Category Archives: Film

French comic book artist Joann Sfar, who is already well respected in the world of bandes dessinéesin France, has brought his talents to the world of film with his magnificent animation le Petit Vampire. Based on his children’s graphic novel of the same name, it tells of a friendship between the eponymous wee vampire, who’sContinue reading “Little Vampire (le Petit Vampire)    French Film Festival”

The opening shots of this 2019 film directed by Gabriel Le Bomin show a tender and intimate moment in the bedroom of Charles de Gaulle (Lambert Wilson) and his wife Yvonne (Isabelle Carré). It sets the tone in this biopic that holds the dual strands of the personal and the political in what seems toContinue reading “De Gaulle (12)            French Film Festival”

EIFF Young Programmers is a group of 15–19-year-olds with a passion for film who meet weekly and work together to select, promote and host films for Filmhouse and the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) . This year pupils from Tynecastle High School met with EIFF education and learning teams to learn about film programming andContinue reading “Edinburgh International Film Festival Announces EIFF Youth Weekender”

The deprived post-industrial town of Roubaix, situated on the outskirts of Lille in the north of France, is the setting for this 2019 crime drama from director Arnaud Desplechin. Inspired by a 2008 TV documentary entitled Roubaix, commissariat central, the film opens at Christmas time when it is the result of arson that lights someContinue reading “Oh Mercy! (Roubaix, une Lumière)            French Film Festival”

Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews reveals the films taking centre stage for its inaugural programme. From 25th-27th March 2022, filmmakers from around the world will gather in the historic University town, to not only showcase their work, but to engage directly with cinemagoers and the larger community in a range of supporting events, allContinue reading “St Andrews’ Own International Film Festival, Sands, Reveals Debut Programme”

In the opening scenes of this magnificently realised animation, the only movement is that of soft snowflakes over the still, bleak backdrops showing three grey bedraggled figures as they make their weary way across the snowy border from Spain to France. This opening style heralds the varied styles of animation that make up the film,Continue reading “Josep     French Film Festival”

Stephan Streker’s engrossing thriller (based, I understand, on a real life case from a few years back) captures the imagination from the start and keeps us guessing even as the final credits roll. A well-known politician, Louis Durieux (Jeremie Renier) wakes up in his hotel suite after a wild night out with his wife MaevaContinue reading “The Enemy (L’Ennemi) (15)            French Film Festival”

Middle aged and recently widowed, Margaux (Emmanuelle Beart) moves to France from Germany to enrol in a Masters programme while house-sharing with her half-sister. Although quiet and reserved, she is befriended by a group of her fellow students who coax her, in spite of her reluctance, to join them in a study group and inContinue reading “Margaux Hartmann (L’Etreinte) (15)         French Film Festival”

This year’s French Film Festival has provided a number of gems, and this charming film from director Bruno Podalydes is one of the most enjoyable yet. A tale of the attempts of two characters struggling to get to grips with a world of fast moving technology that regularly seems about to overwhelm them is anContinue reading “French Tech (Les 2 Alfred) (12)      French Film Festival”

The 2015 novel, Professions du père by Sorj Chalandon, is the inspiration for this latest film, whose French title is the same as the book’s, from director Jean-Pierre Améris. Evocatively shot in the city of Lyon in eye pleasing colours but with the authentic 40 watt bulb look in domestic scenes of the ‘60s eraContinue reading “My Father’s Stories   French Film Festival”