CinéCinéma (France): 12

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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 ...