The summer before
my au pair experience, I have decided to watch French films to pick up on the
language and gain an insight to French culture. I will update and add movies as
I watch them. I am including a summary, my thoughts, and (maybe) a word I
learned.
1.
Delicatessen (1991)
a.
Post-apocalyptic surrealist black comedy about
the landlord of an apartment building who occasionally prepares a delicacy for
his odd tenants.
b.
This movie is about the landlord actually eating his tenants...
it reminded me of Sweeney Todd, so I gave it a chance. This film was
bizarre to say the least, but it had a cute love story, and I enjoyed it.
c.
Tenez: Take it
2.
Jeux d’enfants (Love Me If You Dare, 2003)
a.
As adults, best friends Julien and Sophie continue the odd game
they started as children—a fearless competition to outdo one another with
daring and outrageous stunts. While they often act out to relieve one another’s
pain, their game might be a way to avoid the fact that they are truly meant for
one another.
b.
I really enjoyed this movie. It was such a cute love story and had
a unique plot. This is a chick flick, so any girl would enjoy it. Thank you,
Wittney, for recommending it!
c.
Cap ou pas cap: are you capable or not; I dare you
3.
Manon des sources (Manon of the Spring, 1986)
a.
A beautiful but shy shepherdess plots vengeance on the men whose
greedy conspiracy to acquire her father’s land caused his death years earlier.
b.
I really enjoyed this movie even though the description seemed dry
to me. Although it has many heartbreaking scenarios, it has a cute love story
(I’m a sucker for those) along with a twist ending (also a sucker).
4.
À la folie… pas du tout (He loves me… He loves me not, 2002)
a.
A young woman who is in love with a married
doctor becomes dangerous when her attempts to persuade him to leave his wife
are unsuccessful. However, when things are seen from his point of view, the
real situation becomes clear.
b.
This was a very strange movie that had a huge twist in the middle
(of all places). I was completely shocked to learn one of the characters was
completely psycho, but it was very entertaining all the way through. Props to
Wittney again!
c.
Cinglé: mad, crazy, nuts
5.
Le dîner de cons (The Dinner Game, 1998)
a.
Each week, Pierre and his friends organize what is called as “un
diner de cons.” Everyone brings the dumbest guy he could find as a guest.
Pieree thinks his champ, François Pignon, will steal the show.
b.
I have seen this movie before, but I remembered it was hilarious,
so I wanted to watch it again. I remembered well because this movie is really
funny, and I definitely recommend it! I think Dinner for Schmucks is based off
of it.
c.
Mon petit: “my little.” This is a condescending thing to say to
people, particularly women, but from what I gather, sometimes you can say it to
people in the right settings. Until I master French, I will stay away from this
phrase.
6.
Intouchables (2011)
a.
After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an
aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker.
b.
This is literally one of the best films ever; probably my top
five. It is not surprising it is the 2nd most successful French film ever. It
is incredibly heartwarming and funny.
7.
Ne le dis à personne (Tell No One, 2006)
a.
The pediatrician Alexandre Beck misses his beloved wife Margot
Beck, who was brutally murdered eight years ago when he was the prime suspect.
When two bodies are found near where the corpse of Margot was dumped, the
police reopen the case and Alex becomes suspect again. The mystery increases
when Alex receives an email showing Margot older and alive.
b.
This is a thoroughly good movie. I really got attached to Alex and
felt so heartbroken for his dead wife. The plot was exciting the whole time,
and the movie had a twist!
c.
Faire du mal à quelquún: do harm to someone
8.
Les petits mouchoirs (Little White Lies, 2010)
a.
A near-fatal accident leaves one friend in the hospital while the
rest go on their annual vacation. But their secrets and personal grief threaten
to drive them apart.
b.
This movie was rather boring, and I didn’t think it had much of a
point. It had a lot of famous actors (who I am learning to recognize), but I
feel like that was the only good part of the movie.
c.
Ah bon: Oh, really?
9.
Anthony Zimmer (2005)
a.
Set in Nice, France, the film is about a highly intelligent
criminal, pursued by international police and the Russian mafia, who extensive
plastic surgery makes him unrecognizable even to his girlfriend, who enlists
the help of an unsuspecting stranger on a train.
b.
I found this movie on Netlfix and got to instantly stream it.
Sometimes the movies on there are sub-par, but I gave this one a chance. It was
an average movie that was slightly confusing (I had no idea Anthony Zimmer had
plastic surgery for starters).
10.
Les poupées russes (The Russian Dolls, 2005)
a.
Although
he hates the way his life has turned out, would-be writer Xavier has no one to
blame but himself. So when an opportunity comes along that could change his
luck, he knows he'd better not blow it.
b.
The
first half of this movie was excellent, but it kinda dragged on the second
half. The film doesn’t follow a chronological order, but it keeps you on your
toes to guess what will happen. Fyi, this movie proves guys are douchebags, and
I don’t see why girls take them back. Nonetheless, this is a nice love story.
Oh and half the movie was in English, which I didn’t mind. It’s weird because
when I heard the main actor speak English, I finally felt like I heard his
voice… it became so much clearer. I can’t wait until I feel the same way about
spoken French!
11.
2
Days in Paris
a. Marion
and Jack try to rekindle their relationship with a visit to Paris, home of
Marion's parents -- and several of her ex-boyfriends
b. This
is definitely my favorite movie of the summer by far. It was really funny, and
I could relate to it so well, which is why I enjoyed it so much. It is about a
couple in their 30’s, French girl and American guy, who visit the girls’
parents for 2 days in Paris. The guy barely knows any French (which is where I
start relating), and he has to deal with the girl’s crazy parents and friends,
being the Parisians that they are. I have some insight to French culture, so I
just thought it was absolutely funny the cultural barriers he had to go
through. It’s also half in French and English, which was nice. However, I
understood a lot of bits and pieces of the French!! More so than normal….progress?
c. Connard:
expletive meaning asshole, but I think it is a general insult because French
and English curse words don’t exactly translate.
Future
movies:
Le Coeur a
personne
Chaos (de
coline serreau)
Huit femmes
Je vais bien
ne tén fait pas
Celle que
j’aime
Toute la
beauté du monde
Hors de prix
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