The 5 French films to watch on TV5MONDE in January
The holidays may be over but the fun is just beginning over at TV5Monde. In January, Diane Kruger and Catherine Deneuve team up to take on a drug lord, a young gay adolescent finds his feet in Paris, and there's even a soul swapping scenario in Un ciel radieux.
Un ciel radieux (TV Film, 2017)
January 4 at 8:30PM ET/5:30PM PT, with English subtitles
Mysterious and wondrous, Un ciel radieux captures the spirit of the creative storyline based on the manga by Jirô Taniguchi.
One night, married father Vincent loses control of his car and runs over Léo, a young motorcyclist. Vincent is declared dead. Léo is in a coma. When he wakes up, a transfer has taken place: Vincent's spirit now lives in the young motorcyclist's body...
"A psychological thriller carried by a restrained and delicate performance by Léo Legrand, a fascinating young actor with an already impressive resume." - Télérama
Directed by: Nicolas Boukhrief
Cast: Léo Legrand (Léo), Dimitri Storoge (Vincent), Armande Boulanger (Emma), Marie Kremer (Sandrine) Isabelle Renauld (Nathalie), Louis-Marie Audubert (Paul), Charlie Lefebvre (Alice)
Genre: Documentaire
Run Time: 96m
Belle et Sébastien, l'aventure continue (2015)
January 6 at 8.30PM ET/5:30PM PT, with English subtitles
Nothing moves the hearts of children and grownups alike than the adventurous tales of a man's best friend at our side. Belle and Sebastian are too loveable together in this instalment, in which they investigate a mysterious plane crash.
In 1945, Sebastien and his faithful dog, Belle, set off for the Italian Alps on a rescue mission after hearing that their friend, Angelina, may have been involved in a place crash.
“A winning recipe of stunning natural settings, thrilling adventure and key relationships for a little boy who loves his dog." - Urban Cinephile
Directed by: Christian Duguay
Cast:Félix Bossuet, Tchéky Karyo, Margaux Chatelier
Genre: Drama
Marvin ou la belle éducation (2016)
January 13 at 8.30PM ET/5:30PM PT, with English subtitles
Fast forward to a more modern and familial look at Huppert's work, enjoy Anne Fontaine's picture from last year. With a Billy Elliot feel, Finnegan Oldfield demonstrates the glimmer of hope we all feel when pursuing the unexpected.
Fed up with his life, Marvin decides to change his name and flee to Paris to pursue his passion for theater, the only thing that gave him solace while living with his dysfunctional family in a small, bigoted village.
“Best by a mile are newcomer Jules Porier as the young Marvin, a pale boy with gamin grace, and Grégory Gadebois as his father, a phlegmy walrus of a man forever exposing expanses of flesh in sleeveless denim and distended briefs." - Financial Times
Directed by: Anne Fontaine
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Finnegan Oldfield, Grégory Gadebois
Genre: Drama
Tout nous sépare (2017)
January 20 at 8.30PM ET/5:30PM PT, with English subtitles
Never underestimate your mom. The star power of Diane Kruger and Catherine Deneuve make for an electrifying and unique on screen dynamic.
Julie has lived with a disability since her accident and is in love with her dealer, Rodolphe. She accepts his bullying and violence, until one day she kills him with a single blow. Her mother Louise, a self-confident member of high society, helps her hide the murder. But soon after, one of Rodolphe’s friends begins to blackmail them...
"All That Divides Us is a nerve-wrecking film. Its unrelenting pace is never boring." Dirty Movies
Directed by: Thierry Klifa
Cast: : Catherine Deneuve (Louise), Diane Kruger (Julia), Nekfeu (Ben), Nicolas Duvauchelle (Rodolphe), Sébastien Houbani (Karim), Michaël Cohen (Olivier), Olivier Loustau (Daniel), Brigitte Sy (Ben's Mother), Julia Faure (Patricia), Elizabeth Mazev (Régine), Virgile Bramly (Stéphane)
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 1h 39m
Tueurs (2017)
January 27 at 8.30PM ET/5:30PM PT, with English subtitles
For the gangsters in the audience, Belgian thriller, Tueurs, is sure to bring you out of your January slump, with its original script and ruthless action scenes.
Frank Valken is carrying out the final robbery of his career, when a group of killers arrive and execute every single witness. One of the victims is the judge who investigated the case of the Mad Shooters 30 years ago. Finding himself as the perfect suspect, Frank flees and tries to prove his innocence
"[The film] is informed by an authenticity rare for this popular genre with its pre-packaged tropes and formulae." - Variety
Directed by: François Troukens and Jean-François Hensgens
Cast: Olivier Gourmet (Frank Valken), Lubna Azabal (Lucie Tesla), Kevin Janssens (Vik), Bouli Lanners (Dany Bouvy), Tibo Vandenborre (Santo), Bérénice Baôo (Nora), Karim Barras (Alain Rolesko), Natacha Régnier (Judge Véroniue Pirotte), Anne Coesens (Hélène), Johan Leysen (Procureur Jean Lemoine)
Genre: Crime Drama
Runtime: 1hr 26m