Movie trends fluctuate over time and 2024 seems to have been a particularly fruitful year for the French film industry. While box office revenues in the United States are still well below pre-pandemic levels, ticket sales in France had largely recovered by the end of 2023 and continued to grow…
France’s Emilia Pérez will Knock Your Socks Off When I bought a ticket to see Emilia Pérez in November, I was intrigued. I knew little about the film other than that France was about to submit it to the Academy Awards as the country’s entry for Best International Feature Film,…
There is a wonderful online French Film Festival that begins today. From January 13 until February 13, 2023, French cinephiles needn’t leave their armchairs to watch some of the best films emerging from up-and-coming French filmmakers. This year’s line-up features 29 short and feature-length films that have charmed international audiences…
I love my local independent movie theater but have to admit to being disappointed with their decision to show more Hollywood blockbusters, heavily diluting what used to be a steady stream of foreign and independent films. For this reason, I make an effort to attend every French film that brightens…
As I’ve mentioned before, winter here in Michigan is longer than I would like. However, as I struggle to stay warm inside my drafty home, the phrase “if you can’t beat it, join it” often comes to mind. Here are two recently-viewed French films that have helped me appreciate the…
Fun and informative Francophone news items that came across my screen in January. France Heads the European Union Until this month, I didn’t realize that the presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates between its various member states, changing every 6 months. Starting January 1 and ending June…
I’m perpetually on the hunt for film and book recommendations, even though I have a long list of both that I’ll probably never get through. At the end of each year, however, I usually pick up the pace of my media consumption. The weather in Michigan keeps me away from…
One of the things I like best about the Academy Awards has nothing to do with discovering which blockbuster will win Best Picture. I find the actual award ceremony, where glamorous celebrities parade to center stage to deliver their well-rehearsed speeches, only mildly entertaining. Rather, the thing I appreciate most…
