What to watch in October

Each month, FrenchFlicks selects the best French films available on Canal+ International and Studiocanal through DIRECTV. In October, you’ll have plenty to choose from, including an Audrey Tautou classic, New Wave standards, side-splitting comedies and many more.

CANAL+ INTERNATIONAL

FILMS (Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 PM EST)* :

ÉPERDUMENT (2016) on 10/02/2018tl_files/canalplus_international/article/eperdument.jpg

Based on a true story, the impossible love between a prison director and one of its female inmates.

Why FrenchFlicks likes it - Adèle Exarchopoulos returns, illuminating her raw seductive style upon the screen once again in this intense romance drama, which takes inspiration from real life story of Florent Gonçalves (who serves as a producer on the film). Gonçalves was a prison governor who was actually jailed for having an affair with inmate Emma Arbabzadeh. The chemistry between these two can only be described as electric, sensual and suspensful. Naughty!

 

GANGSTERDAM (2017) on 10/05/2018tl_files/canalplus_international/article/gansterdam.jpg

A student in Amsterdam tries to win over a young woman by chasing after a packet of drugs, which happens to belong to the Dutch mafia.

Why FrenchFlicks likes it - Who's not in the mood to see Kev Adams smuggle drugs in Amsterdam, and get swept up in Dutch mafia crimes all to impress a girl? There's no limit to the ludicrosity in this story of drug mules, prostitutes and pot.

 

DIEU EST GRAND, JE SUIS TOUTE PETITE (2001) on 10/09/2018tl_files/canalplus_international/article/dieu est.jpg

Michèle, 20 years old, feels terrible after having broken up with her boy-friend. She meets Francois, who's a veterinarian and jewish. Michèle decides to convert into Judaism because she has to believe in something, if not in someone.

Why FrenchFlicks likes it - Audrey Tautou is as adorable as always in this quirky comedy about filling a void with religion; in Michèle's case, any religion. To watch Tautou's character flitter sweetly from lighting the Buddhist candle to planning Shabbat, while Edouard Baer's character looks on quite perplexedly is a downright delight.

 

EPOUSE MOI MON POTE (2017) on 10/12/2018

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The film tells the story of a Yassine, a straight Moroccan guy (played by the director of the film Tarek Boudali) who, by a stroke of bad luck, becomes an illegal immigrant in France. He solves the problem by tying the knot with his best buddy, Fred (played by Philippe Lacheau), except that an immigration officer Dussart (played by Philippe Duquesne) seems to have sniffed out their fake marriage union.

Why FrenchFlicks likes it - Tarek Boudali and Philippe Lacheau possess a jolly innocense that is perfectly paired with the well timed and clever writing of Tarek Boudali.

 

DIALOGUE AVEC MON JARDINIER (2007) le 10/16/2018

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A successful artist, weary of Parisian life and on the verge of divorce, returns to the country to live in his childhood house. He needs someone to make a real vegetable garden again out of the wilderness it has become. The gardener happens to be a former schoolfriend. A warm, fruitful conversation starts between the two men...

Why FrenchFlicks likes it - A charming mix of upper class artist mixing with his salt of the earth gardener, the film reminds us that there isn't anyone in this world you can't learn something from.

 

LES MYTHOS (2011) on 10/19/2018

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Three Young people from Paris poor suburbs are fired from their lousy security job. They pretend to be Professional bodyguards and their first contract is to protect Marie Van Derten, the daughter of the richer man of Belgium. She is arrogant, selfish, hysterical, but she is targeted by hit men and doesn't know she is in danger.

Why FrenchFlicks likes it -'Tis a noble profession, bodyguard-dom. Three best funny friends work to achieve their dreams of being tough high end escorts to a very endangered heiress. The concoction of action, adventure and lighthearted comedy is a winning combination.

 

JEAN-PHILIPPE (2006) on  10/23/2018tl_files/canalplus_international/article/johnny.jpg

Fabrice is a big - perhaps the biggest - fan of Jean-Philippe Smet, better known as Johnny Hallyday, the greatest rocker France has ever produced.

Why FrenchFlicks likes it - Even in somber scenes, Fabrice Luchini has the uncanny ability to insert some humor in his own eccentric and unusual way. 

STUDIOCANAL

MARCHE À L'OMBRE (1979)tl_files/canalplus_international/article/marche.jpg

Genre : Dramatic Comedy
Director : Michel Blanc

Two friends, one a musician, the other constantly depressed arrive in Marseille from Greece. They then head to Paris without a penny to their name. Here they spend nights in the underground, and squat in houses with African immigrants. One day, they meet Mathilde while begging outside a cinema. One of them falls in love with her, but she must depart for New York and leave him there. They then decide to go to New York to find her...

Why FrenchFlicks likes it  – It's always inspiring when social commentary becomes a box office hit. At the time, the film was praised for showing honestly the reality of homelessness in Paris, a city everyone knows as "The city of love". Gotta love the famous catch phrases and 80's hit soundtrack as well.

PLACE VENDÔME (1997)

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Genre : Thriller
Director : Nicole Garcia

Vincent Malivert is the head of a prestigious jewel broker’s firm on the exclusive Place Vendôme. Hampered by debt and implicated in trafficking of stolen jewels, he commits suicide, leaving his wife Marianne to pick up the pieces.

Why FrenchFlicks likes itFull of surprises, this particular film starts off as a drama, but soon transitions into a memorable film noir good. The regal Catherine Deneuve slips into this role seamlessly, winning the Best Actress award at the 55th Venice International Film Festival.  

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PIERROT LE FOU (1965)

Genre : Drama, crime
Director: Jean-Luc Godard

Pierrot escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, an assassin from Algeria. They lead an unorthodox life, always on the run.

L'avis de FrenchFlicks – Consider this your education in the biggest New Wave classics. Half gangster, half romance, this film is luscious and colorful movie as far as Godard goes.

All films are in French without subtitles.*

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