Director: Patrice Leconte Milan is a beleaguered old thief who rolls into a small French town with the aim of robbing its bank. However, with no place to stay and following a chance meeting with Manesquier, a retired poetry teacher, he accepts his offer of shelter, which leads to an unexpected friendship. Milan has grown tired of his adventurous life on the run and wishes to retire in peace; Manesquier craves the danger he's never known in his bookish existence.…

  Director: Pierre-François Martin-Laval Forced to flee his native Bangladesh, eight year-old chess prodigy, Fahim, arrives in Paris with his father. By a stroke of luck, Fahim meets one of France's top chess coaches, who tutors him and gives him a sense of purpose. The film tells the story of a child who learns to live without his mother and his father, far from home, his roots and his language. It is not only a moving account of the grim…

  Director: Sebastien Marnier A replacement teacher arrives for a class of elite students after their previous professeur committed suicide. The substitute soon notices the strangely violent behaviour of this close-knit group of six. Unusually smart and precocious, the teens are intent on cutting themselves off from the rest of the school, engaging in activities that resemble the creepy rituals of a sect, spreading hostility and fear across the school. Soon, the teacher discovers their dark vision of a doomed…

  Director: Denis Dercourt Mélanie Prouvost, a ten-year-old butcher's daughter, is a gifted pianist, which is why her parents decide that she should sit for the Conservatoire entrance exam. Although it is expected that Mélanie will be admitted, she unfortunately gets distracted by the president of the jury's offhand attitude and she fails. Ten years later, Mélanie becomes the page turner for the same woman and waits for a revenge opportunity. 2006 (15) - colour 85mins (drama/music) César Awards 2007:…

  Director: Daniel Auteuil Part one of Pagnol's Marseilles Trilogy. Marius' biggest dream is to embark on a boat and sail to a faraway land. Fanny has secretly been in love with Marius since her childhood; Marius, never admitting it, has always loved Fanny. One day, Marius is offered a job on an exploratory ship. Fanny confesses her love for him and thereby provokes a fight between Marius and Panisse, who despite his old age, has been courting Fanny. Torn…

  Director: Daniel Auteuil Part two of Pagnol's Marseilles Trilogy. Marius has now gone to sea on a five-year contract to follow his dream; Fanny discovers she is pregnant. Her mother and Marius' father, César, distraught at the idea of an unmarried mother, persuade her to accept the romantic advances of the much older suitor, Panisse. To save face and despite her disappointment, Fanny accepts the arrangement and marries the rich merchant of the Vieux Port. Although he is 30…

  Director: Henri Verneuil A small town seeking publicity tries to bring together the quintuplet grandsons of the town's oldest inhabitant. This film is mainly a vehicle for the great Fernandel, the wonderful comedic actor with the "horse-faced" grin, who plays not only the old man, but all five grandsons. This is a classic French comedy with not only Fernandel but also Louis de Funes. By nature of the plot, it is episodic featuring each of the grandsons and some…

  Director: Claude Berri In a rural French village old Cesar and his nephew cast their covetous eyes on an adjoining vacant property. They need its spring water for growing their flowers, so are dismayed to hear that a new tenant is moving in. They block up the spring and watch as their new neighbour, Jean Cadoret, tries to keep his crops watered from wells far afield through the hot summer. Though they see his desperate efforts are breaking his…

  Director: Claude Berri In this sequel to Jean de Florette, Manon, the daughter of Jean Cadoret, has remained on the farm, tending goats, in the hills of the idyllic Provencal countryside, growing into a beautiful young woman. Cesar’s business has greatly prospered from the fresh spring water and the carnations grow well. Ugolin, his grandson, begins to turn his mind towards ideas of love and steadily falls for the distant Manon. Meanwhile she has discovered the treachery that once…

  Director: Claude Berri The film is set in 1900 and while a very detailed description of the life of a French family in the south of France of the time, it is more the story of a young boy's life. Marcel witnesses the success of his teacher father, whom he admires greatly, as well as the success of his arrogant Uncle Jules. Marcel and family spend their summer vacations in a cottage in Provence, and one day when lost,…