A slick portrayal of an ice cold angel who likes to kill people for money ! ! ! !

Le Samouraï (1967) directed by Jean Pierre Melville

One can say a thousand things about this film but for most people it would remain a very succinct portrayal of a deadly killer who is known for his ice cold behavior.To get this effect Meville deftly handled Alain Delon for this difficult task of a criminal who is very much aware of all his assigned tasks.Our film's contract killer Jeff Costello is also very cautious about his image and nothing can stop him not even a deadly cat and mouse chase carried out in Parisian metro stations.It is true that "Le Samourai" is a gangster film of french sensibilities but what makes it different from American films of the same genre is that our hero likes to say only perfect things instead of making half baked tall claims as done by most of the actors in American films about crime and criminals.Apart from Alain Delon's taut acting, Samurai boasts of fine performances by François Périer as a determined cop hell bent on arresting Jeff Costello.As a glamorous doll Nathalie Delon looks credible but not so elegant as Kathy Rosier who can be termed as the film's heart and soul.

A highly original film about laws and mechanisms of a madhouse ! ! ! !

L'Histoire de Paul (1974) directed by René Féret

French film maker René Féret made his début with this film in 1974.It was his first critical success and applause for it came from famous French philosopher Michel Foucault who compared this film to British master Ken Loach's film "Family Life".This comparison is absolutely valid as like Ken Loach who has been an ardent supporter depicting the cause of English life in his films,René Féret has also championed the cause of Northern France in films.For those who are bothered about story and plot there is not much of hope.The real story of this film,if there is any story,is to be judged by the fact that film's helpless protagonist Paul has been condemned to a madhouse after a failed suicide attempt.Paul's plight is the central focus of the film as in psychiatric ward,he is compelled neither to have any history nor any story.What we see in this film is a sad tale which takes place in a psychiatric hospital whose inmates,doctors live according to their own set of rules.As a scathing attack on the absurdity of system in French mental institutions,L'histoire de Paul won Jean Vigo award in 1975.

Big leap for René Féret : natural depiction of French countryside ! ! ! !

La Communion Solennelle (1977) directed by René Féret

Three year after the critical success of his first film "L'histoire de Paul",René Féret took a big leap with his second film "La communion solennelle" made in 1977.It was a vast panorama for him as he moved from the cloistered confines of a mental house to open air fun and frolic of French countryside.It was also his first encounter with a multitude of talented actors,most of whom were discovered due to this film.If La communion solemnelle is to be remembered,it is for featuring a fortuitous display of a whole gamut of human emotions.It can be claimed that watching the film's protagonists making merry,enjoy and fight with each other,we also feel as if we too have become an integral part of their sentiments.If there is a parallel which can be drawn to compare this film,it will surely concern equating it with French classic film "Rules of the Game" directed by Jean Renoir.This is because like Renoir's classic,this film too has its own inimitable share of eccentricities of its characters.If you are aware of greatness of French culture,you must watch this film as it has traces of Zola,Maupassant and Claude Renoir.

René Féret should have made this film 19 years ago in 1974.

La Place d'un autre (1993) directed by René Féret

In some ways "La place d'un autre" can be called as L'histoire de Paul part 2.As far as René Féret's cinematographic oeuvre is concerned,this film should theoretically have come before L'histoire de Paul as in that film nothing was mentioned as to why a young man named Paul made up his mind to take his own life.All the questions which were left unanswered in L'histoire de Paul are discussed in La place d'un autre. This idea was always hovering on René Féret's mind but due to artistic commitments of different nature he was unable to finish this film as and when he wanted to do so.In this film we are shown how a young boy replaces his lost brother for the sake of his parents.There is also a poignant tale involving a talented soul who overcomes all instances of personal sorrow to emerge victorious.It is true that this film is autobiographical in nature,nevertheless René Féret has avoided all traps which might allude any kind of familiarity to actual events.There is also a concern for authenticity as the film was shot in the same mental institution where René Féret was interned after his personal tragedy.Recommendation : a film to be watched if you have ever lost a dear one in your family.

One day in the life of a French family ! ! ! !

Les Frères Gravet (1996) directed by René Féret

This is undoubtedly one of the most thought provoking films directed by René Féret.Its presence of stars and actors is so brilliant that one can have a jolly good time watching a host of French cinema's versatile actors that too in a single film.It was truly a veritable family affair for René Féret to direct people like Jacques Bonnaffé, Jean François Stévenin,Julien Féret who are a part of his indispensable family of actors.What is important to watch in this film is a story which starts as a family chronicle but with the passage of time transforms itself into an existentialist drama.Family is an important unit of René Féret's films and the highlight of this film is how brothers of a family come together to know each other better.It is not only brothers who come to know each other better but also their wives and children who learn to appreciate the value of their united,close knit family.It has been felt by certain French critics that this film is more close to Cassavates than Pascal Thomas.This is for those viewers to decide who are familiar with the films of both these authors.

All criminals follow a strict code of honor ! ! ! !

Du rififi chez les hommes (1955) directed by Jules Dassin

Du rififi chez les hommes is a brilliant film which studies criminal minds and allows viewers to have a better understanding of criminals who are fundamentally not different from ordinary folks like us.What director Jules Dassin shows is that criminal do have families and they care a lot for them.That is why they adhere to a strict code of honor. For them a family is not only made up of wives,mistresses and children but also include casual acquaintances and close friends.Contrary to what many might find it hard to believe,Jules Dassin has not tried to glorify crime in his film as rififi makes it clear that crime never pays.It shows that all kinds of bad activities result in some kind of human loss.Apart from its philosophical stance Rifif is worth watching for its technical finesse.While watching one of the film's most brilliant sequences about breaking of a safe,one would find it hard to believe meticulous precision with which criminal minds execute their plans.This is a scene which nobody has dared to copy in Hollywood.

Action filmmakers have a lot to learn ! ! ! !

Le Salaire de la peur (1953)

directed by Henri Georges Clouzot

Wages of fear is a big lesson for action filmmakers who use a lot of technology but are largely unable to recreate an element of human sentiment in their action films.In all seriousness they can learn a lot from a great man who was more popular with his Gallic Hitchcock acronym :Henri Georges Clozot.In 1953,when he made this film,he did not even have one tenth of the kind of technology which is employed by today's technology savvy filmmakers.Wages of fear is a great film with existentialist undertones whose first half is a bitter depiction of nothingness for its four protagonists who languish in hot South America. It is in second half of the film that we witness a flurry of meaningful action.It is quite odd but due to heavy masculine presence Clouzot decided not to have much room for female characters except for a sensual role played by his wife Vera Clouzot.It is a true fact that before this film human misery,desperation and hopelessness were never shown in such vivid details as shown in this film.The sadness depicted in Wages of fear can still be felt in our contemporary world.

An honest film about a family made for all those who respect family life

Baptême (1989) directed by René Féret

In the recent history of French cinema,it has sadly been noted that the concept of films for families has vanished.If there is one film maker who has relentlessly pursued this theme in his films,it is René Féret whose films are a good portrayal of family life.Baptême is a family film which is not made these days.It is about the love of an entire life : love of a husband for his wife,love of a wife for her husband and love of the children for their parents.The dual concepts of happiness and sorrow have been nicely depicted in the form of family life and death.There is a concern for authenticity in Baptême as René Féret has portrayed an area which he know best:North of France.As a matter of fact,apart from Bertrand Tavernier and Bruno Dumont,there are not many filmmakers in France who have been honest and truthful in their depiction of harsh realities of northern France.René Féret is one of the very few French filmmakers who have vividly portrayed North of France.This must be kept in mind when a spectator goes to see this film.

Philippe Vuillemin: Not only an artist but also a good actor

Le Mystère Alexina (1985) directed by René Féret

If ever serious viewers would like to remember one of René Féret's most personal films "Mystère Alexina",it would definitely be for the acting prowess of French comic strip artist Philippe Vuillemin.He is absolutely incredible as the lead character who is confused about his/her sexuality.Philippe Vuillemin is so good that he outsmarts easily acting abilities of other actors especially that of Valerie Stroh.For this film René Féret has taken us to medieval times.Those were the times when French society,like most of the other societies was prudish in nature.In a way,this film is a serious take on sexuality in ancient times which was fiercely guarded.One of the most important questions raised by this film concerns ignorance about sexuality.It must be ascertained whether human sexuality can be dissimulated.Science comes to rescue when religious authorities are challenged to stake a claim about lead character's sexuality.For a film which might appear as a sensual love story to many viewers it is quite an achievement to minimize its risks of achieving an easy to please end.This is precisely the virtue of this film directed by one of French cinema's most under rated authors.

René Féret's tribute to German expressionism and Berlin Alexnaderplatz ! ! ! !

Fernand (1980) directed by René Féret

One close look at French cinéaste René Féret's career would reveal that on a couple of occasions he has made quite unexpected artistic moves. Fernand is one such example of a film which comes as a complete surprise not only for him but also for entire French cinema.This film was made by René Féret after healthy successes of his first two safe films : L'histoire de Paul and La Communion Solemnelle.Fernand is a kind of film which one can describe as a total shock.It is a film about Parisian society's outcasts and it was largely inspired by German expressionism especially by German classic Berlin Alexanderplatz.It is a film in which destroyed innocence is shown in the form of an uncommon love story between a young criminal who is more of a dreamer and a talented dancing girl cum hooker.As Fernand it is a kind of modern day fable some of its scenes have a magic like quality to them.This film is also like a tale of puppets as the destiny of its players is controlled by one another.Fernand is a great film which was sadly ignored by French public upon its initial release.It is a nice film to watch for those film enthusiasts who would like to know René Féret's cinema in a better manner.

Is it a tender love story or more of an autobiographical theater ?

Promenades d'été (1992) directed by René Féret

While watching "Promenades d'été", I am sure viewers would have a tough time ascertaining whether the film is more of a tender love story or a truthful depiction of an autobiographical theater.Whatever might be the case,French author René Féret has made a good film in which an entire troupe of theater actors is shown as one big family.The film is a tender love story as it depicts the evolution of a youngster in the subtle process of love with a lady who is senior to him.Promenades d'été is also largely autobiographical in nature as the depicted incidents are a part of film maker René Féret's memories of youth.There is a good display of clash of emotions as love,jealousy,happiness, joy,sorrow and triumph flow freely helping our film's young protagonist to advance near his goals : personal happiness and professional success. Valérie Stroh is a joy to watch as the lady of our young man's affections.The theatrical performance of our film's young protagonist is an excellent sight.This is a film which must be seen by all enthusiasts of quality theater and good films.

The dignity of man is sensibility of passions.

Au coeur du mensonge (1999) directed by Claude Chabrol

For Claude Chabrol,a cinéaste who has made over 50 films,this film must be like one of his loving children.However,his admirers might view it in a different light as it might appear as a minor work for them but many serious viewers would nevertheless feel that there are some nice things to observe in this film.Au coeur du mensonge is a film about people who are grappling with truths and lies in their lives.This film is more of a character study even though it is true that there are two crimes depicted in the film.These vile acts are merely a pretext for small town people to talk of pretentiousness and infidelity.Au coeur du mensonge is also a story about two artists;one of them is a fake and other one is not so sure of his inherent abilities.There is also a woman in their midst who is torn between these two men.The message of this film is simple:To understand a lie,one has to go to its heart.When we watch Sandrine Bonnaire and Jacques Gamblin, we realize that the truth is not so complicated as it is always visible on surface level.

An easy to understand film from renowned French Cinéaste Alain Resnais

L'Amour à mort (1984) directed by Alain Resnais

Master cinéaste Alain Resnais likes to work with those actors who are a part of his family.In this film too we see Resnais' family members like Pierre Arditi, Sabine Azema, André Dussolier and Fanny Ardant dealing with serious themes like death,religion,suicide,love and their overall implications on our daily lives.The formal nature of relationship shared by these people is evident as even friends, they address each other using a formal you.In 1984,while making L'amour à mort,Resnais dealt with time,memory and space to unravel the mysteries of a fundamental question of human existence :Is love stronger than death ? It was 16 years ago in 1968 that Resnais made a somewhat similar film Je t'aime Je t'aime which was also about love and memories.Message of this film is loud and clear :true and deep love can even put science to shame as dead lovers regain their lost lives leaving doctors to care for their reputation.L'amour à mort is like a game which is not at all didactic.It is a film in which the musical score is in perfect tandem with its images.This is one of the reasons why this film can easily be grasped.

To help somebody one has to have a humanistic perspective.

Lili et le baobab (2006) directed by Chantal Richard

Before watching this hard to classify film, one must try to find out why this film failed on all fronts. "Lili and the baobab" was a box office failure. It failed to make an impression on viewers too. One probable reason for all these failures could be that it was released at a time when majority of viewers were going gaga over overtly commercial films like "Les Bronzés 3" directed by Patrice Leconte. As "Lili and the baobab" cannot fit in the auteur film category, it was summarily rejected by a small minority of auteur cinema admirers too. As far as this film is concerned, a large portion of its narrative structure is based on Chantal Richard's personal experiences. Her film addresses the universal concept of individual freedom, friendship and desire to understand different cultures. On the one hand there is Lili-a young photographer from Cherbourg. She is in Africa for a photo assignment. On the other hand there is a young African woman Aminata whose life is in danger. She is in deep trouble as she has given birth to an illegitimate child. Lili wants to do something more than a simple photo assignment for African people.After returning to Cherbourg, she decides to provide all kind of emotional, financial support to Aminata. She also experiences how illegal immigrants live. It is through these generous acts that Lili is able to know her compassionate,kind self. It is nice to learn that such a personal film is still being made in contemporary France. What could be the reason ? Most of the people would guess that as French ruled over Africans in the past, it is quite natural for them to believe that it is their prerogative to make films related to African issues. In some ways, this stance may be termed as their way of getting rid of their not so holy past.

Emotional conflicts of a French family.

Ma saison préférée (1993) directed by André Téchiné

Techine has made a beautiful film about lost childhood,the passing time and old age.Ma Saison preferee succeeds as it evokes situations which each one of us have experienced in our lives.It is primarily a film about the complex relationship a mother has with her children. Berthe does not want her children to worry about her as she is aware of the fact that no one cares about her.Her illness facilitates a true meeting between all family members.Berthe is resolute enough to realize that she has to get ahead in life on her own terms as no one is bothered about her welfare.Ma Saison preferee is a slice of life as witnessed in present day France.The film is divided into episodes each dealing with events related to the family.The film is about difficult life old people are forced to lead when their children start ignoring them.Ma Saison preferee is as simple and straightforward as flowing water.This has been Techine's most remarkable film about family life after Souvenirs d'en France.

Marcel Carné and the celebration of the greatness of French cinema.

Hôtel du Nord (1938) directed by Marcel Carné

Hotel Du Nord is a gripping drama of guilt in which Marcel Carne portrayed an entertaining tale of ill-fated love which also functions as a revolt against the cruel world.The film is based entirely on a pair of hapless lovers.Pierre and Renee were mistaken when they believed that suicide would put an end to their misery.Hotel Du Nord has its own inimitable charm as its inhabitants have become an essential part of the establishment.There is an element of togetherness as everyone flocks to Hotel Du Nord to eat,chat etc.Marcel Carne has remained true to the spirit of the films produced in 30s and 40s as Hotel Du Nord has a certain kind of nostalgic feel.Carne,while recreating the life of Parisian roads was able to create a sort of nostalgia for black and white giving a unique genre of poetic realism to his oeuvre.Hotel Du Nord can be termed as a quintessence of cinematographic populism.The 14th July ball scene on the banks of Saint Martin canal remains a magnificent sequence.The film's immense popularity can be judged from the fact that Hotel Du Nord has been declared as a national monument.

An extraordinary film about horrors of war

Hiroshima mon amour (1959) directed by Alain Resnais

Hiroshima Mon Amour is an extraordinary film about time,memory and horrors of war.Resnais has filmed one of the most innovative films in the history of cinema.The actress finds the sensation of her first love and identifies the Japanese architect as the person she loved in the past.Hiroshima Mon Amour was greeted by worldwide appaluse addressed,in particular,to Marguerite Duras who joined forces with Resnais.He asked her to write literature in a way as if she was writing a novel.As she was made to forget the camera,the script consequently had the character of an unending monologue which,at the same time,remained a dialogue with the past.The reality of Hiroshima remains continually marked as it has been shown as a pulsating metropolis where nothing can debilitate people's strength of mind.Sacha Vierny's stark visual images lend credibility to a love affair under difficult circumstances involving two distressed souls.Hiroshima Mon Amour,as a parable of ephemeral passion,will never age with the changing phase of time.

Revealing the intricacies of the so called "Making of"

Sex Is Comedy (2002) directed by Catherine Breillat.

According to Catherine Breillat many people believe that by watching "making of" they can understand the intricacies of the actual shooting process. She opines that this is not quite the case and the real process of filming a feature film is unfortunately very complex,hard to follow and difficult to understand. She goes on to add that rather than simplifying the creative process these programs end up confusing the viewers. Keeping this particular idea in mind, she has
filmed a unique,trend setting film which relies heavily on the whims and fancies of its principal characters. One can have a first hand experience of how difficult things are on a set when a film is being shot. Compared to other films
by Catherine Breillat,sex is comedy is devoid of controversial elements. As a film director in this film Anne Parillaud looks a bit similar to Catherine Breillat.Gregoire Colin is fine too as the moody actor. As a final comment, I
would like to remark that this film is very serene and an inattentive viewer might not know how quickly the film is getting over.

Bad,boring and senseless film from Tavernier.

L'Appât (1995) directed by Bertrand Tavernier Bertrand Tavernier is a great but underrated master of French cinema. Most of his films are in the vein of family drama in which he has expressed his not so soft views about French society.He has adapted some successful books for cinema too.As far as L'Appat(The Bait) is concerned,it is based on some of his interactions with the French youth who expressed their views.According to them they would like to be rich as quick as possible just like in America.This is exactly what is shown in his film.However in L'Appat the magic of social realism fails to work at all.The acting is dull and the story is weak.All the actors have given very lackluster performances. Everything looks staged whether it is the senseless violence or dramatic sequences. Watching this film I always wonder what went wrong and I am yet to arrive at a satisfactory answer.It is a curious thing that this poor film won the Golden bear award at Berlin Film Festival.

A minor Proletarian classic.

Antoine et Antoinette (1947) directed by Jacques Becker

Jacques Becker was a successful chronicler of the post World War II generation who made remarkable films which dealt ironically with the problems of its protagonists.His creation,Antoine et Antoinette has remained a minor Proletarian classic.It has rightly been hailed by some critics as a light romantic comedy.The film boasts of a typically French psychological analysis.Becker has cast a fascinating look at the working class life by attempting social description in nuances.Antoine et Antoinette succeeded by incorporating all the essential themes with which a typical working class family could easily indentify itself.