The best French movies on TV5MONDE Cinema on Demand in December 2021
This December, celebrate the holidays with a lineup of films that are perfect for the whole family, starting with Le prince oublié, a touching comedy in the style of The Chornicles of Narnia starring Omar Sy as single father who struggles to find his place in his daughter’s life as she grows up.
The best French movies on TV5MONDE Cinema on Demand
Dépression des potes—available beginning December 10
Despite a seemingly perfect life, Franck discovers he is well and truly depressed. He breaks the news to his friends, who decide to try and help him, only to discover that they’re all just as depressed as Franck!Director: Arnaud Lemort (2012)
Cast: Frédéric Testot, Jonathan Lambert, Arié Elmaleh
Genre: Comedy, in French with English subtitles
Watch it if you like: mid-life crisis French dramedies, caustic humor, Friends, The Hangover
Papy fait de la résistance—available beginning December 17
In 1943, Paris falls under Nazi occupation and a celebrated musical family has their home invaded by an incompetent segment of the German High Command, forcing the family to hide their resistance activities in plain sight.
Director: Jean-Marie Poiré (1983)
Cast: Christian Clavier, Michel Galabru, Gérard Jugnot
Genre: Comedy, in French with English subtitles
Watch it if you like: Classic French comedies, War satires, French box-office hits
Le prince oublié—available beginning December 17
A single father tells his daughter a bedtime story every night, transporting them to Storyland where each tale comes to life, but he begins to wonder if he’ll still have a place in his daughter’s life as she grows older.
Director: Michel Hazanavicius (2019)
Cast: Omar Sy, Bérénice Bejo, François Damiens
Genre: Comedy, in French with English subtitles
Watch it if you like: Omar Sy, French movies for kids, live-action Disney films, The Chronicles of Narnia
Lautrec—available beginning December 24
In the 19th century, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec makes his way through life with style, bravado, and an empathy for society’s outcasts, who become the inspiration for many of his paintings.
Director: Roger Planchon (1998)
Cast: Régis Royer, Elsa Zylberstein, Claude Rich
Genre: Drama, in French with English subtitles
Watch it if you like: French biopics, films about the making of art, French movies Renoir, Van Gogh and Gauguin
La personne aux deux personnes—available beginning December 31
After a bad car accident, an uptight businessman finds that his mind is now partially occupied by an 80’s rocker with a wild personality. Now, the two must figure out how get along when they have no escape from each other.
Director: Bruno Lavoine, Nicolas Charlet (2008)
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Alain Chabat, Marina Foïs
Genre: Comedy, in French with English subtitles
Watch it if you like: Quirky French comedies, Alain Chabat, body-swap films like Freaky Friday and Change-up