France

  • Larry Clark – The Smell of Us (2014)

    2011-2020DramaEroticaFranceLarry Clark

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    Quote:
    The dirty old man hanging out with all those oversexed Paris teenagers in “The Smell of Us” is none other than the voyeuristic pic’s director, Larry Clark. Usually, he’s the one behind the camera, but in what amounts to a French “Kids,” Clark can be seen passed out in the opening scene, spilled across the steps of the Palais de Tokyo as skaters swarm around him. Nearly 20 years have passed since Clark’s debut stunned the world — and 30 more since the first photos in his provocative “Tulsa” book were taken – yet his focus remains, as the song says, forever young.

    Somehow, the fact that these are French kids makes the film seem less likely to shock the world, even though the kinks are far more explicit here than anything but “Ken Park” — not that Clark is any stranger to the NC-17 rating, the relevance of which he handily undercuts, simply by reminding that in the Internet era, minors can see (and do) far worse online.Read More »

  • Gaspar Noé – Irréversible (2002)

    2001-2010CrimeDramaFranceGaspar Noé

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    Quote:
    Events over the course of one traumatic night in Paris unfold in reverse-chronological order as the beautiful Alex is brutally raped and beaten by a stranger in the underpass.Read More »

  • Louis Feuillade – Le Gamin de Paris AKA Paris Urchin (1923)

    1921-1930FranceLouis FeuilladeRomanceSilent

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    Two war orphans, Joseph, apprentice printer, and Lisette, typist, live with their grandmother in Belleville. Lisette loves his next door neighbor, the painter Amedee, but this one does not offer him a union. Joseph Amedee learning is the son of a general, advocates for Lisette and everything ends in marriage.Read More »

  • Daniel Duval – La dérobade AKA Memoirs of a French Whore (1979)

    1971-1980Daniel DuvalDramaFrance

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    Quote:
    Marie (Miou-Miou) is a young girl from a working-class family who falls for Gerard (Daniel Duval) before she discovers he is a vicious, sadistic pimp. She is degraded, abused, and beaten regularly by Gerard as she is forced into a life of prostitution. Marie later decides she must leave her pimp to regain control of her body, mind, and soul. Maria Schneider co-stars with Neil Arestrup in this voyeuristic and disturbing story.Read More »

  • Jean-Paul Civeyrac – La Vie Selon Luc AKA Life According To Luc (1991)

    1991-2000DramaFranceJean-Paul CiveyracShort Film

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    Review
    “dvdtimes.co.uk” wrote:
    Few of the characteristics that can be associated with Jean Paul Civyrac can be seen in his first film, a 14 minute short feature. Inevitably, considering its short length, the film is necessarily very much a character study, since there is little room to develop much in the way of a plot. Luc (Jean Descanvelle) is a young man who is determined to do things his own way and consequently conflicts with everyone he meets. He doesn’t give a damn what anyone thinks, isn’t interested in any advice they might have to give and is not interested in assistance from friends or family. He is going to do things his way, and do whatever it takes to make money, which is mainly performing sexual favours for any man who is willing to pay for it.Read More »

  • Jean-Paul Civeyrac – Les solitaires AKA The Lonely (2000)

    Drama1991-2000FranceJean-Paul Civeyrac

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    Quote:
    Civeyrac moved to making films in Digital Video in 1999, with Les Solitaires, a small, almost theatrical chamber piece that was well suited to the medium, making the use of one main location and a handful of actors. The film takes place in a small Parisian apartment that Pierre (Jean-Claude Montheil) hasn’t left since the death of his wife Madeleine (Mireille Roussel). Wallowing in his solitary misery, without even a phone in the apartment, Pierre is unable to get thoughts of his wife out of his head, seeing her in his restless dreams, where he contemplates suicide in order to rejoin her.Read More »

  • Jean-Paul Civeyrac – Ni d’Ève, ni d’Adam AKA Neither Eve Nor Adam (1996)

    1991-2000DramaFranceJean-Paul Civeyrac

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    Quote:
    Gabrielle is 14. She struggles to love Gilles but he ceaselessly wrecks his own life along with other people’s. He steals money from Gabrielle and humiliates her so much that she doesn’t want to see him again. At school, he hits his education supervisor. As a result, his father throws him out of the house. Gabrielle refuses to put him up. The families of his friends want nothing to do with him. So Gilles ends up in the street like a stray dog. By causing turmoil, he soon becomes the neighbourhood’s scapegoat…Read More »

  • Louis Feuillade – Lagourdette, gentleman cambrioleur (1916)

    1911-1920ComedyFranceLouis FeuilladeSilent

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    With the help of Lévesque and Musidora, Feuillade creates a light-hearted meta-fiction, self-parodying his own work.

    Perdue dans la lecture des « Vampires », le séduisante Mlle Musi rêve de forfaitures et de crimes. Mais la visite qu’elle reçoit dans son salon est celle du triste Honoré Lagourdette qu’elle compte congédier rapidement. Celui-ci est en effet laid et ennuyeux. Mais pour tenter de la séduire, Lagourdette prétend être un habile voleur. Elle le met au défi de le prouver. Il s’assure de la complicité de ses domestiques, qu’il envoie à l’Opéra, et les détrousse devant les yeux médusés de Musi. Pris en flagrant délit par le commissaire, il avoue sa manipulation.Read More »

  • Claire Denis – Beau travail AKA Good Work (1999)

    1991-2000Claire DenisDramaFranceQueer Cinema(s)

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    Quote:
    This film focuses on an ex-Foreign Legion officer as he recalls his once glorious life, leading troops in Africa.Read More »

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