Win In Your Hands goodies and tickets!
Psychological drama In Your Hands comes to GFT this week and to celebrate we're giving you the chance to win tickets and fabulous prizes.
The ever-brilliant Kristin Scott Thomas stars as Anna, a brilliant female surgeon who is kidnapped by Yann (Pio Marmai), the grieving husband of a woman who died under Anna's care. As they spend days together in Yann's basement, the two find their feelings for each other growing in a complex and confusing direction, complicating both of their senses of justice.
With razor-sharp performances and the now-trademark direction of French writer and director Lola Doillon, this is one not to miss.
The competition winner will receive:
2 x tickets to the film screening of your choice*
1 x Woman in the Fifth DVD
1 x Woman in the Fifth book
1 x In Your Hands poster
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this simple question: What is your favourite French film, and why?
Answer below in the comments and you could find yourself a very lucky person indeed.
*Subject to availability. Excludes special-price films/events.
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Comments (16)
La Haine - it was the first French film I ever saw. I was still in high school and it opened my eyes to world cinema. French has always remained my favourite foreign film genre though!
Amelie! It's a classic with a quirky twist. It epitomises the French cinema experience and is a delight to watch from start to finish. I love when she turn round to see the faces in the audience and their expressions! Watching this, makes feel like I've been whisked off to Paris in an instant. It captures the romantic, spontaneous mood of the city. The soundtrack is also superb! It's my go to French film.
France has given us so much in the way of fine cinema, and what is more I'm tempted to pick practically anything with Charlotte Gainsbourg in it, but, for me it has to be... 'Les Visiteurs', bien sûr!!!
More than a hint of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a nod or two in Marty McFly's direction, and a most excellent dash of Bill and Ted combine with the kind of absurd silliness that only the French could conjure up, throwing in a star turn by one of France's finest film exports in Jean Reno for good measure (yeah, okay, he's not really even French...and uh-huh, you have a point about Godzilla, but still!)
It's bizarre and ridiculous, yes, but a laughter-filled, underrated gem of a movie nonetheless!
Vive la Provence! awsomely describes the specialities both in cuisine and people in the provence! so funny as well!
France has given us so much in the way of fine cinema, and what is more I'm tempted to pick practically anything with Charlotte Gainsbourg in it, but, for me it has to be... 'Les Visiteurs', bien sûr!!!
More than a hint of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a nod or two in Marty McFly's direction, and a most excellent dash of Bill and Ted combine with the kind of absurd silliness that only the French could conjure up, throwing in a star turn by one of France's finest film exports in Jean Reno for good measure (yeah, okay, he's not really even French...and uh-huh, you have a point about Godzilla, but still!)
It's bizarre and ridiculous, yes, but a laughter-filled, underrated gem of a movie nonetheless!
The Lacemaker by Claude Goretta.
It features Isabelle Huppert's debut and was the first French films I ever saw on BBC2. It instilled in me a love of french cinema. Both gentle in it's love story and brutal in it's careless disposal of a one sided love. It revealed a side of class and elitism in French society which as a teenager I had believed had been cast aside by notions of "Egalite". Huppert sad decline into a lonely imagined world was portrayed poigniantly. Magnificent and tragic in parts.
Of recent French cinema, my favourite French film is 'A Prophet' by Jacques Audiard. My first Audiard film was 'Read My Lips', which is also a must see, and from then on in, he has been one of my favourite directors. I saw 'A Prophet' at the cinema, I just loved the acting. The transformation and journey that Tahar Rahim's character takes is extraordinary to watch. He is like a different person by the end of film. Niels Arestrup is also astonishing, his face looks like it is carved from granite. Even the performances from the periphery actors are so real, and I believe Audiard did use actual prisoners or ex-prisoners.
The film itself shows the power struggle within the closed off world of a prison superbly, where normal laws do not apply. I have only seen it the once, but it has stayed with me, and the last scene, in my opinion, is one of the best in cinema ever. It also a powerful and dramatic film, and really puts you through the wringer, with Audiard applying the tension through some audacious directing.
A must see film, and I cannot wait for his new venture, Rust and Bone.
I was tempted to say 'Amélie' as it was the first French film I ever saw, and my introduction to French cinema... but in the end I have to go with Luc Besson's masterpiece 'Angel-A'.
The film has such an intriguing and unique storyline to it - Andre (played by the brilliant Jamel Debbouze from 'Amélie' meets the mysterious and beautiful Angela (Rie Rasmussen) on a bridge in Paris at the moment he is about to commit suicide, and ends up having his life changed forever.
Visually it is absolutely breathtaking, one of my favourite things about it. I'm a sucker for black and white films and beautiful cinematography, and for that reason 'Angel-A' was an absolute treat for me. The relationship between the two is funny, frustrating and endearing all at the same time. There are some great action scenes, and overall it is a compelling, sumptuous film.
It's a shame that more people I know haven't heard of it, but I would urge everyone to give it a watch because it's absolutely fabulous!
After giving this some thought. I can’t go past my adoration for ‘The Triplets of Belleville’ by Sylvain Chomet.
I love the originality of the entire film, from the quirky characters to the almost retro style of animation.
The fact it relied on very little dialogue, showed just how strong the characters, how imaginative the story, and how delightfully finished off it was by the score.
A truly unique and creative piece of French animation, that will delight and captivate the audience from the start to finish - thoroughly deserving of its 2 Oscar nominations and widespread critical acclaim.
Great script, great acting from Gerard Depardieu, Daniel Auteil and Yves Montand.Haunting soundtrack also.....
Le Silence de la Mer (Jean-Pierre Melville).
I love Melville, and Army of Shadows runs this close in second, but there is just something about this smaller, more potent film - the silent clash between a man and his niece and the German officer billeted with them during WW2 - that gives me greater pause. A comment on war, the differences between peoples, the reason for resistance - it's a great work from a great director.
I'm still kind of shocked my highest French film doesn't star Gabin though!
Être et avoir (2002)
For the beautiful candid interactions between the young children and a perfect depiction of a rural French school. Slow pace but it sucks you in and is full of emotion.
I loved 36 Quai des orfevres as it had style and a ruthless edge to it with actors who gave wonderful performances as real people.
It really showed how that crime story is truly the genre of the French and leaves Hollywood in its wake
THE GRUDGE;THE FILM FOCUSES ON A LONG GRUDGE HELD BETWEEN TWO HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS,AND FOLLOWS THE METHODS TAKEN TWO EXACT REVENGE.
I loved Forbidden Games (1952) by René Clément.
It is such an odd film that when you try to describe it to people doesn't do it any justice. The acting by such young children is so good and the story line really interesting, odd with wonderfully humourous parts to it!
This competition is now closed and Evelyn is our winner! Evelyn, we'll be in touch.
A big thank you to everyone who entered: we really did enjoy all of your entries. Nice to see such a passion for French cinema in our audience. C'est bon!
Andi