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2012 French Film Festival: Reviews

/ 29 February 2012
2012 French Film Festival: Reviews
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Follow the French Film Festival with SBS Film's select reviews of the program line-up.

The French Film Festival is getting bigger. According to its new artistic director, Emmanuelle Denavit-Feller, of Alliance Francaise, the festival’s statistics show an impressive surge in its scope and audience.... Read More

A Happy Event
Dir: Rémi Bezançon
Starring: Louise Bourgoin, Pio Marmaï, Josiane Balasko
Synopsis: The arrival of a baby puts the pressure on a young carefree French couple.

All Our Desires
Dir: Philippe Lioret
Starring: Vincent Lindon, Marie Gillain, Amandine Dewasmes
Synopsis: A young judge helps a friend take on the French banking system.

Elles – intervew with director Malgorzata Szumowska
Dir: Malgorzata Szumowska
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Anaïs Demoustier, Joanna Kulig
Synopsis: A French magazine journalist investigates prostitution amongst students.

The Giants
Dir: Bouli Lanners
Starring: Zacharie Chasseriaud, Marthe Keller, Paul Bartel
Synopsis: Three boys look for adventure during the summer.

Goodbye First Love
Dir: Mia Hansen-Løve
Starring: Lola Créton, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Magne-Håvard Brekke
Synopsis: A personal story of love, loss and tender memories from youth.

Jo's Boy
Dir: Philippe Guillard
Starring: Gérard Lanvin, Jérémie Duvall, Olivier Marchal
Synopsis: A boy who comes from a long line of rugby legends discovers a love of maths.

The Look
Dir: Angelina Maccarone
Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Paul Auster, Peter Lindbergh
Synopsis: A documetary on the life of English actress Charlotte Rampling.

My Piece of the Pie
Dir: Cédric Klapisch
Starring: Karin Viard, Gilles Lellouche, Zinedine Soualem
Synopsis: A single mother lands work cleaning the apartment of cocky power broker.

Point Blank
Dir: Fred Cavayé
Starring: Gilles Lellouche, Roschdy Zem, Gérard Lanvin
Synopsis: A man must rescue his pregnant wife who has been taken hostage.

Romantics Anonymous
Dir: Jean-Pierre Améris
Starring: Benoît Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carré, Pierre Niney
Synopsis: Two chocolatiers must overcome their shyness to fall in love with one another.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro
Dir: Robert Guediguian
Starring: Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Ariane Ascaride, Gérard Meylan
Synopsis: Two young men beat and rob a former co-worker and his wife at home.

The Well Digger's Daughter
Dir: Daniel Auteuil
Starring: Daniel Auteuil,  Nicolas Duvauchelle, Astrid Berges-Frisbey
Synopsis: A teenager gets in trouble with the wealthy son of a shopkeeper.

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Films on SBS TV
Sunday, 26th May
23:45
Noise
The community is left reeling after a multiple shooting on a suburban train in Melbourne's inner-west. A young cop, beset with doubt and afflicted with tinnitus, is pitched into the chaos that follows this tragic event. He struggles to clear the noises in his head while all around him deal with the fallout of the crime. Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema) at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Matthew Saville and stars Brendan Cowell, Maia Thomas and Henry Nixon. (From Australia) (Drama) (2007) (Rpt) MA (V,L) CC
Monday, 27th May
00:05
Death Note
A law student, disillusioned by the justice system, gets hold of a mystical notebook that gives him the power to kill by writing down a victim's name. He starts to bring criminals to justice himself by killing them using the notebook. A dark fantasy based on a successful manga series that was a huge box office success in Japan. Directed by Shusuke Kaneko and stars Tatsuya Fujiwara, Asaka Seto and Kenichi Matsuyama. (From Japan, in Japanese) (Thriller) (2006) (Rpt) M (H,V)
Tuesday, 28th May
23:05
Matchmaker, The
During the summer of 1968, young Arik Burstein goes to work for a matchmaker who has survived the Holocaust. As Arik begins to learn the personal stories of his new clients, he comes to appreciate the restorative power of love. Nominated for the Gold Hugo for Best Feature at the 2010 Chicago International Film Festival. Directed by Avi Nesher and stars Adir Miller, Maya Dagan and Tuval Shafir. (From Israel, in Hebrew) (Romance) (2010) M (S,L)
Wednesday, 29th May
23:10
Caramel
Lebanon's official entry at the 2008 Academy Awards takes a vibrant and intricate look at the lives and relationships of five Christian and Muslim women who work at, and frequent, a Beirut beauty salon. Directed by and stars Nadine Labaki. Also stars Yasmine Al Masri, Joanna Moukarzel and Gisele Aouad. (From France, in Arabic) (Drama) (2007) (Rpt) M (A)
00:55
Sympathy For Lady Vengeance
Beautiful Lee Guem-ja is finally out of jail after thirteen years imprisonment for the kidnap and murder of a six-year-old boy. She can now start to seek revenge on the man who was really responsible for the boy's death. But will her actions lead to the relief she seeks? Nominated for Best Asian Film at the 2006 Hong Kong Film Awards. Directed by Park Chan-wook and stars Lee Yeong-ae, Choi Min-sik and Tony Barry. (From South Korea, in Korean) (Drama) (2005) (Rpt) MAV (V,S)
Thursday, 30th May
00:05
Grbavica
A powerful, understated look at post-war Sarajevo with a single mother's struggle to survive her personal demons and raise a teenage daughter in a city broken and scarred by conflict. Winner of the Golden Bear at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by Jasmila Zbanic and stars Mirjana Karanovic, Luna Mijovic and Leon Lucev. (From Germany, in Bosnian) (Drama) (2006) (Rpt) MA (L)
Friday, 31st May
23:10
Hardcore
Leaving behind a hard life with their families, two teenage girls end up in an Athen's brothel, fall in love and support one another against the adversities and violence of the night. Elements of fantasy and humour mix with a story of heartbreak and the loss of innocence. Directed by Dennis Iliadis and stars Katerina Tsavalou, Danae Skiadi and Omiros Poulakis. (From Greece, in Greek) (Drama) (2004) (Rpt) MAV (S,V,A)
Saturday, 1st Jun
21:30
The Tree
After the death of her father, an eight-year-old girl becomes convinced that he is whispering to her through the leaves of the gargantuan tree that towers over her house. Nominated for three César Awards in 2011, including Best Adapted Screenplay. Directed by Julie Bertuccelli and stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Morgana Davies and Marton Csokas. (From France, in English) (Drama) (2010) (Class tbc)
21:35
Blades Of Blood
Based on a popular Korean manga, the film follows the quest of a blind swordsman from the 16th century Chosun Dynasty to seek vengeance against a former ally, a charismatic politician who seeks to overthrow the government. Directed by Lee Joon-ik and stars Cha Seung-won, Hwang Jung-min and Baek Seong-hyeon. (From South Korea) (Drama) (2010) (Class tbc)
23:25
The Science Of Sleep
Gael García Bernal stars as a shy young French-Mexican graphic artist who confuses dreams and reality while falling in love with the girl next door. Winner of the award for Best Music Score at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Written and directed by Michel Gondry, and also stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alain Chabat and Miou Miou. (From France, in English and French) (Fantasy/Comedy) (2006) (Rpt) M (L,N,S)
> View full SBS Film schedule
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