Elisabeth Depardieu
A girl, whose father is from Greece, studies ancient art in France. The film was made for television but never broadcast for political reasons related to its portrayal of Greeks. A work print was screened in Belgium in 1971, and the film is now available in reconstructed form.
Director: Agnès Varda
Actors: France Dougnac, Myriam Boyer, Stavros Tornes, Catherine de Seynes, Gérard Depardieu
Un vieil homme, vêtu d'une robe de chambre et chaussé de pantoufles, est abandonné par sa famille sur une aire d'autoroute, un jour de départ en vacances. Il atterrit dans un hospice où un infirmier, Gégène, le surnomme Mischka. Le garde-malades lui propose alors de quitter la sinistre maison de retraite. C'est l'occasion pour lui de faire la rencontre de Jane, l'adolescente fugueuse, et de Joli-coeur, la rockeuse, et de redécouvrir la vie au moment où il est en passe de la terminer.
Director: Jean-François Stévenin
Actors: Jean-Paul Roussillon, Jean-François Stévenin, Rona Hartner, Salomé Stévenin, Pierre Stévenin
Video director Jerome Cornuau made his feature-film debut with this showbiz-themed French film. Young Alice (Ambre Boukebza) hitchhikes into the city to seek out her music-executive dad (Bernard Le Coq) but instead becomes friends with a singing star (Ophelie Winter, portraying herself), learns dancing from African trashman Rudy (Ashanti), polishes her singing skills with an assist from vocalist Nathalie (Lea Drucker), and is romanced by producer Jeremy (Patrick Forster-Delmas).
Director: Jérôme Cornuau
Actors: Ophélie Winter, Ambre Boukebza, Patrick Forster-Delmas, Bernard Le Coq, Léa Drucker
A French-Greek co-production, filmed in Paris, in which the forty-year-old Maxim is released from prison after five years in prison. As he tries to adjust to life on the outside, he accidentally meets a Parisian taxi-driver who commits suicide right before his eyes. Without a pause he takes the dead cabbie's place behind the wheel and starts making the rounds of the city, transporting passengers (Jean-Pierre Léaud plays the role of a client who recites Cavafy throughout the entire ride). He feels the air of freedom, a lord of Paris and master of himself, up to the moment that he meets young Anies, and his life falls into new paths. In the end, he takes off, destination unknown.
Director: Costa Natsis
Actors: Jean-Pierre Léaud, Jacques Bonnaffé, Elisabeth Depardieu, François Berléand
On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois, a French murder mystery based upon a novel of the same name, is an unusual, involving film with excellent performances by its entire cast. Police Inspector Staniland (Michel Serrault) is investigating the death of a pianist. While conducting his investigation and looking through the victim's apartment, he meets Barbara (Charlotte Rampling), the mistress of the murder victim. Barbara confesses to the crime, but Staniland, based on his observations and experience, does not believe her. He then sets out to find the truth, with surprising results. Both Serrault and Rampling are outstanding in this well-directed, well-paced film. On Ne Meurt Que Deux Fois was also released as He Died With His Eyes Open and won the Jury Prize at the 1985 Montreal World Film Festival.
Director: Jacques Deray
Actors: Michel Serrault, Charlotte Rampling, Xavier Deluc, Gérard Darmon, Elisabeth Depardieu