Canal+ (France): 75

Adapted from Dominique Mainard’s novel Leur histoire, the French drama film Some Kind of Blue (2005) was brought to life by Alain Corneau. The story follows Clara, a woman who works at a bird shop and is sole caretaker of her deaf-mute daughter Anna. Despite her concerns for Anna, who has never spoken, Clara herself is unable to read and write due to a traumatic incident in her past. After her beloved grandmother Baba was attacked while reading to her, Clara developed a strong aversion to learning literacy skills. As a ...

Set in Paris, Angel-A (2005) is a French romantic fantasy drama film written and directed by Luc Besson. In one scene, Andre describes himself through a voice over, revealing that he is currently in Paris but actually lives in America. Despite considering himself a good person, Andre admits to constantly lying, even to himself. The next moment, he is violently slapped to the ground by three thugs who demand their owed money. Later, Franck’s bodyguard holds Andre over the railing of the iconic Eiffel Tower and demands repayment for his debt as well. Desperate for help, Andre turns to both the American embassy and a ...

The French film, Empire of the Wolves (2005), helmed by Chris Nahon, tells the story of Anna Heymes, a stylish 31-year-old Parisian housewife. She is plagued by nightmares and visions connected to a string of brutal murders in the city. As authorities Schiffer and Nerteaux work to solve the case, Anna’s own discoveries add fuel to the fire. It turns out that she has undergone intense reconstructive surgery, concealing her Turkish heritage. As tensions rise and danger looms, Anna must face off against the Turkish mafia and her would-be killer.

Revolver (2005), an action thriller film co-written and directed by Guy Ritchie, has two different versions. The following plot synopsis pertains to Ritchie’s preferred Directors Cut. Set in an unnamed city, the story follows Jake Green, a cockney gangster and gambler who is released from a seven-year solitary confinement sentence for an unspecified crime. During his time in prison, Jake developed claustrophobia, causing him to feel great distress in confined spaces and elevators. Two years later, Jake and his brother Billy visit Dorothy Macha’s casino. As a gang boss involved in illegal gambling throughout ...

The French comedy drama film, Happily Ever After (2004), explores the concept of fidelity through the intertwined storylines of three friends and their tumultuous relationships. The film gained popularity in North America after its English release, and is often praised for featuring a lengthy cameo by the talented Johnny Depp, who impressively speaks fluent French. The story begins with Vincent and Gabrielle playfully bantering at a bar. Despite the attention from other possible suitors, Vincent seems to have won over Gabrielle’s heart. However, their supposed game of courtship ...

Crimson Rivers 2: Angels of the Apocalypse (2004) is an action thriller helmed by director Olivier Dahan and produced by Ilan Goldman. This international co-production, involving France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, follows Chief Niemans as he delves into a string of ritualistic murders where the victims are crucified. To aid in his investigation, Niemans teams up with young officer Reda, who becomes involved when a disguised monk attempts to kill a man Reda had picked up off the street. With the help of a scholar in Christian mythology, they uncover the mysterious ...

The French film, Michel Vaillant (2003), stars Sagamore Stévenin and Diane Kruger. It tells the story of events surrounding the 24 hours of Le Mans race, which is based on a popular comic featuring the character, Michel Vaillant. The racing team, Vaillante, owned and operated by the Vaillant family has a rich history of success in various motor sports for many years. Michel Vaillant, the son of founder and owner Henri and younger brother of manager Jean-Pierre, is their most renowned driver. One night, Michel’s mother Élisabeth has a nightmare about her son’s ...

Fear and Trembling (2003) is a French film adapted from Amélie Nothomb’s novel of the same name. The story follows Amélie, a young Belgian woman who spent her childhood in Japan, as she returns to live and assimilate into Japanese society. Despite her determination to fully embrace the culture and become a ‘real Japanese’ before her one year contract expires, her strong will clashes with the humble nature of Japanese society. She secures a prestigious role as a translator at an import/export company, but her lack of understanding of Japanese customs and unsuitable work assignments lead to demotions ...

Anything Else (2003) is a romantic comedy film by American filmmaker Woody Allen. Jerry Falk and David Dobel, who bond over their shared profession as struggling comedy writers in New York City, quickly become close friends. While both are Jewish, they have differing beliefs – with David being an atheist. As they spend time together, they discover that they share a multitude of neuroses. Despite the age gap of forty years (with Jerry being twenty-one and David being sixty), they engage in deep conversations about life in the park. Though Jerry writes full-time and is even working on a novel, David still holds onto ...

Love Me If You Dare (2003) is a French romantic comedy-drama film directed by Yann Samuell. The story follows the unlikely friendship between Sophie, a young girl being bullied, and Julien, a kind-hearted boy. After helping her retrieve her belongings from bullies, Julien gives Sophie a tin box as a token of their newfound bond. In return, he asks to borrow it back occasionally, which she agrees to. However, when Julien requests the box back immediately after giving it to her, Sophie challenges him to prove its significance. Without hesitation, Julien disengages the bus handbrake and their game begins – with each ...

The Nest (2002) is a French action/thriller movie, co-written and directed by Florent-Emilio Siri. The literal translation of the French title is Wasp’s Nest. It serves as a quasi-remake of two other films, Assault on Precinct 13 from 1976 and Rio Bravo from 1959. On Bastille Day, while most are celebrating the French national holiday, a group of thieves prepares to rob a warehouse in an industrial park. Simultaneously, Laborie, an agent in the French special forces, leads an international team guarding the notorious Albanian mafia leader, Abedin Nexhep.

Tiptoes (2002), an American comedy-drama written and directed by Matthew Bright, follows the story of Carol, a talented and independent painter who falls in love with Steven. Despite not knowing much about him other than his perfection, their love blooms. However, when Carol becomes pregnant, it prompts Steven to reveal his deepest secret – his family. In a family of dwarfs with his twin brother Rolfe being one of them, Steven happens to be the only average-sized person. As they come to terms with the possibility of their child being born a dwarf, Steven’s fears intensify as he does not want them to go ...

John Madden directed Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001), a war film based on Louis de Bernières‘ 1994 novel of the same name. The Italian Army, accompanied by a few Germans, occupies Greece’s Ionian Islands and takes over the peaceful island of Cephalonia. The island’s inhabitants surrender quickly. Among the invaders is Captain Antonio Corelli of the Italian 33rd Acqui Infantry Division. He is known for his cheerful personality and love for playing the mandolin. Despite his troops never having fired a shot before, he teaches them to sing in ...

Vidocq (2001) is a mystery film, directed by Pitof. Set in 1830 Paris, the story follows private investigator Eugène Vidocq as he pursues a mysterious figure donning a cowl and mirrored mask. Their encounter leads Vidocq to a glass factory where they engage in a brutal fight that ultimately ends with Vidocq dangling from the ledge of a furnace room. In a desperate attempt to uncover his attacker’s identity, Vidocq begs him to reveal his face before succumbing to his fiery fate. Learning of Vidocq’s death, journalist Étienne Boisset seeks out his colleague René Nimier for information on his past to write his ...

Amélie (2001) is a French-language romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The titular character is born in 1974 and raised by eccentric parents who, believing she has a heart defect, choose to homeschool her. To combat her isolation, Amélie develops a vivid imagination and mischievous nature. Tragically, her mother Amandine is killed when a suicidal tourist jumps from Notre-Dame de Paris. As a result, Amélie’s father Raphaël retreats further into seclusion. At the age of 18, Amélie leaves home and starts working as a waitress at the Café des 2 Moulins in Montmartre – a haven for an eclectic ...

The drama film, The Man Who Cried (2000), written and directed by Sally Potter tells the story of Fegele Abramovich, a Russian Jew who becomes separated from her father in 1927. As her father seeks his fortune in America, he promises to bring Fegele and her grandmother to join him. Before departing, he sings ‘Je Crois Entendre Encore’ from Les pêcheurs de perles by Bizet to his daughter. Tragically, a pogrom strikes their village after he leaves, and Fegele is forced to flee with the help of kind neighbors. Despite facing numerous obstacles on her journey, she eventually boards a ship bound for Britain with ...

Bruiser (2000) is a French-Canadian horror-thriller film written and directed by George A. Romero. The creative director of a successful magazine firm, Henry Creedlow, leads an unhappy life due to his high-strung and contemptuous wife Janine. He often fantasizes about suicide as a result. During a commute to work with his best friend Jimmy Larson, Henry’s unsettled mind leads him to imagine killing a woman who pushes him while trying to board the train. At the office, where he works for a local magazine called Bruiser, everyone is gathered for a conference meeting to choose the model for their latest issue. ...

The French thriller The Crimson Rivers (2000) stars Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. Detective Superintendent Pierre Niemans is sent to the small university town of Guernon in the French Alps to investigate a brutal murder. The victim, Remy Callois, was a professor and the university’s librarian. Niemans seeks out Dr. Cherneze, a local ophthalmologist, for an explanation about the removal of the victim’s eyes. According to Dr. Cherneze, the isolated setting of the school led to inbreeding among the professors, resulting in serious genetic disorders. However, this ...

The neo-noir horror thriller film, The Ninth Gate (1999), was directed, produced, and co-written by Roman Polanski. The main character, Dean Corso, is a rare book dealer from New York City who is hired by Boris Balkan, a wealthy collector. Balkan has obtained a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book believed to have been written by 17th-century author Aristide Torchia in collaboration with the Devil. Only three copies are said to have survived when Torchia and his works were burned for heresy. In order to determine the authenticity of one of these copies, Balkan wants Corso to inspect the other two. ...

Irma Vep (1996), a French comedy-drama film written and directed by Olivier Assayas, tells the story of director René Vidal’s struggles during the making of a film-within-a-film. Playing the heroine, Irma Vep, is Maggie Cheung, sporting a tight black latex catsuit. The character’s name is actually an anagram for vampire and serves as inspiration for the criminal gang known as The Vampires in Feuillade’s original serial. As René and the team watch dailies, he becomes livid with disappointment and storms out, leaving Maggie stranded at the ...