Globally acclaimed and awarded, French cinema is renowned for its outstanding actors and the beauty of its productions. Many individuals who wish to learn French find certain films to be valuable aids in making progress and gaining a deeper understanding of French culture.
But which films can be considered exemplary in their genre while also being beneficial for anyone looking to strengthen their language skills?
Cinema and France share a long-standing love affair! One of the earliest films in history, The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station, was presented in 1895 by two Frenchmen, the Lumière Brothers. Released in 1902, A Trip to the Moon by Georges Méliès further confirms that the French were pioneers in special effects.
But how does one define a great film? Perhaps it is a production that has marked a generation and continues to be a reference for cinephiles.
Great French films are particularly notable for being "driven" by actors who captivate the screen and have the ability to move us. These works, which emphasize psychology over pure spectacle or flashy special effects, may also be characterized by a desire for political engagement. Auteur cinema embodies this strong will not to be dependent on the greedy world of producers.
Its proponents assert loudly that a film must remain the original creation of a director. However, non-commercial cinema requires the existence of public funding bodies. In France, this essential role is fulfilled by the National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image, better known as the CNC. Financial support can also come from subsidiaries of television channels such as France 2, France 3, or Arte.
France has many great comedic films, some of which have been admired by critics and/or the public for many years. Released in 1966, La Grande Vadrouille by Gérard Oury is undoubtedly one of the best examples. Great French comedians Louis de Funès and Bourvil portray, respectively, a conductor and a house painter who must lead three British aviators to the free zone. Moreover, French comedy in general is a well-represented film genre. It can take a romantic turn in Heartbreaker by P. Chaumeil, for instance.
French cinema also includes animated films. Let's not forget that France has recognized expertise in this sector. French animated films are well-exported, and employment in this field represents more than six thousand people. For example, Persepolis, by Franco-Iranian Marjane Satrapi, addresses numerous themes such as political repression by the revolutionary guards, the hardships experienced by the population, the horrors of war, exile, or the importance of the family unit in overcoming daily difficulties. Through a science fiction narrative, René Laloux's 1973 film Fantastic Planet is an allegory on the importance of culture and education. The Triplets of Belleville by Sylvain Chomet is also a successful film. For younger audiences, the works of Michel Ocelot (Azur & Asmar, Kirikou and the Sorceress) as well as Zarafa by R. Bezançon and J.-C. Lie are good examples of children's films to watch before participating in a junior language stay.
French films also include masterpieces of fantasy cinema. Among these films, one holds a special place: Beauty and the Beast by Jean Cocteau. This film deserves to be seen and rewatched as it moves with its poetic and dreamlike aspect, giving it a timeless dimension. Jean Marais and Josette Day are absolutely unforgettable and invite us to reflect on this phrase: "Love can make a man become a beast, but love can also make an ugly man become beautiful."
One cannot discuss the best French films without mentioning (admittedly somewhat biasedly) the films set in the south of France. The "Marseille trilogy" composed of Marius (1931), Fanny (1932), and César (1936) is one of the most illustrious testimonies of life in the Phocaean city and the Mediterranean spirit. The famous card game scene is legendary, and we never tire of listening to the melodic accent of the great Raimu.
Bridging literature and the seventh art, film adaptations of literary works allow for a dual benefit: the book is a tool to improve writing skills, while the film enhances listening comprehension. Thus, an adaptation we enjoyed may encourage us to (re)immerse ourselves in the original work. Therefore, one should not hesitate to watch or rewatch Jean de Florette by C. Berri, Cyrano de Bergerac by J.-P. Rappeneau (Gérard Depardieu won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990 for his role as Cyrano), Les Misérables by R. Hossein, or The Name of the Rose by J.-J. Annaud.
Other works deserve the utmost respect as they have influenced their era. This is the case with the great films of the New Wave, a famous cinematic movement that saw directors such as F. Truffaut (Jules and Jim), J.-L. Godard (Contempt), or C. Chabrol (Le Beau Serge, La Cérémonie, etc.) rise to prominence.
Without belonging to specific movements, some films are essential references that have moved generations of viewers. It's impossible to provide an exhaustive list of these cult French films, but productions like Children of Paradise by Marcel Carné (1945), The Wages of Fear by Henri-Georges Clouzot (1953), The Umbrellas of Cherbourg by Jacques Demy (1964), Goodbye, Children by Louis Malle (1987), or Van Gogh by Maurice Pialat (1991) are highly recommended.
Even though, of course, a ranking of the best films can only be subjective and incomplete, it's important to keep in mind that French cinema is full of hundreds of works that lovers of the French language and culture learning French in France should absolutely know!
