Why a movie can be hilarious in France but rejected in the US

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If you ever resisted the urge to laugh during an inappropriate time or at a serious subject matter, it’s safe to say that you’re probably not French, writes Manon Kerjean from Lost in Frenchlation.

When it comes to jokes and giggles, the French don’t hold back, which is why the the raunchy romantic French comedy Qu’est-ce qu’on a Encore Fait au Bon Dieu (Serial Bad Weddings 2) brought 2.15 million spectators to the theaters within its first week of release this January and 6 million within a month of its release.

The original film, Qu’est-ce qu’on a Fait au Bon Dieu (Serial Bad Weddings) released in 2014 and directed by Philippe de Chaveron, tells the story of the Verneuils, a family composed of a Gaullist father, a Catholic mother and their four daughters finding love in very different places.

The Verneuil daughters are each married to men of a different ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds: an Algerian Muslim, a Sephardic Jew, a Han Chinese with an open perspective on religion and a Catholic West African.

They have all found love and compatibility in their partners, however, their parents have trouble coming to terms with the racial and religious differences.

After pretending to accept their sons-in-law for so long, the implicit biases eventually come to light… with the help of a a glass of wine.

Although its method of tackling topics of race and religion as a form of comic relief left some movie goers wondering, for most of the French, a couple satirical jabs at someone’s race or religion is no more offensive than a knock knock joke.

This is due to their value of “wit,” as opposed to Anglo-Saxon “humour.”

Wit is often more brutal, below the belt and mocking of others. On the flip side, Americans and the British tend to laugh at themselves as opposed to laughing at others. Anglo-saxon humour is considered to be more gentle, emotional, and genial.

The trailers of Bon Dieu 1 and 2 had zero filters, just as the French would like, using clichés and stereotypes that would be considered outdated and too far for the British and Americans.

Instead of being torn to shreds on social media, the release of the movie has received a lot of praise and accolades for its box office results.

Box office Analysis Tweeted: “Bon Dieu 2 collected $3.12m at French box-office this weekend taking its total to $53.5m. It’s sequel to French blockbuster Bon Dieu which collected a little over $100m.”

A satirical music video was also released for the promotion of Bon Dieu 2 before the movie actually hit the theatres.

The video of the Verneuil sons-in-law reached over 600,000 views on YouTube and more than 10,000 likes, praised by viewers for its use of traditional French wit.

The directness used when tackling prejudice and racism aligned with French wit, appealing to many French viewers as a form of bringing individuals of different backgrounds together by recognising differences, addressing them and finding a common ground.

Contrary to the popular opinion, some French viewers found the film distasteful and they are not alone.

When the first version of the film was in the process of being released in America under the title ‘Serial Bad Weddings,’ the racial and religious commentary and rhetoric intended for laughter was found questionable by US distributors. In fear of stirring up controversy, the film never actually made it to the big screen in America.

The differences in culture and political climate that exist between the French and Americans make it very easy for film plots and humor to get lost in translation.

However, despite the controversy, the two box office hits were able to get millions of viewers from different walks of life together in front of the big screen for a night of laughter and critique.

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Cannes Film Festival: The Things We Don’t Talk About

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As celebrities clad in Chanel twirled on the red carpet at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, less than a block away several homeless locals could be seen panhandling for a meal, reports Yeeseon Chae.

The festival’s glitz and glamour throws in to sharp relief the poverty and inequality present in the city and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

The festival that has become synonymous with the city brings in about €30 million in just 12 days. But as much revenue as the festival brings in, there is also displacement that occurs.

It’s not hard to imagine how far removed the festival-goers and rich tourists are from the rest of everyday Cannes.

The considerable economic inequality is present in the housing alone.

The city of Cannes simultaneously has some of the world’s most expensive real estate and also a higher poverty rate than the national average.

The average price per square metre of property in Cannes is €23,133, according to the 2012 Wealth Report from Knight Frank and Citi Bank, while the average yearly salary in Cannes is €28,202.

To address these multiple disparities, the City Council of Cannes and seven local businesses and individual donors have created the Cannes Foundation.

The fund’s objectives are to “create a true and long lasting solidarity between local and foreign residents of the city who care about Cannes,” and “allow inhabitants and businesses to efficiently provide concrete support to the projects of their choice.”

The Fund also helps donors to identify the beneficiaries and precisely allocate the charitable contributions.

If the foundation means to amend the current state of the city, there is a lot of work to be done.

A total of 18.4% of families in Cannes fall under the poverty rate, higher than the national average of 13.9%. The Gini index – which measures wealth inequality – for Cannes is 40%, compared to the national average of 30%.

The increasing national sentiment for improved economic conditions against income disparity was echoed by the ‘yellow vest’ protesters, around 150 of whom gathered close to the Palais des Festivals.

Their presence was banned in the city centre by the new representative of the Alpes-Maritime state this past weekend.

Such inequalities, however, are far from rare.

Though the tourism sector of Cannes may hide the flaws from the red carpet, filmmakers like veteran British director Ken Loach have been lauded for bringing inequality and issues of modern poverty to the front.

Sorry We Missed You, Loach’s new film centered around a working-class family in Newcastle, opened this past week at the festival to glowing reviews.

“I always hope that my films will change attitudes or lead to a reflection on the world, but the rich will probably not see Sorry We Missed You,” Loach said in an interview with 20 Minutes.

He also added that he “admired the courage” of the ‘yellow vest’ protesters.

It is striking that the festival favorite is a film discussing the increasing global income gap and its costs to everyday people when you consider the social and economic context of the festival itself.

But we must continue to talk about the displacement and real-life consequences that occur when incredibly large-scale events, like the film festival, bring a tremendous amount of opportunity and simultaneously disenfranchisement to the same place.

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10 films that show that French arthouse cinema is not just for movie geeks

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French arthouse cinema. These three words can make viewers either frantically giddy at the thought of the emboldened aesthetics or quite intimidated by the seemingly “pretentious” and niche, writes Yeeseon Chae.

Still, French arthouse cinema is a protected cultural and national institution of France as much as blockbusters are to Hollywood in the US.

Recently described by Richard Brody of the New Yorker as “old-fashioned” and “conservative,” he misses the mark by pinpointing the definition of French arthouse cinema to one bad egg, new movie Non Fiction (Doubles Vie).

The film director is highly regarded in France – much more than in the US. Arthouse cinema is also publicly protected in France mostly by the CNC, or the National Center for Cinema.

Contrasting with the American model of almost entirely privately funded cinema, the CNC regularly supports and intervenes in the cinema industry to provide administrative as well as heavy financial support for film in France.

Significant aid is awarded by the CNC for film production, distribution, and the operation of screening. In fact, each French movie-goer contributes to the CNC and possible future features through a ticket sale tax.

The TSA tax (taxe sur le prix des entrées aux séances organisées par les exploitants d’établissements de spectacles cinématographiques), takes about 10.72 percent of each ticket sale price to help directly fund the CNC and CNC approved projects.

Other national associations also include the AFCAE (French Association of Cinema and Critique), that work to increase the education and public awareness of French auteur cinema. All of this goes to give the director the most power in their creative endeavors, in comparison to the American model where most of the say goes to the film studio or producer.

French auteur and arthouse cinema are modeled after the French New Wave, a period of filmmaking in the 1950s and 60s heralded by legends like Agnes Varda and Francois Truffaut.

The era is defined by its realist experimentation against the standards of narrative filmmaking at the time, and usually characterised by its visual aesthetic and close studies of the human psyche.

In many ways, Brody is not wrong in what he says about Olivier Assayas’ Non-Fiction. The film is all style, no substance, and relies heavily on inside jokes of the literary scene that exclude the audience.

The characters represented in his film are far from reality, but Non-Fiction itself is hardly the definitive French arthouse film, as much as it would like to be regarded as such. There is a spectrum to French arthouse cinema that goes above this film’s narrow scope.

To provide you with a better idea of what French arthouse cinema is really like, here are the top 10 recent films certified by the AFCAE as “Art et Essai” brought to you by Lost In Frenchlation.

1. 120 BPM (120 battements par minute) – 2017

Set in the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1990s France, this winner of the Cannes Grand Prix follows a group of Parisian ACT UP activists as they fight and celebrate in a world that actively works against them.

2. Bloody Milk (Petit Paysan) – 2017

One part farm thriller and two parts social drama bring you Bloody Milk. Filmed on the director’s family farm, Bloody Milk is the story of a young farmer who becomes obsessed with saving his cows from a deadly infection.

3. Barbara – 2017

Nominated for several Cesar awards as well as the Un Certain Regard award for Cannes, this meta film is about an actor and a director’s feverish fixation as they attempt to create a biopic about the famous French singer.

4. The Workshop (L’Atelier) – 2017

This study of modern French life is about a young writers’ workshop, led by famous writer Olivia, as they attempt to create a story about their small town in the South of France. Ensuing drama follows as one such member strays away from the group by falling deep into a right-wing group, creating tension and confrontation that must be addressed.

5. Montparnasse Bienvenüe / Jeune Femme – 2017

A hilarious profile of a young woman who seems to be fumbling at it all, Laetitia Dosch stars in this comedy as a woman after a break-up as she learns to live for herself.Memoir of War

6.  Memoir of War (La Douleur) – 2017

Based on the semi-autobiographical work by Marguerite Duras, Memoir of War follows Marguerite as she struggles to keep her faith in humanity after her husband is taken away during the Nazi occupation of France.

7. Custody (Jusqu’à la Garde) – 2017

Like a thriller remake of Kramer vs. Kramer, Custody investigates the divorce of the Besson couple as the mother struggles to get sole custody of the child against a father she accuses of being abusive.

8. Our Struggles (Nos Batailles) – 2018

After his wife leaves him, Olivier must juggle the injustices of his job as he begins to create a new home and family for his children.

9. Real Love (C’est ca l’Amour) – 2018

A lovingly unflinching portrait of a family, Real Love follows the Messina family in the aftermath of their mother’s sudden departure. The family must come to terms with the truth as they grapple with trauma and feelings hidden beneath them as they learn to find a way to be whole again.

10. Guy – 2018

Awarded Best Film by the French equivalent of the Oscars, the Cesar, this comedy takes a pseudo-documentary style as it shares the story of a journalist who learns that his biological father is Guy Jamet, a once-famous now forgotten pop singer.

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7 Movies That Will Make You Reconsider Coming to Paris

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1. Taken – 2008

This film, starring Liam Neeson, has gone on to achieve cult-status and produce a slew of sequels. It follows a retired CIA agent (Neeson) who must travel from America to Europe and resurrect the skills from his past when his daughter is kidnapped in Paris. Without a doubt, this is an American tourist’s nightmare. Enjoy.

2. The Dreamers (Innocents)- 2003

Don’t be fooled by the sex appeal of this movie…twisted things lie ahead. This 2003 film follows an American studying in Paris in 1968 (against the backdrop of the Paris student riots) as he falls into a relationship with a brother-sister couple. Things get complicated.

3. Irreversible (Irréversible) – 2002

Paris may be known as the city of love, but not in this film. This 2002 psychological thriller unfolds in reverse-chronological order as two men make their way through Paris to avenge the rape of a woman in their lives (Monica Bellucci). The film is scored by Thomas Bangalter, one of the musicians of electronic group Daft Punk. Make sure to catch IRREVERSIBLE before going to see director Gaspar Noé’s latest film, CLIMAX.

4. As Above, So Below – 2014

This horror film will take you into the legendary catacombs of Paris. This found-footage picture follows a team of explorers as they search for the philosopher’s stone in the Parisian underground, while experiencing a gross inversion of the above-ground world they once knew. What they encounter, however, will send their past and present worlds colliding. Recommended for fans of British cult horror THE DESCENT (2005).

5. Three Colors: Blue (Trois Couleurs: Bleu) – 1993

This film veers away from the abject horror of some of the previous entries on this list. However, that’s not to say it is an upper. THREE COLORS: BLUE follows international star Juliette Binoche as she struggles to live life, following the death of her child and husband. It was nominated for three Golden Globes after it opened in 1993.

6. An American Werewolf in Paris – 1997

This American-French film collaboration is one for the ages. It might be a safer bet than the aforementioned film, as this is billed as a comedy-horror. It follows a young American who gets involved with French werewolves who have developed a transformation-controlling serum. Of course, things go wrong. FUN FACT: This film features Modern Family’s Julie Bowen (pictured below)…as you’ve never seen her before!

7. La Haine (Hate) – 1995

This 1995 French film follows 24 hours in the lives of 3 young men in France, the day after a violent riot. Featuring Vincent Cassel in one of his early roles, this film explores live in a cramped French “ghetto” where mixed ideologies combined with a racist an oppressive police force have created a pressure-cooker waiting to explode.

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6 of the greatest cinematic works featuring the Champs-Élysées

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6. Holy Motors by Leos Carax, 2012

This drama-fantasy became an instant hit throughout Europe as its artistic meaning and morals are left ambiguous to the audience. Its cast has major star power including such celebrities as Eva Mendes, Kylie Minogue, and Denis Lavant. The main character, Monsieur Oscar, drives a white limo throughout Paris for his mysterious jobs/roles. 

The camera follows this white limo everywhere, especially when he drives on Champs-Élysées and passes the infamous restaurant Le Fouquet’s. Take the same drive down Champs-Élysées toward l’Arc de Triomphe to follow the path of Monsieur Oscar.

5. Belle de Jour by Luis Bunuel, 1967

This art-house classic film features the timeless French actress Catherine Deneuve in her prime. She plays a sexually dissatisfied housewife who becomes a prostitute, working in a brothel in the afternoons. She forms an extremely close relationship with a young gangster named Marcel, who is filmed robbing a delivery man on 79 Champs-Élysées.

The building has since been remodeled, but now resides as a Toyota showroom on 79 Champs-Élysées.

4. L’écume des jours (Mood Indigo) by Michel Gondry, 2013

This surreal film, based on the book of the same title by Boris Vian, explores the relationship between a wealthy bachelor Colin and the Chloe, the woman he loves who has been diagnosed with an uncommon disease where a flower grows in her lungs. The movie follows his adventurous race to find a cure in order to keep his love alive. 

Gondry used the beautiful interior of the Hôtel de la Païva on Champs-Élysées for the setting of where the two love interests first meet at a social gathering. You can find this grand hotel right in the middle of the avenue, at 25 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris.

3. C’était un Rendez-Vous (It Was a Date) by Claude Lelouch, 1976

Claude Lelouch created a short film (8-minute short film) like no other: a high speed drive throughout Paris at dawn. It has been deemed the greatest live street racing video of all time. The short film has no dialogue, simply the revving of a Mercedes 6.9 while Lelouch takes the wheel and the audience along with him. 

He begins the speedy drive on the Champs-Élysées and passes l’Arc de Triomphe with ease, cutting off many cars along the way.

2. Au-revoir là-haut (See You Up There) by Albert Dupontel, 2017

This film follows the mesmerizing journey of loss, swindling, and friendship found between two broken soldiers in the Roaring Twenties of Post-WWI Paris. Its artistic and playful nature comes from the adaptation of the Goncourt-winning novel by Pierre Lemaitre of the same title.  

The Champs-Élysées is featured in the film with the use of the exterior gardens of the Hôtel d’Espeyran on 7 Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées. The exterior shots of this hotel are used to portray the mansion of the main character, Édouard Péricourt.

1. À Bout de Souffle (Breathless) by Jean-Luc Godard, 1960

If you are going to watch any French film, let alone one featuring the Champs-Élysées, this is the one to see. Jean-Luc Godard keeps this film centrally located on the Champs-Élysées – most of its scenes highlight the beautiful views of this famous avenue.

This French New Wave classic follows a charming yet shady French thief on the run from the authorities who falls in love with an American in Paris and begs her to escape with him. The most famous scene takes place where the two lovers first reconnect and stroll down the avenue, not far from where the Champs-Élysées meets the Ave. Georges V.

Happy strolling down the world’s most beautiful and famous avenue!

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Lumière, Caméra, Action

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All over the world, going to the movies is considered one of the most popular pastimes. We head over to the local cinema with our friends on a casual Friday night, indulge in some popcorn, then sit back and relax while we’re taken on another great adventure.

The world of cinema is unquestionably a glamorous one. From the anticipation of the next greatest blockbuster, to red carpets at world premieres, and awaiting the box office results, there is always something to look forward to. The film industry is undoubtedly one of the greatest industries in the world, and here’s why… 

In 2014, the film industry was estimated to be worth $90 billion US dollars. That’s over three times larger than the music industry, which came in at only $28 billion US dollars the same year. And in 2015, global ticket sales hit an all-time high of $38.6 billion US dollars – that’s massive!

It’s obvious that the film industry has made its impact on our world, but where did it all start? You guessed it, right here in France, the true birthplace of film.

The Lumière brothers from Lyon, Auguste and Louis, started it all by creating a film projector called the Cinématographe. With this new invention, they made the first ever motion picture which was only 46 seconds long, La Sortie des ouvriers de l’usine Lumière (Workers leaving the Lumière Factory). Thanks to them, the term “cinema” was born.

Georges Méliès, a well-known illusionist from Paris, happened to be in the audience of the Lumière brothers’ presentation of the Cinématographe, which easily captivated him. Shortly after, he recreated his own camera and continued to make an astounding 500 films in his career, discovering how film could distort the reality of everyday life. You may even recognize one of these films from 1902, Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon.) Not long after, motion pictures became the new norm.

Fast forward a few decades and we’ve arrived at the most prestigious film festival in the world, the Cannes Festival. From glamour, red carpets, and iconic stars, Cannes has it all. For the past 70 years, Cannes has taken the film world by storm for about two weeks every spring, premiering the world’s most anticipated films in the presence of the industry’s elite.

While making it big at Cannes doesn’t guarantee success, it’s definitely a good push in the right direction. Quentin Tarantino launched his career at Cannes, while Michel Hazanavicious’ The Artist went on to win the Oscar for best picture after Jean Dujardin picked up the Best Actor award at Cannes in 2011.

Now this all sounds impressive, but exactly how passionate are the French when it comes to the cinema?

Believe it or not, France has the highest level of cinema attendance in all of Europe. In 2016, 213 million people went to the movies in France – that’s over three times the total population of the country and the second-best result in 50 years! Seventy-five million of those admissions were for French films too! You could unmistakably say film is a pretty big industry here in France.

So, next time you’re in France, don’t forget to experience the country’s renowned cinema culture. Stop by one of the countless independent cinemas, have some popcorn, and immerse yourself in a truly French pastime. See you there!

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Six must-see new French films that have wowed France

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“Barbara” is a biographical drama about the sensational 1960s French chanteuse. Uniquely done this film follows Yves Zand (Mathieu Amalric), a director enraptured with the singer, as he tries to direct a film that perfectly captures the creative essence that surrounded the late Barbara.
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Zand and his actress portraying Barbara fall down a metaphorical rabbit hole as they study Barbara’s character, gestures, mannerisms, facial expressions through her music, film, and archival footage. With real images and alluring clips of Barbara weaved into the film, this national French icon can be truly honored and parallels the fascination France had for Barbara in the 1960s, making this film virtually unmissable.
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“Au-revoir là-haut” written and directed by Albert Dupontel, with input from Pierre Lemaitre, writer of the Goncourt-winning novel this French film was adapted from. The film is an absorbing story of post-war survival and friendship about the mis-adventures of two soldiers who survived the bloody trenches.
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Right as the war is ending their merciless captain, Pradelle, sends them into the trenches where Edouard Pericourt (Perez Biscayart) loses half his face but meets Maillard, a French accountant. Sticking together, these two return home where Pericourt adopts the identity of a dead corpse, hides his war sustained injuries behind fanciful masks and commits to a life with Maillard.
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“La Promesse de l’Aube“ introduces the intriguing mother-son relationship that dominated the incredible life of legendary French writer Romain Gary and packed with a talented and highly-acclaimed cast!
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Living in 1920’s Russia, with only each other to rely on, Gray and his Russian-Jewish Mother form an extremely close, and sometimes unhealthy intense relationship. Central to their relationship is the, at times burdensome, placement of the mother’s wildest hopes and ambitions onto her son, propelling him to the greatness he ultimately achieves.
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Through a heartwarming, immensely comedic film witness the mother-son relationship central to the formation of a French literary genius.
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France’s best comedy film of 2017! Co-directed by the guys who brought you “Intouchables“, this film is sure to have you laughing out loud. Max, a French caterer and event organizer has worked on hundreds of parties, but is going to have his biggest challenge pulling off a grandiose wedding in a seventeenth century château.
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Through the perspective of the various (and hilarious) event staff personalities discover if they have what it takes to pull off a magnificently huge and elegant French wedding. With disaster and chaos threatening to disrupt Max’s detailed planning, along with the highs and lows of emotions that accompany wedding days, view this film to understand the French’s unique perspective on how to really throw party.
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2017 French Drama directed by Robin Campillo and Cannes Grand Prix winner: “120 Battements Par Minute“ follows the main characters, who are mostly HIV positive, in Act-Up Paris. Witness their public activism and private struggles as they try to urge the French Government and Pharmaceutical Companies to take immediate action on the Aids Epidemic. This film set in Paris in the early 1990’s is a pulsating portrait of what it meant to be queer in France during this time period and is a crucial movie to watch for the history it depicts.
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“Jusqu’à la Garde“, a hard-hitting, scintillating drama about the realities of a family ensnared in a custody battle after a messy divorce. Not only did this film compete at the 74th Venice Film festival but it won the prestigious Silver Lion award!
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To protect her son from her abusive ex-husband, Miriam will turn towards the France Judicial system and enter into a taxing custody battle. When shared custody is granted, a manipulative game of tug-of-war will ensue over the son, leaving viewers sitting anxiously on the edge of their seats. 

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It’s the Cesar awards: What you need to know about this year’s ‘French Oscars’

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The France’s Academy of Arts and Sciences unveiled their nominations for this year’s César Awards a few weeks ago, and the night the winners will be announced has finally arrived.
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George Cravene, was the young age of 13 years old when he became inspired by the American film industry’s Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars. Holding onto that inspiration, Cravene grew up to create France’s own ceremony to honor the best films in the birthplace of cinema: Paris, France.
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Created in 1974, the César Awards take place once a year (This year’s date is tonight, March 2, 2018) to crown cinematic professionals whose fervid passion, unwavering dedication, and notable character make the French film industry special.
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Voting is done by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinema (or the Academy), whose members are the crème de la crème among the film industry’s professionals and personalities, and tonight’s Césars will be presented by the hilarious French comedian Manu Payet.
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Each French film can be nominated in any category (Categories include “Best Short Film”, “Best Female Lead”, “Best Sound”, “Best Original Screenplay”, etc) with some even raking in more than eight nominations.
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In early February, the academy voted on French films (must have been released on Jan 1 to Dec 31 of the previous year to be eligible), then the public found out who stood out and garnered a coveted César Award nomination(s).
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Let us take a trip down memory lane and reminisce on a few of our favorite films nominated:
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Co-directed by the guys that brought you Intouchables, Le Sens De La Fête or C’est la Vie, is a comedic film that follows a wedding planner who has been entrusted to pull off the wedding of the year for a very important client.
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This French film not only has you out of your seat laughing, but also explores the true feeling of what it means to count on the people in your life. Be sure to keep an eye out during tonight’s César Awards to see if Le Sens De La Fête takes home a César Award for categories: Best Feature Film, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Screenplay, and more.
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Another particularly notable film is Visages Villages directed by Agnés Varda and J.R. The film is nominated for is Best Original Documentary, for its unlikely story of Agnés Varda, age 50, and photographer/muralist J.R. who travel across France to inspire the magic of art into everyone they see.
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Agnes Varda is an authentic French Film director who was a central figure to the French New Wave Film Movement that shaped the way French cinema is created today.
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Films up for a César Award like 120 Battements Par Minute tell the stories of pivotal events central to the history of Paris, France. Directed by Robin Campillo, 120 Battements Par Minute tells the inspiring story of Act Up, the advocacy group in Paris, France that demanded action by the government and pharmaceutical companies to combat the Aids Epidemic in the 1990s.
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But how has authentic French culture been kept alive?
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With Cultural Exception (or l’exception culturelle francaise), a phrase all foreigners should get acquainted with as it refers to the protections created by the government to prevent French culture from being swallowed up by foreign cultures.
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Thus, insuring the preservation of the “je ne sais quoi” French film offers, that the whole world can experience too.

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Paris and cinema: Why the French capital is the city of the silver screen

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You might recognize Paris as being the hub of light, love, fashion, and art, but have you ever stopped to think about how deeply-rooted the concept of cinema is in Parisian culture?

Paris has established itself as a city whose cinema is deeply embedded in its culture.

Home to the world’s first-ever movie screening in 1895, Paris has since continued to thrive as the global face of cinema with its 364 movie screens showcasing not only French independent and mainstream productions, but also the best cinema works from across the globe.

By most English-speaking film buff standards, a lot of French cinema might be considered arthouse.

This is because France doesn’t just produce films to profit from the box office as many other film markets do.

The French use the phrase cinéma d’art et essai to describe films that have ambition, but whose artistic and expressive purpose outweighs profitability.

Paris caters for these special films with its strong cinema culture and the sheer amount of independent cinemas which serve as the perfect venues for screenings.

Some 29 independent cinemas are currently operating in Paris, and for the most part they screen both mainstream and independent films alongside each other.

Other countries tend to separate arthouse films from blockbusters by showing them at different cinemas, but independent Parisian cinemas are bridging the gap and giving cinema-goers the unique opportunity to view the full spectrum of what’s on offer.

This highlights Paris’ open attitude towards films and the Parisian population’s appreciation for all forms of the big screen.

Paris has 88 cinemas in total and one movie screen for every 6,000 inhabitants, compared to the entirety of France which has one screen for every 11,000 people.

While France is undoubtedly one of the world’s movie capitals, this statistic shows Paris’ heightened appreciation for the art and entertainment of cinema. To put the rest of the world into perspective, the United States has one screen for every 7,400 people, and the U.K. and Germany have one screen for every 17,000 people.

Multiple widely-attended film events happen in Paris annually that spotlight local productions.

Among these events include the Paris Art and Movie Awards, the Paris Independent Film Festival, and the European Independent Film Festival.

These occasions are important because they bring awareness to the cinema being produced in France and Paris in particular, highlighting domestic accomplishments and drawing a wider audience to the cinema.

Finally, although Paris prides itself on creating and exporting French cinema, the city is also welcoming of films from other cultures.

The City of Paris relies on integrating foreign films into screening selections as more tourists and foreign residents make their way into the city.

This is important because film serves as a means of weakening cultural barriers; when someone is able to experience the enchantment of global cinema, they are able to easily understand foreign cultures in a way that was not open to them before.

Parisians view cinema as uniting a community while also allowing people to have their own experience, taking in films on their own terms.

This approach to cinema is similar to the typical Parisian personality – open to coming together, but remaining an independent individual in expression.

Ultimately, what makes Paris the capital of cinema is the Parisian appreciation of and curiosity for films; the world-class cinema infrastructure that exists within Paris; and the city’s exceptional ability to keep its cinema culture thriving by encouraging and rewarding domestic production.

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Why watching French movies can be the best way to learn the language

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The text books and the tiring conversations are necessary but the most relaxing, culturally eye-opening and simply enjoyable way to learn French is by going to the movies, with a note pad of course, writes Manon Kerjean from Lost in Frenchlation.

LIF co-founder Manon Kerjean explains why going to the movies make the best lesson plans.

You’re walking around Paris, catching every other word of the conversations buzzing around you.

Suddenly everything you learned from all those years of French classes is slowly slipping away.

“Why can’t I understand anything? This isn’t what I learned!”

Anyone who has learned a foreign language knows it’s more than just translating words.

And while it can be really difficult to practice your listening and comprehension skills, there’s one solution which is way more fun and entertaining than the rest: going to the cinema.

First Steps for Learning French

Now, before you hop on the Metro and head over to your local cinema, consider these few tips to make the most out of your experience.

Watching movies with music is the perfect starting point.

Listening to music allows you to hear the clear pronunciation of words as the phrases are more drawn out.

Songs are also repetitive so maybe by the final chorus, you’ll be singing along.

Some great films with music to start out with are La Famille Bélier (The Bélier Family), starring French superstar, Louane Emera. The film follows a young woman, raised by deaf parents, who dreams of being a singer.

Les Choristes (The Chorus) is always a great classic too about a teacher changing the lives of students at a boys’ boarding school through music.

Not only are these movies great ways to learn French, but you’ll have picked up a few French songs on the way.

If you’re tired of getting confused when the French throw around puns and idioms, try watching a comedy like Le Prénom (What’s in a name?) – a hilarious film about a family dinner that gets a little out of hand.

There’s also a conversation in the very popular film, Le Dîner de Cons (The Dinner Game) about a man’s unfortunate name which the French find very “punny” …

“…Il s’appelle Juste Leblanc.

– Ah bon, il n’a pas de prénom ?

– Je viens de vous le dire Juste Leblanc… Votre prénom c’est François, c’est juste ? Eh bien lui c’est pareil, c’est Juste…”

And in English…

“…His name is Juste LeBlanc.

– He doesn’t have a first name?

– I just told you, Juste Leblanc… your name is François, right? Well it’s the same for him, it’s Juste. – …”

Lastly, when you’re in the cinema, it’s never a bad idea to bring a pen and notepad along with you.

This way you can write down any new phrases you hear with their translations, pronunciations of difficult words, and even nonverbal cues that you found interesting so you can truly feel like a local the next time you visit your favorite Francophone country.

Hearing French in Action

As you’re sitting in the cinema, you will hear an abundance of new, everyday words, phrases, and slang you can incorporate into your vocabulary.

This ability to speak colloquially is the difference between sounding like you’re from the Middle Ages and someone who can really operate in the local language.

The importance of this adaptability is captivatingly shown in L’Esquive (Games of Love and Chance) – a drama from 2005 which follows young students from the projects putting on a theatrical play.

They struggle with the classic language and must relearn how to speak properly, paralleling the all-too familiar journey of trying to speak like a local when learning a foreign language.

Understanding accents

Think of your own country – there are surely various dialects and accents.

Well it’s exactly the same in France, so the everyday French phrases that you’ve known for years could sound completely different somewhere else in the world.

The differences in French accents is hilariously shown in Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis (Welcome to the Sticks) – a comedy about a man from the south of France who is forced to move to the north for work.

This classic focuses on how to embrace change and to laugh at yourself when put into an uncomfortable situation, something any international can relate to when abroad.

A celebrated drama from Quebec also highlights just how different French-language accents can be. Mommy is about a widowed mother who is struggling to deal with her violent son, and it’s an absolute must-see.

To demonstrate how diverse French accents can be, when the film was shown in France, it had to be shown with subtitles so everyone could understand what was being said!

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