Oct 8, 2014
SFFILM
The San Francisco Film Society has announced the schedule for the seventh annual French Cinema Now, November 6-9 at the Vogue Theatre (3290 Sacramento Street), presented in association with the French American Cultural Society and the Consulate General of France in San Francisco. The four-day festival brings the most significant new work from international francophone cinema to discerning Bay Area audiences. Covering a broad spectrum of subject matters and genres, FCN offers a comprehensive snapshot of the current moment in French-language cinema.
For complete program information, visit sffs.org/Exhibition/Fall-Season.
“This year’s French Cinema Now program highlights the range and breadth of subject matter that French-language cinema is particularly adept at exploring, from crowd-pleasing romances to family dramas,” said Rachel Rosen, Film Society director of programming. “There is a great mix of established talents and emerging filmmakers in this lineup, and plenty of names that should be familiar to SFFS audiences. We’re looking forward to having Paris Follies director Marc Fitoussi join us once again–he was here in 2010 when we opened FCN with this film Copacabana–and it will be exciting to welcome the up-and-coming directors of some of our newest discoveries like The Easy Way Out and The Good Life, as well.”
Some of France’s top acting talent-including Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard, Alain Delon and the first onscreen pairing of Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Pierre Darroussin-enlivens new works by film masters, favorite figures from recent French Cinema Now and SF International Film Festival lineups, and exciting new directors in this year’s celebration of all things French in film. This dynamic collection of contemporary French-language cinema takes audiences all over the world, from the heights of the Swiss Alps through the streets of Belgium to the banlieues of Paris, and has something for Francophile audiences of all tastes.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6 OPENING NIGHT
7:00 pm Paris Follies
Marc Fitoussi (La Ritournelle, France 2014, 98 min) Director Expected
Appearing onscreen together for the first time, Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Pierre Darroussin embody the earthy chemistry of long-married spouses in this story of a cattle farmer and his restless wife. Xavier and Brigitte have always been a bit mismatched; he’s down to earth while her head is in the clouds. After she meets a flirtatious young man at the neighbors’, Brigitte takes off for the big city in search of a possible fling while a suspicious Xavier follows behind. Written by Marc Fitoussi. Cinematography by Agnès Godard. With Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Pierre Darroussin. (The Festival Agency)
9:15 pm Opening Night Party Complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres at 1300 on Fillmore (1300 Fillmore at Eddy).
9:30 pm The Last Diamond
Eric Barbier (Le dernier diamant, France 2014, 109 min)
A 137-carat gem worth 40 million euros is at the heart of this jazzy take on the French heist movie. Simon (Yvan Attal) is fresh out of jail on parole but can’t resist a chance at the famous Florentine diamond. He poses as a security consultant to get close to Julia (Bérénice Bejo) who is in charge of the jewel’s upcoming auction. With such an attractive con man and such a beautiful mark, double-crossings and twists are sure to follow. Written by Eric Barbier, Marie Eynard, Trân-Minh Nam. Cinematography by Denis Rouden. With Yvan Attal, Bérénice Bejo. In French and Italian with subtitles. (Cohen Media Group)
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7
6:30 pm Girlhood
Céline Sciamma (Bande de filles, France 2014, 113 min)
Céline Sciamma (Water Lilies, SFIFF 2008) once again examines the way young women define and present themselves in this engaging look at 16-year-old Marieme who finds herself as part of a girl gang in the projects of suburban Paris. Enthralled by the bravado and volatile energy of three neighborhood teens, Marieme soon adapts to their bold and often reckless behavior, making both foolish and brave choices as she struggles toward self-awareness. Written by Céline Sciamma. Cinematography by Crystel Fournier. With Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh, Marietou Touré. (Strand Releasing)
9:00 pm Love at First Fight
Thomas Cailley (Les combattants, France 2014, 98 min)
In this idiosyncratic romantic comedy, Arnaud is literally knocked off his feet when he ends up wrestling with, and nearly losing to, an intense young woman at an army recruitment event. The blunt, unnerving Madeleine spends most of her time designing her own survivalist training for a possible impending apocalypse, and Arnaud somehow finds himself enlisting in a military boot camp-style training course, prepared to embark on a relationship that only the strong will survive. Written by Thomas Cailley, Claude Le Pape. Cinematography by David Cailley. With Adèle Haenel, Kévin Azaïs. (Strand Releasing)
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8
2:00 pm The Good Life – North American Premiere
Jean Denizot (La belle vie, France 2013, 93 min) Director Expected
Sylvain, his brother Pierre and their father Yves lead a rustic existence, in harmony with nature, away from society. But when missing children flyers appear in the nearby town, it becomes clear that it isn’t just Yves’ ideals keeping them apart; the three have been living on the lam for years after a bitter custody battle. Now that they are teens, the boys crave social interaction, and what once seemed like freedom begins to feel more like constraint. Written by Jean Denizot, Frédérique Moreau. Cinematography by Elin Kirschfink. With Zacharie Chasseriaud, Jules Pelissier, Solène Rigot, Nicolas Bouchaud. (The Match Factory)
4:15 pm Paris Follies see 11/6
7:00 pm Two Days, One Night
Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne (Deux jours, une nuit, Belgium/France/Italy 2014, 95 min)
Sandra’s job at the solar panel factory is about to be eliminated due to downsizing. Her only chance to keep her livelihood is to convince a majority of her 16 coworkers to give up the bonuses they’ve been offered to absorb her work, and she only has the weekend before the choice is put to the vote on Monday. Already struggling with depression, the fragile Sandra sets out to put her case to her colleagues who have their own struggles to face. Written by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne. Cinematography by Alain Marcoen. With Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Pili Groyne, Simon Caudry. (Sundance Selects)
9:30 pm Love Is the Perfect Crime
Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu (Amour crime parfait, France/Switzerland 2013, 111 min)
In this playfully twisting nod to Hitchcock and the Brothers Grimm, Marc (Mathieu Amalric), a professor at the University of Lausanne with a lothario reputation, lives in an isolated Alpine chalet with his sister Marianne (Karin Viard). When one of his students and recent conquests disappears, Marc finds himself juggling his attraction to the girl’s disarmingly attractive stepmother (Maïwenn), the advances of a young student (Sara Forestier), and increasing suspicion about his possible role in the disappearance. Written by Arnaud Larrieu, Jean-Marie Larrieu. Cinematography by Guillaume Deffontaines. With Mathieu Amalric, Karin Viard, Maïwenn, Sara Forestier. (Gaumont)
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9
1:00 pm Three Men to Kill
Jacques Deray (Trois hommes à abattre, France 1980, 93 min)
While on his way to a high-stakes card game, gambler Michel Gerfaut (Alain Delon) comes across a solo car wreck on a country road. But this crash is no accident, and Michel soon finds himself the target of ruthless arms dealers. Pursued by their brutal henchmen, Michel will have to use all his wits and skills to survive. Newly restored, this 1980s crime thriller is based on the novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette. Written by Christopher Frank, Jacques Deray. Cinematography by Jean Tournier. With Alain Delon, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Michel Auclair, Pascale Roberts. (Cohen Media Group)
3:15 pm One of a Kind
François Dupeyron (Mon âme par toi guérie, France 2013, 123 min)
Though he would like to deny it, Frédi has a gift for healing, inherited from his late mother. Depressed and unsure of how to deal with his disillusioned father (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) and his disaffected teenage daughter, Frédi could use some emotional healing himself. One night, an accident compels him to use his talents and soon patients are lining up outside his trailer door, including an attractive, alcoholic socialite whose destructive tendencies might be more than Frédi’s gifts can cure. Written by François Dupeyron. Cinematography by Yves Angelo. With Grégory Gadebois, Céline Sallette, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Marie Payen. (Kinology)
6:00 pm The Easy Way Out – North American Premiere
Brice Cauvin (L’art de la fugue, France 2014, 98 min) Director Expected
The romantic travails of three brothers are dissected with heart and humor in Brice Cauvin’s charming feature. Antoine is feeling the 10-year itch with his boyfriend Adar, sad-sack Gérard is pining after his soon-to-be ex-wife and savvy businessman Louis is getting cold feet over his engagement to his long-time girlfriend. Adapted from Stephen McCauley’s eponymous novel, The Easy Way Out portrays familial dysfunction with effortless wit and humanity. Written by Brice Cauvin, Raphaëlle Desplechin. Cinematography by Marc Tevanian. With Laurent Lafitte, Agnès Jaoui, Marie Christine Barrault, Guy Marchand. (Be For Films)
9:00 pm Clouds of Sils Maria
Olivier Assayas (France/Germany/Switzerland 2014, 123 min)
Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is a movie star who rose to fame in the film adaptation of a play about the young assistant of a middle-aged businesswoman and the sexually charged dynamic that drives her boss to suicide. Now Maria is being urged-partly by her own assistant Val (Kristen Stewart)–to perform in a revival, this time in the tragic role of the older woman. Mysterious and exhilarating, Olivier Assayas’s latest is a triumph of precision acting. Written by Olivier Assayas. Cinematography by Yorick Le Saux. With Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz, Lars Eidinger. In English. (Sundance Selects)
Every year, SFFS Education presents the French Films & Schools program as part of French Cinema Now. This program exposes high-school level students of French to the language and culture of France. Past offerings have included Suzanne by Katell Quillévéré, Brodeuses by Éléonore Faucher, Cyrano de Bergerac by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, L’Enfant by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne and The Class by Laurent Cantet. This year’s program, offered free to all participating students and their teachers, will feature Jean Denizot’s The Good Life. Seats for the French Films & Schools program are available exclusively to Bay Area educators and students and may be reserved only through the SFFS Education office by contacting Keith Zwölfer at 415-561-5040 or kzwolfer@sffs.org.
Film tickets $12 for SFFS members, $14 general, $13 seniors, students and persons with disabilities, $10 children (12 and under); Opening Night film and party tickets $20 for SFFS members, $25 general; Fall Season CineVoucher 10-Packs $110 for SFFS members, $130 general. Box office opens October 8 for members and October 10 for the general public online at sffs.org.
To request screeners and interviews contact bproctor@sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit sffs.org/pressdownloads.
French Cinema Now is sponsored by the French American Cultural Society; Bank of the West; TV5 Monde; the Consulate General of France, San Francisco; the Consulate General of Switzerland, San Francisco; Joie de Vivre and Hotel Kabuki, Laurel Inn, and Nob Hill Inn; and 1300 on Fillmore. Special support is provided by Margaret and Will Hearst, and Netta and Michael Fedor. Media sponsors are SF Weekly, San Francisco Bay Guardian and San Francisco Examiner.