French Cinema & Entertainment By Alexandrie & Belle

Early French Cinema The cinema of France includes the art of film and creative movies made within France or by French Filmmakers abroad. France was the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Characteristics of French theater include slower plotlines, strong character development, and a deviance from happy or conclusive endings.

The Cannes International Film Festival Began in 1946 It is the most respected such event world wide. The Palme d’Or award is one of the most sought- after achievements in cinema. In 1976, the French film industry first awarded the Césars, the country’s equivalent of Hollywood’s Academy Awards.

Diversity In Film Apart from France’s strong film traditions, it has also been a gathering spot for artists from across Europe and the world. French cinema is intertwined with the cinemas of many foreign nations: – Directors from nations such as Poland (Roman Polanski), Argentina (Gaspar Noé), France (Luc Besson), Russia (Alexandre Alexeieff), etc. – French directors have been important in the development in other countries as well such as Luc Besson in the United States.

Roman Polanski – Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer, and Screenwriter – Born: August 18, 1933, Paris, France Polanski’s first feature length film, Knife in the Water (1962) was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He has since received five more Oscar nominations, and in 2002 received the Academy Awards for Best Director for his film, The Pianist

The Pianist (Co-production between Polish, French, German, and British Film Companies) In addition to winning the Palme d’Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, the film won the Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Gaspar Noé – Occupation: Argentinean-born French Film Director – Born: December 27, 1963, Buenos Aires, Argentina Irréversible (2002) is a film written, directed, edited, and photographed by Gaspar Noé. – Won the ‘Bronze Horse’ award at the Stockholm Film Festival. – Was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. – As well as the ‘Best Foreign Language Award’ by the Film Critics Circle of Australia.

Irréversible “The Bronze Award” Irréversible filmed thirteen scenes in reverse chronological order starting with its ending and ending with its beginning. Won the Bronze Award at the Stockholm Film Festival and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was also nominated for the “Best Foreign Language Award”.

Luc Besson – Occupation: Producer, director, screenwriter. – Born: March 18, 1959 Paris, France. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film Company He has been involved with over 50 films in a span of 26 years. In recent years, he has written and produced several action movies such as Taxi and The Transporter Series. In 1997, he directed the hit movie The Fifth Element with Bruce Willis. – He won Best Director and Best French Director for this film.

The Fifth Element 1997 Science fantasy, action- comedy, techno thriller Directed by Luc Besson The production design for the film was developed by French comics creators Jean Giraud and Jean- Claude Mezieres. The costume design was created by French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, who produced 954 costumes for use in the film.

The “New Wave” La Nouvelle Vague Began in 1958 – A young film critic, Claude Chabrol, directed Le Beau Serge, a study of two young men in a provincial town. Other new wave directors include: – Jean-Luc Godard “À Bout de souffle” – Francois Truffaut “Les Quatre cent coups” Accomplished most with his lively films such as Tirez sur le pianiste (1960) and Jules et Jim (1961).

The End of The New Wave By the early 1970s, the “new wave” had lost its experimental edge. Although, Truffaut continued to produce fine films such as Le Dernier métro which is a story about love and conflict. Despite their loss of ‘edge’, many new directors emerged and attracted world attention. Jean Jacques Beineix’s Diva 1981 sparked the 1980s wave and sent France’s film industry soaring with new people: – Jean Jacques Beineix (Diva 1981), Luc Besson (Subway 1985), and Claude Berri (Jean de Florette 1986).

Today’s Movie Scene in France In Paris, cinema-goers enjoy a wealth of choices with over 300 films showing every week. Smoking is now universally forbidden in French movie theaters. Also, anyone who goes has to remember to tip the usherette 10% - it is the only money that she receives.

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