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Following the death of her husband, Catherine, a piano teacher, goes to live with her daughter Charlotte, taking along her piano, her luggage and furniture. Charlotte, a writer, is making no progress on the erotic novel a customer has ordered from her, despite the helpful tips from her mother who (unlike Charlotte) certainly doesn't lack experience in this field. The two women soon find the duplex too cramped and decide to sell-up and move. The usual round of visits gets underway and it is precisely at this moment that events take an unexpected turn.


Directed by: Chantal Akerman, 2003
With: Sylvie Testud (Charlotte), Aurore Clément (Catherine), Jean-Pierre Marielle (Popernick), Natacha Régnier (the pregnant woman) and Lucas Belvaux (Mr Delacre).

Genre: dramatic comedy
Country: France/Belgium

Antoine Méliot, who is forty, has everything to be happy: a beautiful wife, three adorable children, friends whom he can count on at any time, a nice house in the Yvelines, a well-paid job. But one day in the middle of October, he has the crazy idea of throwing it all away in one weekend...But why has this affable man metamorphosed into a cold and implacable being?

Directed by: Jean Becker, 2007
Cast: Albert Dupontel (Antoine Méliot), Marie-Josée Croze (Cécile), Pierre Vaneck (Antoine's father), Alessandra Martines (Marion), Cristiana Reali (Virginie)...
Genre: drama
Country: France

After turning fifty a Parisian painter decides to return to his roots and move back into his childhood home in the centre of France. The property is surrounded by a large garden which he has neither the talent nor the desire to care for. His advertisement gets him back in touch with an old friend from the area who he takes on as his gardener. Brushing shoulders with him everyday, the painter discovers an intriguing character who marvels him with his frank and simple outlook on life...

Directed by: Jean Becker, 2007
Cast: Daniel Auteuil (the painter), Jean-Pierre Darroussin (the gardener), Fanny Cottençon (Hélène), Elodie Navarre (Carole), Alexia Berlier (Magda), Hiam Abbas (the gardener's wife), Roger van Hool (Tony), ...

Genre: Comedy
Country: France

Laura returns to Geneva in her thirties, after a period of study abroad. She and her boyfriend have broken up, and she doesn't take it very well. She hangs around his home hoping for an opportunity to talk to him. One evening, she meets Simon, a young man who has fallen on hard times and who approaches her to try and sell her a newspaper. She ends up offering to let him stay with her, a solution which helps her to fill her own lonely void whilst at the same time providing some sort of stability for Simon. That is, until the day that a man recognises Simon in the street and starts to ask questions...

Directed by: Vincent Pluss
Cast: Céline Bolomey (Laura), Gabriel Bonnefoy (Bruno), Frédéric Landenberg (Jérôme), François Nadin (Bruno), Lucie Zelger (Julie), and others.

Awards:
Best actress in the 2009 Swiss Film Prize awards.

Genre: drama
Country: Switzerland

In Hollywood, in 1942, shooting of an Empire Studios film is disrupted by the murder of three of the actors. The Producer hands over the enquiry to his scriptwriters who quickly give him a list of suspects. In the end, it is a journalist who will solve the riddle and unmask the murderer in the guise of a fakir...

Directed by: Gérard Krawczyk, 1986 (black & white)
Cast: Jean Poiret (Orlando), Michel Blanc (Mr. Albert), Bernard Blier (J-B Cobb), Patrick Floersheim (Korman), Michel Galabru (Bison), Pauline Lafont (Elvina), Dominique Lavanant (Miss Davis)...
Genre: comedy drama
Country: France

Evelyne is happily married to Laurent, a Swiss judge. She meets Rémy and feels herself irresistibly attracted to him. At his request, she goes off to spend twenty-four hours in Paris with him. Unsure at the start, in the end Evelyne and Rémy spend a sentimental day of dreams together which continues into a night in a hotel. Farewells drag on, Evelyne misses her train and takes the plane to go back home. Her plane will never arrive at its destination...

Directed by: René Clément, 1949 (black & white)
Cast: Michèle Morgan (Evelyne Bertal), Jean Marais (Rémy Marsay), Jean Servais (Laurent Bertal), Elisa Cegani (Elena), Elina Labourdette (Marion)...
Genre: drama
Country: France

Francesca lives in a very large apartment which is still subject to the 1948 Rental Law. She shares it with her husband, Martin, her daughter, her sister-in-law, and Adrien, a penniless director. The new owner wants to cancel the lease so that the rents can be increased. Whilst Francesca is fighting against being evicted, Martin cheats on her with another woman...

Directed by: Pascal Thomas, 2006
Cast: Laetitia Casta (Francesca), Mathieu Amalric (Martin), Pierre Arditi (Adrien), Noémie Lvovsky (Charlotte Falingard), Maurice Risch (the owner Falingard)...
Genre: comedy
Country: France

Christian Ranucci, aged twenty-two, is found guilty of the rape and murder of a little girl. Despite the lack of irrefutable proof, and holes and mistakes in the investigation, he was guillotined on July 28 1976 at 4.13 am in the courtyard of the Baumettes prison. Michel Drach's film is the genuine autopsy of a legal case. Over and above the specific case of Christian Ranucci, it is an excellent study about the failings of human justice...

Directed by: Michel Drach, 1979
Cast: Serge Avedikian (Chritian Ranucci), Michelle Marquais (Mme Mathon), Claire Deluca (Examining Magistrate), Roland Bertin (Commissaire Robiana), Roland Blanche (Inspector Couderc)...
Genre: drama
Country: France

Djamila wants to start taking the Pill because things with her boyfriend are getting serious. Zoe's mother gives her condoms but calls her a whore. Nedjma hides her pills outside, because her mother searches her bag. Helen thinks she's too fertile. Clemence is afraid. Adeline wants to keep it, Margot too. Maria Angela wants to find out who got her pregnant. Ana Marie has chosen love and liberty. Anne, Denise, Marta, Yasmine and Milena are counsellors who receive and listen to all these women wonder how sexual freedom is possible. In God's offices everyone laughs and cries and is overwhelmed. They dance, smoke on the balcony. They come incognito to recount their story, be it ordinary or incredible.

Directed by: Claire Simon, 2008
With: Anne Alvaro (Doctor Marianne), Nathalie Baye (Anne), Michel Boujenah (Doctor Lambert), Rachida Brakni (Yasmine), Isabelle Carré (Marta), Lolita Chammah (Emmanuelle), Béatrice Dalle (Milena), Nicole Garcia (Denise), Marie Laforêt (Martine) ...
Genre: comedy drama
Country: France/Belgium
Awards: Film shown at the Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight

A man with a genuine passion for actresses, Robert is without a doubt the most ardent French cinema fan. Working as a night watchman in a major artistic agency, he devotes his days to "his" stars, following them wherever they go and meddling in their lives whenever he can. One day, his three favourite actresses meet up on a film set, and discover that they all have the same problem... with the same fan. They decide to join forces to teach him a lesson. Previously Robert's idols, the three women soon become his worst nightmare!

Directed by: Laëticia Colombani, 2008
With: Kad Merad (Robert Pelage), Catherine Deneuve (Solange Duvivier), Emmanuelle Béart (Isabelle Serenna), Mélanier Bernier (Violette Duval), Maria de Medeiros (Adeline), Rufus (Victor) and Dominique Besnehard (Dominique Bhe) ...

Genre: Comedy
Country: France

Georges Clou lives in Parc, an affluent gated community on the French Riviera. He loves his wife, his son, his house and his dog; he goes to work every day, to mass every Sunday, and couldn't care less about the social drama that is shaking the country. Paul Marteau, a rich and intelligent man, lives a life withdrawn from the world around him. Torn between the severe judgement with which he views the world and the desire to be a part of it, Marteau moves into Parc. Clou sees an opportunity for them to be close friends. However, Marteau finds in Clou a new reason for living: he desires to shatter the Western ideal of happiness that the Clou family represents.

Directed by: Arnaud des Pallières, 2006
Starring: Sergi Lopez (Georges Clou), Jean-Marc Barr (Paul Marteau), Nathalie Richard (Hélène Clou), Laurent Delbecque (Tony Clou)...

Genre: Comedy drama
Country: France

1977. Stella, aged 11, lives in a popular district near to Paris. Enrolled in a large Parisian high school, she enters into a new world where she has to learn everything. She meets Gladys, the daughter of an Argentinean intellectual, who will help her take her first steps in this unknown, disturbing and sometimes even violent world...

Directed by: Sylvie Verheyde, 2007
Cast: Karole Rocher (Stella's mother), Guillaume Depardieu (Alain-Bernard), Benjamin Biolay (Stella's father), Léora Barbara (Stella), Melissa Rodrigues (Gladys)...
Genre: comedy drama
Country: France
Film shown at the Venice Mostra in 2008, in the "Journées des auteurs" section.

When he wakes up in hospital following a head injury, investigative journalist Julien Rossi has no idea how he got there, and doesn't recognise Marlène, the woman claiming to be his partner. The woman Julien remembers, and the woman he loves, was called Anna. In fact, Julien is suffering from partial amnesia which has wiped out his memory of the last sixty days before his accident. During his questioning by the police, he soon begins to wonder whether in fact it was an accident... Julien's memory slowly starts to return, beginning with a sense of déjà vu, recurrent sounds, and the echoes of distant voices drifting up to the surface. Little by little, despite all the doubts and obstacles, Julien becomes increasingly determined to shed light on his lost past.

Directed by: Francis Girod, 2006
With: Carole Bouquet (Anna Ferré), Antoine de Caunes (Julien Rossi), Martina Gedeck (Marlène), Jean-Pierre Lorit (Lucas Jäger), Maria Cristina Mastrangeli (Bianca Monti), Claude Miller (Pr. André Barth) and Marie-France Pisier (Mrs Barth).
Genre: Crime
Country: France

Film presented as part of the official selection at the Berlin Festival (2006), and during the closure of the Cognac Crime Film Festival (2006).

A television magazine dedicated to French citizens living in all countries throughout the world. Two countries are introduced in each programme, with a picture travel diary, portraits of French people who have settled there, and practical information and advice. "Destination réussite" introduces jobs, professional career paths and French communities living on the five continents.

Presented by: Marie Brette.

Ecran Vert brings us a fresh approach to sustainable development, which is viewed from all angles. Presented by David Delos, Ecran Vert examines the prevailing situation, new ideas, solutions and key players in the field of sustainable development in a programme including a documentary, field reports and eyewitness accounts. Written from an educational and instructive perspective, Ecran Vert helps viewers to understand and become aware of the major challenges facing our planet. Challenges which influence both the way international relations develop around us and the tensions existing between the countries of the northern and southern hemispheres.

Amandine, Safia and Elsa work for the same insurance company in La Défense, on the outskirts of Paris. Demoralised and at the end of their wits, they allow themselves a week's break in a thalassotherapy centre and make the stupefying discovery of the same man who is responsible for their state of despair: Aurélien Rinauro, a colleague with whom all three of them have been involved. When they get back to Paris, they decide to combine forces to take revenge on the indelicate lover...

Directed by: Claude d'Anna, 2008
Screenplay and dialogue: Claude d'Anna and Laure Bonin
With: Eva Mazauric (Amandine), Anne Charrier (Elsa), Samira Lachhab (Safia), Bruno Salomone (Aurélien Rinauro), Diane Dassigny (Allison), Khalid Maadour (Ferid), Bruno Tuchszer (Valentin), Maxime Furet (Pamphile)
Genre: Comedy

During the Second World War, the Germans sent countless prisoners to stalags in the USSR. At the end of the War, most prisoners were dispersed into labour camps by the Soviet authorities, who needed men to rebuild the country.
In the midst of the Cold War, these men were declared "missing" by the Russian government and no contact with Western countries was tolerated or authorised. Families and foreign governments often thought them dead.
Gaston Boissac is one of those prisoners.
Held in the Soviet Union since 1945, neither his family, his fiancée, nor the mayor of the small town of Soulières where he was born ever received any of the numerous letters he sent them. Many believed he was missing and his name was even engraved on the village's Monument to the Dead.
But when Gorbatchev came to power in 1989 and implemented economic reforms, relations between East and West considerably improved.
And that is how, in 1989, at 70 years of age, Gaston Boissac finally returned to Soulières.
A very moving return for the entire village...

Directed by: Francis Girod, 2006
Screenplay: Philippe Madral
Cast: Claude Brasseur (Gaston Boissac), Marie-José Nat (Geneviève Ferrand), Mathieu Bisson (François), Macha Petina (Marina), Benoît Allemane (Antoine Boissac), Jean-Paul Zennacker (the mayor)
Genre: Drama

The history of the behaviour of male and female politicians is rich with sudden revivals, transformations and details. The presentation of the self over time clearly shows how our societies have changed. From the earliest of times, when smiling was forbidden, when you had to show your rigour and your seriousness by having an austere-looking bearing, today we have got close to citizens through empathy and showing our emotions. Behind the development of political postures, "The personalisation of politics" intends to analyse changes in relation to politics, and perhaps to understand what some are seeing as a crisis in democratic representation.  

Directed by: Bernard Georges, 2009.
Country: France

Magazine which deals with national and international news by way of reports, investigations and interviews.

Host: Anne-Marie Dussault.

The year is 1962 and the scene is a small provincial town where Grégoire Duval, a respectable chemist, kills a young woman in a moment of insanity. As there were no witnesses, he decides to keep quiet and try to act as if nothing has happened. Soon though, a suspect is arrested. Khader Boualam was the victim's last lover and was spotted at the scene of the crime. With the Algerian war drawing to a close, this Arab worker is the perfect scapegoat and a suitable punishment, in this case the death penalty, is demanded by all of the pillars of society in town. As the ultimate twist of fate, Grégoire is appointed as a juror for the trial, given the task of judging a man everyone believes to be guilty but that he knows to be innocent.

Directed by: Edouard Niermans, 2008
Screenplay, adaptation, dialogue: Didier Le Pêcheur, based on the book by Francis Didelot
With: Jean-Pierre Darroussin (Grégoire Duval), Isabelle Habiague (Geneviève Duval), Pascal Elso (Captain Valard), Igor Mendjisky (Laurent Duval), Eric Naggar (Judge Hoppenot), Lahcen Razzougui (Khader Boualam), Jean-Yves Chatelais (Labory), Jacques Bachelier (the counsel for the prosecution), Philippe Couerre (Doctor Marmaont), Yvon Wust (Etienne Langeron)
Genre: Drama
Awards: FIPA 2008 Best Actor for Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Grand Prix de la Fiction Unitaire and Prize for the Best Actress for Isabelle Habiague at the Luchon International Television Festival, 2008

Intimate enemies

Mac Orlan and Dora enquire into the death of an 18-year-old man, Boris. Mac Orlan interviews his friends and family to compile a portrait of the victim. By looking into the family's past, he also brings to light a number of painful and well hidden secrets which could explain the murder...

Directed by: Patrick Poubel, 2008
Script, adaptation, dialogue: Jean-Baptiste Delafon
Cast: Daniel Russo (Mac Orlan), Guilaine Londez (Dora), Gaëla Le Devehat (Elsa), François Marthouret (William Lachenal), François Cottrelle (the jurist), Stéphane Blancafort (Alain Fougeras), Nicolas Violin (Boris Lachenal), Nathela de Davrichewy (Andréa Lachenal), Boris Vassallo (Marco), Sylvain Dieuaide (Nicolas Talbot)
Genre: Police drama
Parental guidance: Not suitable for children under 10 (-10)

In the eyes of the father

Rodrigue Ancelin, a successful lawyer, is gunned down in the court's car park. A witness glimpsed the killer: Hugues Saint-Martin, an Attorney General's prosecutor. Both men knew each other. They had even been friends - a friendship which began at university. While Saint-Martin is obviously the murderer, Mac Orlan knows that he will have to put together a watertight case to expose him. The enquiry is rendered even more complicated by the fact that the victim was considered to be a loving husband, an attentive father and a respectful and respected lawyer. Who would want to kill such a man? The motive may have to be sought in the prosecutor's past...

Directed by: Patrick Poubel, 2008
Script, adaptation, dialogue: Jean-Baptiste Delafon
Cast: Daniel Russo (Mac Orlan), Guilaine Londez (Dora), François Cotterelle (the jurist), Guillaume Cramoisan (Hugues Saint-Martin), Eléonore Pourriat (Nadine Ancelin), Jean-Christophe Quenon (Rodrigue Ancelin), Florent Peyre (Joël), Sophie Saada (the presiding judge), Christophe Vandevelde (Antoine Bastié)
Genre: Police drama

The novelty will soon wear off!

In the 1950's, the hotel industry in Quebec underwent rapid expansion. For some, this new way form of accommodation allowed them to discover the province and supported the emergence of a tourist industry that is typical of Quebec. For others, this new type of establishment represented a good opportunity to start up a business. On the roadsides of Quebec, more and more signs with varying shapes and names sprang up. Sometimes bright and flamboyant, sometimes drab and cheap, the motel thus took on a thousand faces and incarnated well the different facets of post-war America.

Directed by: Mathieu Fontaine, 2008.
Country: Canada

Episode 1: The job

Arriving in the "big city", Roxy has finally left her home village of Sainte-Julienne-des-Patriotes to make a new life for herself in Montréal. She moves in with Louise, a childhood friend... who doesn't remember her! On the work front, she's hired by Johanne, the owner of the local cafe. However, this little girl from the country who has never known life outside her village finds it difficult to settle into this new lifestyle and to adopt the habits of "big city" dwellers. Small things like closing her front door or not leaving her keys on the car seem to escape her...

Directed by: Stéphane Lapointe and Simon Barrette, Canada, 2008
Screenplay and dialogue: Jean-François Léger
With: Cathy Gauthier (Roxy), Marilyse Bourke (Louise), Patrice Bélanger (Hugo), Louison Danis (Paulette), Bruno Marcil (Rachid), Diane Lavallée (Johanne), Louis Champagne (Bob), Gary Boudreault (Mike)
Genre: Comedy

Test-match of the French rugby team.

In June 1914, Sarah Bernhardt took a holiday in Belle-Ile-en-Mer. Accompanied by a glamorous crowd, the actress intended to make the most of her free time to work on her next role. Her arrival was always an event in itself for the residents of the island Mademoiselle regularly visited. She particularly liked going out riding with her horse, Hippolyte, whom she was eager to see. But this particular year, Eugène, her faithful coachman could not come and meet her. He was sick and sent Jean-René, his youngest son. Gradually, even though they seemed to be worlds apart, a real bond formed between Sarah Bernhardt and the young Jean-René...

Directed by: Laurent Jaoui, 2005
Screenplay: Claude Faraldo
Cast: Ludmila Mikaël (Sarah Bernhardt), Julie Debazac (Justine), Samuel Cahu (Jean-René), Vinent Martin (Father Leguen), Catherine Salviat (Cousette), Guy Louret (Amédée), Jean-Marie Galey (Georges)
Genre: Drama

In April 2008, over twenty artists gathered on the stage of the Zénith in Paris for an exceptional concert to benefit the Sol En Si association. During this unique and friendly show, Adamo, Vincent Baguian, Axel Bauer, Bénabar, Francis Cabrel, Calogero, Jeanne Cherhal, Clarika, Catherine Lara, Louis Chedid, Thomas Dutronc, Michel Jonasz, Sandrine Kiberlain, Maxime Le Forestier, Maurane, Yannick Noah, Raphael, Ours, Hugo Renard, Alain Souchon, Christophe Willem and Zazie performed songs that marked and characterised their childhoods...

Directed by: Gérard Namiand.

The magazine programme that focuses on the sea

Georges Pernoud and the entire "Thalassa" crew take you on board each week to visit faraway destinations and discover different cultures, peoples and continents.

Introduced by Georges Pernoud