli-Barsacq, Claire Burger, Samuel Theis; Writer: Marie Amachoukeli-Barsacq, Claire Burger, Samuel Theis; Stars: Angélique Litzenburger, Joseph Bour, Mario Theis, Samuel Theis, Séverine Litzenburger, Cynthia Litzenburger, Chantal Dechuet, Alyssia Litzenburger, Nathanaël Litzenburger, Meresia Litzenburger, Sébastien Roussel, Vincenza Vespa, Jenny Bussi, Zaina Benhabouche, Marguerite Duval)

Full review

US premiere.

Portrait Of The Artist

Review preview for Portrait Of The Artist

[A] thorny, intangible and episodic cinematic dream.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 3.5 out of 5
A filmmaker becomes obsessed with the film of his next movie.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Antoine Barraud; Writer: Antoine Barraud; Stars: Bertrand Bonello, Jeanne Balibar, Géraldine Pailhas, Joana Preiss, Pascal Greggory, Valérie Dréville, Nicolas Maury, Barbet Schroeder, Sigrid Bouaziz, Nathalie Boutefeu, Marta Hoskins, Nâzim Boudjenah, Catherine Libert, Charlotte Rampling, Isild Le Besco)

Full review

North American premiere.

Reality (Réalité)

Trouble brews when a little girl finds a tape in the carcass of a boar that her dad was planning to stuff.

(Year: 2014; Director: Quentin Dupieux; Writer: Quentin Dupieux; Stars: Alain Chabat, Jonathan Lambert, Élodie Bouchez, Kyla Kenedy, Eric Wareheim, John Glover, Lola Delon, Matt Battaglia, Susan Diol, Erik Passoja, Jonathan Spencer, Bambadjan Bamba, Serge Hazanavicius, Roxane Mesquida, Brad Greenquist)

SK1 (L'affaire SK1)

Review preview for SK1

SK1 at its best, is an examination of doubt.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4 out of 5
Drama about the multi-year hunt, arrest, and trial of serial killer Guy Georges — nicknamed The Beast of Bastille.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Frédéric Tellier; Writer: David Oelhoffen, Frédéric Tellier; Stars: Raphaël Personnaz, Nathalie Baye, Olivier Gourmet, Michel Vuillermoz, Adama Niane, Christa Théret, Thierry Neuvic, William Nadylam, Marianne Denicourt, Chloé Stefani, François Rabette, Anthony Paliotti, Olivier Balazuc, Syrus Shahidi, Norah Lehembre)

Full review See: Nathalie Baye in conversation on SK1 (L’Affaire SK1)

US premiere.

Stubborn (Une Histoire Américaine)

When a man is dumped by his girlfriend, he follows her to the US in a bid to win her back.

(Country: France; Year: 2015; Director: Armel Hostiou; Writer: Léa Inès Cohen, Armel Hostiou, Vincent Macaigne; Stars: Vincent Macaigne, Kate Moran, Sofie Rimestad, Murray Bartlett, Jimmy DeRoth, Jean Lebreton, Audrey Bastien, Wyndham Baird, Claudia Franzen, Tristan Pinies Franzen, Sarabeth Hudson, Crystal Pei, Marie Pohl, Kevin Xu, Ian Poninski)

North American premiere.

Three Hearts (3 coeurs, 3 Hearts)

A woman is caught in a play of love, fate and narrative coincidence.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Benoît Jacquot; Writer: Julien Boivent, Benoît Jacquot; Stars: Benoît Poelvoorde, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Xavier Briere, Thomas Doret, Yvonne Gradelet, Joshua Heuzard Freche, André Marcon, Patrick Mille, Nicolas Simon, Elina Solomon, Cédric Vieira, Caroline Piette)

Opening night.

Wild Life (Vie sauvage)

Review preview for Wild Life

If you think you can come to an easy judgement, the film seems to say, think again.

Anne-Katrin Titze · 4.5 out of 5
A father tries to raise his two sons away from civilisation.

(Country: Belgium, France; Year: 2014; Director: Cédric Kahn; Stars: Mathieu Kassovitz, Céline Sallette, David Gastou, Sofiane Neveu, Tara-Jay Bangalter, Romain Depret, Jules Ritmanic)

Full review See: Cédric Kahn in conversation on Wild Life (Vie sauvage) part 2 , Cédric Kahn in conversation on Wild Life (Vie sauvage) part 1

Young Tiger (Bébé tigre)

Story of a Punjabi teenager in France.

(Country: France; Year: 2014; Director: Cyprien Vial; Writer: Cyprien Vial, Marie Amachoukeli-Barsacq, Céline Sciamma; Stars: Harmandeep Palminder, Vikram Sharma, Elisabeth Lando, Bilal Baggad, Billel Brima, Amandeep Singh, Karim Leklou, Aurore Broutin, Gérard Zingg, Marie Berto, Lauriane Escaffre, Arsh Kumar, Sukh Palminder, Mahipal Singh, Navpreet Singh)