Actor François Damiens (1973)

Directed by French Tunisian filmmaker Mabrouk el Mechri, JCVD (2008) is a crime drama that follows Jean-Claude Van Damme as a fictionalized version of himself. The former action star finds himself in dire circumstances as his career and family fall apart in his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. Struggling financially and unable to secure acting roles, Van Damme’s personal life also takes a hit when his ex-wife gains the upper hand in a custody battle for their daughter. In search of solace, he returns to Schaerbeek where he is still regarded as a local hero. While ...

The French spy comedy OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006) marks the feature directorial debut of Michel Hazanavicius. Pre-credits, we see Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath (OSS 117) and his friend Jack Jefferson take over a Nazi plane and recover stolen V2 plans during a black and white scene titled ‘BERLIN 1945’. The film then transitions to Rome, several years later, where de La Bath is in a hotel room with Egyptian Princess Al Tarouk who gives him an envelope to deliver to his superiors in Paris. In Paris, de La Bath is shown photos depicting Jack’s death from the envelope. This triggers flashbacks ...