Film Index
French cinema: History
Nana (1926)
Jean Renoir
A proud but talentless young actress, Nana, dreams of a better life for herself, away from the tawdry slums of Paris. She gets her chance when a government official, Count Muffat, falls under her spell having watched her performance at the theatre...
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Jean Renoir
Nannerl, la soeur de Mozart (2010)
René Féret
In a rickety carriage, a family of musicians are making their way across a wintry landscape, snuggled together for comfort as they await their arrival at the next palace on their itinerary...
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René Féret
Napoléon (1927)
Abel Gance
Napoleon Bonaparte is just 14 years old when his potential as a great military commander first becomes apparent. In the winter of 1783, whilst attending an elite military school, Brienne College, he gets into a fierce snowball fight with his enemies and scores a prodigious victory...
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Abel Gance
Napoléon (1955)
Sacha Guitry
This film recounts the life of one of the most important figures in the history of France, Napoléon Bonaparte. Beginning with his arrival at a military academy, the film moves swiftly through Bonaparte's rise to power as a great general and ultimately Emperor of France...
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Sacha Guitry
Napoléon Bonaparte (1935)
Abel Gance
France, 1815. On the eve of Napoléon Bonaparte's escape from Elba and his triumphant return to Paris, the writer Stendhal reflects on the heroic life of the Emperor with those who were personally acquainted with him...
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Abel Gance
Ne touchez pas la hache (2007)
Jacques Rivette
General Armand de Montriveau arrives on a Spanish island as part of a French expedition to re-establish the rule of Ferdinand VII... [More...]
Jacques Rivette
General Armand de Montriveau arrives on a Spanish island as part of a French expedition to re-establish the rule of Ferdinand VII... [More...]
Nez de cuir (1952)
Yves Allégret
Among the many who lie dead or dying on a battlefield in 1814 is Roger de Tinchebraye. Although he survives his injuries, Roger is badly scarred and Dr Marchal can do nothing to save his once beautiful face... [More...]
Yves Allégret
Among the many who lie dead or dying on a battlefield in 1814 is Roger de Tinchebraye. Although he survives his injuries, Roger is badly scarred and Dr Marchal can do nothing to save his once beautiful face... [More...]
Notre Dame de Paris (1956)
Jean Delannoy
Paris, 1492. In and around the Catherdral of Notre Dame, the poor folk celebrate the Festival of Fools. One star attraction is Esmeralda, a beautiful gypsy girl who enchants all with her dancing and singing... [More...]
Jean Delannoy
Paris, 1492. In and around the Catherdral of Notre Dame, the poor folk celebrate the Festival of Fools. One star attraction is Esmeralda, a beautiful gypsy girl who enchants all with her dancing and singing... [More...]
La Nuit de Varennes (1982)
Ettore Scola
June 1791. When the controversial writer and printer Restif de la Bretonne sees Queen Marie-Antoinette's lady-in-waiting secretly leaving Paris one evening, he concludes that King Louis XVI and his family have already fled the capital... [More...]
Ettore Scola
June 1791. When the controversial writer and printer Restif de la Bretonne sees Queen Marie-Antoinette's lady-in-waiting secretly leaving Paris one evening, he concludes that King Louis XVI and his family have already fled the capital... [More...]
L'Occitanienne (2008)
Jean Périssé
Who was L'Occitanienne, the mysterious woman that preoccupied the celebrated French writer René de Chateaubriand in his later years... [More...]
Jean Périssé
Who was L'Occitanienne, the mysterious woman that preoccupied the celebrated French writer René de Chateaubriand in his later years... [More...]
L'Oeil de l'astronome (2012)
Stan Neumann
In the summer of 1610, one of Galileo's famous telescopes arrives in Prague, the capital city of the Germanic Empire. For a period of ten days, Johannes Kepler, mathematician and astronomer to Rudlolf II, has the privilege of using the telescope to study the night sky... [More...]
Stan Neumann
In the summer of 1610, one of Galileo's famous telescopes arrives in Prague, the capital city of the Germanic Empire. For a period of ten days, Johannes Kepler, mathematician and astronomer to Rudlolf II, has the privilege of using the telescope to study the night sky... [More...]
L'Oeuvre au noir (1988)
André Delvaux
In Europe during the 16th century, Zénon Ligre is a prominent surgeon and alchemist who devotes his life to the study of the human body and the relief of mortal suffering... [More...]
André Delvaux
In Europe during the 16th century, Zénon Ligre is a prominent surgeon and alchemist who devotes his life to the study of the human body and the relief of mortal suffering... [More...]
L'Ordre et la morale (2011)
Mathieu Kassovitz
It is April 1988 and the French presidential election is well under way. The incumbent president, François Mitterrand, has a formidable opponent in his rival Jacques Chirac, but as the two men are about to go head-to-head in the final round of the election the French public's attention is diverted by an even bigger news story... [More...]
Mathieu Kassovitz
It is April 1988 and the French presidential election is well under way. The incumbent president, François Mitterrand, has a formidable opponent in his rival Jacques Chirac, but as the two men are about to go head-to-head in the final round of the election the French public's attention is diverted by an even bigger news story... [More...]
L'Otage de l'Europe (1989)
Jerzy Kawalerowicz
After his humiliating defeat at Waterloo in 1815, the Emperor Napoléon has no choice but to give himself up and surrender himself to the mercy of the British... [More...]
Jerzy Kawalerowicz
After his humiliating defeat at Waterloo in 1815, the Emperor Napoléon has no choice but to give himself up and surrender himself to the mercy of the British... [More...]
Le Pacte des loups (2001)
Christophe Gans
France, 1765. For the past year, the rural region of Gévaudan has been terrorised by a wild beast who brutally kills peasant women and resists any attempt at capture... [More...]
Christophe Gans
France, 1765. For the past year, the rural region of Gévaudan has been terrorised by a wild beast who brutally kills peasant women and resists any attempt at capture... [More...]
La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (1928)
Carl Theodor Dreyer
In 1431, Joan of Arc is arrested and brought before a court of ecclesiastical judges on a charge of treason and heresy. The Church believes that Joan's visions are manifestations of the Devil, but she maintains they are messages from God and his saints... [More...]
Carl Theodor Dreyer
In 1431, Joan of Arc is arrested and brought before a court of ecclesiastical judges on a charge of treason and heresy. The Church believes that Joan's visions are manifestations of the Devil, but she maintains they are messages from God and his saints... [More...]
Patrie (1946)
Louis Daquin
Flanders in the late 16th century. With his country under occupation by the armies of the King of Spain, the nobleman Count Rysoor enters into a pact with William of Orange to lead a revolt that will free his people from Spanish rule... [More...]
Louis Daquin
Flanders in the late 16th century. With his country under occupation by the armies of the King of Spain, the nobleman Count Rysoor enters into a pact with William of Orange to lead a revolt that will free his people from Spanish rule... [More...]
Les Perles de la couronne (1937)
Sacha Guitry
French writer Jean Martin tells his wife a fantastic story involving seven perfect pearls, four of which ended up in the English crown... [More...]
Sacha Guitry
French writer Jean Martin tells his wife a fantastic story involving seven perfect pearls, four of which ended up in the English crown... [More...]
Persepolis (2007)
Vincent Paronnaud
Teheran, 1978. The dreams of 8-year-old Marjane are fractured but not crushed when the Shah is deposed and the Islamic Revolution begins... [More...]
Vincent Paronnaud
Teheran, 1978. The dreams of 8-year-old Marjane are fractured but not crushed when the Shah is deposed and the Islamic Revolution begins... [More...]
Philibert (2011)
Sylvain Fusée
France, 1550. By dint of his untainted honesty and idealism, to say nothing of his charm and physique, Philibert sets himself apart from all of the other young men in his Breton village... [More...]
Sylvain Fusée
France, 1550. By dint of his untainted honesty and idealism, to say nothing of his charm and physique, Philibert sets himself apart from all of the other young men in his Breton village... [More...]
Pirates (1986)
Roman Polanski
On a sea infested with sharks there drifts a raft carrying two half-starved wretches: the famous pirate Captain Red and his young second-in-command, La Grenouille... [More...]
Roman Polanski
On a sea infested with sharks there drifts a raft carrying two half-starved wretches: the famous pirate Captain Red and his young second-in-command, La Grenouille... [More...]
La Plage noire (2001)
Michel Piccoli
In an unnamed country, a group of revolutionaries say their goodbyes, glad to have seen a brutal dictatorship replaced by a nascent democracy... [More...]
Michel Piccoli
In an unnamed country, a group of revolutionaries say their goodbyes, glad to have seen a brutal dictatorship replaced by a nascent democracy... [More...]
Port-au-Prince, dimanche 4 janvier (2015)
François Marthouret
Haïti, 4th January 2004. Celebrations are under way to mark the bicentenary of the declaration of the country's independence... [More...]
François Marthouret
Haïti, 4th January 2004. Celebrations are under way to mark the bicentenary of the declaration of the country's independence... [More...]
Les Possédés (1988)
Andrzej Wajda
In 1870, a group of young Russian revolutionaries are planning to overturn the established order and rebuild their country anew... [More...]
Andrzej Wajda
In 1870, a group of young Russian revolutionaries are planning to overturn the established order and rebuild their country anew... [More...]
La Princesse de Clèves (1961)
Jean Delannoy
France, 1559. At the request of King Henri II, a magnificent ball is held at the Louvre Palace in honour of the marriage of the noble Prince de Clèves to the beautiful Mademoiselle de Chartres... [More...]
Jean Delannoy
France, 1559. At the request of King Henri II, a magnificent ball is held at the Louvre Palace in honour of the marriage of the noble Prince de Clèves to the beautiful Mademoiselle de Chartres... [More...]
La Princesse de Montpensier (2010)
Bertrand Tavernier
1562. Under the reign of Charles IX, religious wars continue to rage across France. From an early age, Marie de Mézières has been in love with Henri, Duc de Guise, but her father compels her to marry the Prince de Montpensier... [More...]
Bertrand Tavernier
1562. Under the reign of Charles IX, religious wars continue to rage across France. From an early age, Marie de Mézières has been in love with Henri, Duc de Guise, but her father compels her to marry the Prince de Montpensier... [More...]
La Prise de pouvoir par Louis XIV (1966)
Roberto Rossellini
France, 1661. As the once powerful Cardinal Mazarin lies dying in his bedroom at Vincennes, the young Louis XIV readies himself to take over the reins of power and guide his country's destiny like his fathers before him... [More...]
Roberto Rossellini
France, 1661. As the once powerful Cardinal Mazarin lies dying in his bedroom at Vincennes, the young Louis XIV readies himself to take over the reins of power and guide his country's destiny like his fathers before him... [More...]
Procès de Jeanne d'Arc (1962)
Robert Bresson
Rouen, 1431. After falling into the hands of her English enemies, Jeanne, the young peasant girl who became a figurehead of the French army during the Hundred Years War, is placed on trial for heresy... [More...]
Robert Bresson
Rouen, 1431. After falling into the hands of her English enemies, Jeanne, the young peasant girl who became a figurehead of the French army during the Hundred Years War, is placed on trial for heresy... [More...]
Quatre-vingt-treize (1921)
Albert Capellani
France, 1793. The French Revolution has entered its bloodiest phase with the Republican Army authorised by the Committee of Public Safety to crush opposition to the new régime wherever it shows itself, and with utter ruthlessness... [More...]
Albert Capellani
France, 1793. The French Revolution has entered its bloodiest phase with the Republican Army authorised by the Committee of Public Safety to crush opposition to the new régime wherever it shows itself, and with utter ruthlessness... [More...]
Que la fête commence... (1975)
Bertrand Tavernier
France, 1719. Four years after the death of the Sun King Louis XIV, the reins of power are held by the regent, Philippe d'Orléans... [More...]
Bertrand Tavernier
France, 1719. Four years after the death of the Sun King Louis XIV, the reins of power are held by the regent, Philippe d'Orléans... [More...]