The fourth edition of this French film festival is held in conjunction with the Singapore International Film Festival and will screen 16 films in total. There will also be a special tribute (and appearance!) from French actress Juliette Binoche, whose latest movie Clouds of Sils Maria was a nominee for the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year. There are a lot of titles to wade through, so we pick the essential list.
Clouds of Sils Maria
(Dec 5, 9:15pm, Shaw Theatres Lido)
The Singapore premiere of Clouds of Sils Maria features French Oscar doyenne Juliette Binoche in the lead role, alongside pouty Kristen Stewart (of Twilight fame) and Hollywood’s latest darling Chloe Grace Moretz (from Kick-Ass). The story follows Maria Enders (Binoche) as she departs for a remote region of the alps to rehearse for a revival of the play that originally made her famous. Drama, jealousy and sexual tension ensue.
Serial (Bad) Weddings
(Nov 30, 6.30pm, Alliance Française Theatre; Nov 28, 8.30pm & Dec 6, 7pm, The Cathay Cineplex).
Serial (Bad) Weddings is the biggest French comedy film of the year, and makes its Southeast Asian debut as the opening film of the festival. The plot sees conservative, upper-middle-class parents Claude and Marie Verneuil (Christian Clavier and Chantal Lauby) struggle as their daughters fall in love outside the confines of their strict Catholic religion (one to a Muslim and one to a Jew).
French Women
(Dec 3, 8pm, Alliance Française Theatre; Dec 4, 7.15pm, The Cathay Cineplex)
This comedy drama explores the complexities and nuances of what it means to be a woman. The cast of 11 female actors descend on Paris in the first 28 days of Spring living out their lives as mothers, businesswomen, friends and everything in between. The film stars famous French actors Isabelle Adjani, Alice Taglioni and Laetitia Casta.
Mea Culpa
(Nov 30, 8.30pm, Alliance Française Theatre; Dec 1, 7.15pm, The Cathay Cineplex)
This edge-of-your-seat thriller focuses on two cops, Simon and Franck (Vincent Lindon and Gilles Lellouche) as their lives slowly unravel after a drunken car crash. The real action takes place when Simon has a run in with the mafia who threaten his son’s life. Plenty of action follows as Simon and Franck team up to protect his son.
The Finishers
(Dec 4, 8pm, Alliance Française Theatre; Dec 7, 4.30pm, The Cathay Cineplex)
Bring out the tissues as Paul (Jacques Gamblin), a dedicated father, tries to help his disabled son Julien (Fabien Heraud) to fulfill his taste for adventure. The two compete in an Ironman triathlon in Nice (despite Julian’s wheelchair) and the experience reconnects their shattered family.
Saint Laurent
(Nov 29, 8pm, Alliance Française Theatre; Nov 30, 4.20pm, Shaw Theatres Lido)
This biopic (which competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival) follows the highs and lows in the life of noted fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent (played by Gaspard Ulliel). The film touches on Laurent’s business, his designs and his love life with partner Pierre Bergé and lover Jacques de Bascher.
