Canal+ (France): 75

This Must Be the Place (2011), an Italian-French-Irish drama directed and written by Paolo Sorrentino and Umberto Contarello respectively, tells the story of Cheyenne. The former wealthy rock star has been living a mundane and uninspired life in Dublin for the past two decades. His retirement was prompted by the tragic suicides of two of his teenage fans. Seeking some sort of redemption, he makes the journey to New York to make amends with his dying father, only to arrive too late. His justification for not being in contact for 30 years was due to his father’s rejection when he began experimenting with goth ...

Largo Winch II (2011) is a thrilling French film based on the Belgian comic of the same name. Three years prior to his passing, Nerio Winch shares with his bodyguard, Freddy, that he has located his son, Largo, in a village in Burma. He instructs Freddy to follow him closely. Meanwhile, Largo saves villagers from a massacre perpetrated by General Min and his local militia. As he tends to the wounded with his partner Malunai, Frenchman Simon Ovronnaz arrives with survivors in tow. However, when Simon reveals he was hired by someone working for Min, the villagers turn on him and Kadjang suffers severe injuries after a confrontation with Largo. Consequently, Largo is ...

Unknown (2011) is an action-thriller film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. The story follows Martin Harris and his wife Liz as they arrive in Berlin for a biotechnology summit. Upon arriving at their hotel, Harris realizes he has left his briefcase at the airport and hastily takes a taxi to retrieve it. However, the taxi is involved in an accident and ends up in the Spree, knocking Harris unconscious. Thankfully, the driver rescues him but quickly disappears from the scene. After four days in a coma, Harris regains consciousness at a hospital and rushes back to his hotel, only to find Liz with another man claiming to be ...

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) is a British Cold War spy thriller film directed by Tomas Alfredson. The script was written by Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan, adapted from John le Carré’s novel of the same name. In 1973, ‘Control’, head of British intelligence, sends agent Jim Prideaux to Budapest on a mission to uncover a mole within their ranks. However, Prideaux is shot during the operation and Control subsequently dies. Sir Percy Alleline ...

Love Crime (2010), is a French thriller, featuring Ludivine Sagnier and Kristin Scott Thomas. Directed by the late Alain Corneau, it revolves around Isabelle, an ambitious and talented executive at an American corporation’s Paris office. Her boss, Christine, is equally driven and has a habit of taking credit for Isabelle’s work to secure a promotion to the New York branch. Feeling frustrated with this dynamic, Isabelle teams up with her colleague Daniel to surprise Christine with a successful project that ...

From Paris with Love (2010), a French-English action thriller directed by Pierre Morel, follows the story of James Reese. He enjoys a comfortable life in Paris with his girlfriend Caroline, but his true passion lies in his side job with the CIA. Facing a shortage of agents in France, Reese is paired with field agent Charlie Wax. However, Wax’s cans of energy drink cause a holdup at customs and he refuses to give them up. Despite the seemingly trivial situation, Wax continues to berate customs until Reese uses his diplomatic authority to clear the cans. In the car later on, Wax apologizes for his behavior and ...

Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard (2009) is a fantasy adventure film, directed and co-written by Luc Besson. It is based on the third installment of Besson’s beloved children’s book series featuring Arthur.It has been two years since Arthur saved his grandparents’ home and the Minimoys from Maltazard’s evil grasp. During his holiday stay with his grandparents, the Bogo Matassalai, a fictional African society, gives Arthur various challenges to test his skills in camouflage and environmental nonviolence. After successfully completing these trials, Arthur plans to celebrate with the Minimoys. However, his father unexpectedly decides to take him ...

The Secret of Kells (2009) is an animated fantasy film set in 9th-century Ireland during the Viking expansion. It follows the story of Brendan, a curious and brave boy living in an Abbey under the watchful eye of his stern uncle, Abbot Cellach. The Abbot’s main concern is protecting the Abbey from Viking attacks by building a wall around it. Brendan is apprenticed in the monastery’s scriptorium where he first hears about Brother Aidan, the renowned creator of the Book of Iona. As he becomes more fascinated with the illuminator and his unfinished masterpiece, Aidan arrives in Kells with his unique white cat, Pangur Bán, after escaping a raid on his ...

The science fiction drama film, Mr. Nobody (2009), written and directed by Jaco Van Dormael, follows the life of Nemo Nobody. As the last mortal on Earth in a world where humans have achieved quasi-immortality, 118-year-old Nemo’s memories are fading. He shares his life story with a doctor and journalist, discussing his three main loves and the impact of his parents’ divorce on his journey. Throughout the film, the speculative narrative explores alternate life paths resulting from different decisions made by Nemo at ages nine, fifteen, and thirty-four. With a nonlinear structure incorporating the multiverse ...

OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009) is a French spy comedy, co-written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius. The story begins with Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, also known as OSS 117, at a ski chalet party in Gstaad entertaining a Chinese countess. However, the party is ambushed by Red Chinese gunmen on behalf of Mr. Lee, leaving only Hubert and the Countess alive. Despite his comical efforts to defend himself and his guests, Hubert is the only survivor. Upon returning to SDECE headquarters, he receives a mission to deliver a blackmail payment of 50,000 new Francs to Professor Von Zimmel – a Nazi who fled to South America ...

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 ...

Let the Right One In (2008) is a Swedish romantic horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson, adapted from John Ajvide Lindqvist’s 2004 novel of the same name. Set in 1982, the story follows 12-year-old Oskar and his mother Yvonne, who live in the western Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg. Oskar is constantly tormented by his peers and takes solace in collecting news articles about murders while daydreaming about revenge. One night, he meets a pale girl named Eli who has recently moved in next door with her caretaker Håkan. At first, Eli rejects Oskar’s friendship ...

Largo Winch (2008) is a French action thriller film based on the Belgian comic book of the same name. In Hong Kong, Nerio Winch, the owner and majority shareholder of W-Group, is murdered by an unknown assailant on his yacht, the Neretva. The following day, the board of directors for W-Group meets with Ann Ferguson, Nerio’s trusted associate, to discuss the matter. It is revealed that Nerio had a secret son named Largo Winch who was raised by a French-Croatian family and kept hidden from everyone until his recent discovery. Skepticism arises among the members but they decide to bring Largo in to determine if he truly is Nerio’s heir. Meanwhile, Largo is in ...

The French crime film, The Second Wind (2007), helmed by Alain Corneau, follows the story of Gu – a notorious gangster who has recently broken out of prison. With all of the French police hot on his trail, Gu must make a swift exit from the country with Manouche, his beloved. In order to fund their escape, Gu seeks out one last job. However, things take a turn when a corrupt police officer sets him up and makes it seem like he betrayed his own team. Determined to clear his name and restore his honour, Gu will stop at nothing to achieve justice.

Arthur and the Invisibles (2006) is a French live-action/animated film directed and co-written by renowned filmmaker Luc Besson. The movie is based on Besson’s children’s book series, which includes Arthur and the Minimoys and Arthur and the Forbidden City. Set in Northeastern Connecticut during the year 1960, the story follows 10-year-old Arthur Montgomery as he lives with his grandmother Daisy on a quiet farm. His grandfather, Archibald, has recently gone missing and his parents are away searching for work. While listening to Daisy’s ...

The Italian film, The Family Friend (2006), was directed by Paolo Sorrentino and was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Geremia, an elderly tailor and money lender, lives alone with his ill-tempered mother in a rundown house. Known for his selfish and frugal ways, Geremia develops a peculiar obsession with money and uses it to meddle in others’ affairs under the guise of being their ‘family friend’. One day, he is approached by a man seeking a loan for his daughter Rosalba’s wedding. Instantly smitten with the charming young woman, Geremia enters into an unconventional relationship ...

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 ...

In the film Paris, I love you (2006), 20 different filmmakers each capture five-minute moments in the magical City of Love. These moments are linked together through transitional interstitial sequences and an introduction and epilogue. The transitions smoothly connect the previous film’s ending shot to the following film’s beginning shot, creating a continuous flow and building anticipation for what comes next. Through this technique, we witness the vibrant life of Paris through a recurring mysterious character and a common theme of love that ties all 20 segments together. 01. Tuileries (

Hell (2005) is a French film directed by Danis Tanović. Originally drafted by Krzysztof Kieślowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz, it was intended to be the second installment in a trilogy. The story takes place in Paris and follows three sisters: Celine, Anne, and Sophie. In one early scene, a woman and her young daughter (later revealed to be Celine) visit an office where they encounter two people: her father and a naked young man. Years later, after several chance meetings with Sebastian in their adulthood, a misunderstanding ...

Anthony Zimmer (2005), a French romantic thriller film written and directed by Jérôme Salle, follows the story of a brilliant career criminal who is wanted by police worldwide. Evading authorities with his clever tactics, Zimmer legally launders money through fake corporations that file lawsuits against international companies. The elusive Zimmer is also on the run from the ‘White Collar Barons’, a powerful Russian mafia he once worked with. After undergoing plastic surgery, there is no known description of his appearance, making him even harder to catch. However, detective Akerman is determined to bring him ...