I watched a bunch of French films last, but some relate to a German director, so I’ll save those for next week. This week’s French films weren’t too too ‘French’. I must clarify that I notice a trend in French cinema for revealing characters through mundane activities or conversation, such as discussing dinner plans for 10-20 minutes and letting the viewer see one person enthralled by the wine while another is silently preoccupied with the events of the day. Do that a few times and you have a very ‘French’ movie, such as last week’s award winning Blue is the Warmest Color.

• Conclave (2024): The games played behind closed doors to elect a new Pope. Rather good, but the ending felt sus.
• Daliland (2022): An assistant’s view of Salvador Dali in his later years. I’m glad I saw it, but wish it was better.
• Yessongs (1975): concert footage. If you like Yes, you’ll like this, but not filmed that well.
• Night and Day (1946): Cole Porter biopic. Meh.
• De-Lovely (2004): Cole Porter biopic that admits he was gay. Meh.
• The Glass Bottom Boat (1966): Wacky Doris Day comedy with Paul Lynde. Hated it.
• Tengers (2007): Whimsical claymation story of brutality and crime in Johannesburg/South Africa. Maybe if you’re under the influence of something, this might be hilarious, but seeing it straight rubbed me the wrong way.
• L’enfant (2005): Cannes Palme d’Or winner about a street hood whose girl has a baby. I wanted to smack him upside the head repeatedly, so you know the film works. A bit french, but not too much.
• Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001): @[email protected] recommended this a little while ago, and I’m glad I listened. Action fans will probably wish there was more of that, but the action isn’t the point: we need to find the culprits. I’ve no idea how close to what legend this ranked, but it was an interesting somewhat french film, if a bit long.
• La Belle et la Bête (1946): I rewatched this famous Jean Cocteau take on Beauty and the Beast because I hadn’t seen it in a while. It still holds up.
• Orphée (1950): Since I was rewatching Cocteau, I had to rewatch his take on Orpheus, too. This was better than I remembered from my confused youth. Very French, but good if you can tolerate that.