Category Archives: French Cinema

Béatrice Romand in Rohmer’s “Le Beau Mariage” [1982 France]

Here’s your typical Eric Rohmer. “Le Beau Mariage” [Eng. Title: A Good Marriage] is a charming little comedy about a young woman’s desperate quest for social mobility. Rohmer gently pokes fun at society’s obsession with idealised myths, a perfect marriage … Continue reading

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Brigitte Bardot in Jean-Luc Godard’s “Le Mépris” BR720 [1963, France, Italy]

It’s Nouvelle Vague time..! Jean-Luc Godard had wanted to do a film with Brigitte Bardot for a while, and when his first choice actress Kim Novak turned down the role for his new Franco-Italian production “Le Mépris” [Eng. Title: Contempt], … Continue reading

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Arielle Dombasle & co in “Pauline à la Plage” [1983 France]

The great Eric Rohmer took a while getting into directing films, and has since been a bit of an enigma. He finds himself in the pantheon of the Nouvelle Vague, but is quite unlike his peers in terms of defining … Continue reading

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Miou-Miou in “Marcia Trionfale” [1976 Italy, France]

Marco Bellocchio’s “Marcia Trionfale” [Eng. Trans: March of Triumph] is a scathing attack on the state of affairs of the Italian army, and the dehumanising effects of institutionalised indoctrination on its cadets from the moment they join the force – … Continue reading

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Monica Bellucci in Gaspar Noé’s “Irréversible” [2002 France]

Sometimes I feel watching Gaspar Noé films is akin to paying someone to get yourself slapped. That is certainly the case with the shocking drama “Irréversible” [Eng. Title: Irreversible]. To describe the film as provocative would indeed be an understatement. … Continue reading

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