The Five French Films to Watch on TV5MONDE in April

This April on TV5MONDE, we highly suggest the excellent law series, Le mensonge with Daniel Auteuil, adapted from a true story. There's also the outrageous dramatic comedy, Énorme with Jonathan Cohen and Marina Foïs to enjoy. 

Je suis à vous tout de suite

April 4 at 8:40 pm ET/5:40 pm PT. In French, with subtitles in English.

A comedy on identity and the past that is more serious than at first glance. Kasmi film knows how to remain tender and light while tackling a difficult subject.

30-year-old Hanna is simply too nice. It's something she's inherited from her father Omar, a  'social grocer' and her mother Simone, a home-psychologist. For a while now, there's been  tension with her brother Hakim, who is focused on his Algerian roots and religion. An  unexpected event brings them together.

"We really like this funny, comforting and eccentric comedy which describes so accurately the problems which often concern us." - Le Journal du Dimanche

Director: Baya Kasmi (France 2014)
Cast: Vimala Pons, Mehdi Djaadi, Agnès Jaoui, Ramzy Bédia
Genre: Comedy

Un vrai bonhomme

April 11 at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT. In French, with subtitles in English.

At first glance this may seem like a typical American style teen movie, but Un vrai bonhomme is a truly beautiful film about emancipation, which flirts with the fantastical. A must see.

Tom, a shy sensitive teenager, is about to move to a new high school. To help him fit in he  can count on the advice from Léo, his big brother and veritable mentor. Léo wants to make  a man of Tom... But his ever- present influence quickly becomes toxic! 

"Benjamin Parent's debut film aptly deals with adolescence and identity... and introduces the impressive young actor Benjamin Voisin." - Le Figaro

Director: Benjamin Parent (France 2018)
Cast: Thomas Guy, Benjamin Voisin, Isabelle Carré
Genre: Dramatic comedy

Le mensonge

April 13 at 11:30 pm ET/8:30 pm PT. In French, with subtitles in English.

Forty years later, Daniel Auteuil is back on television in this shocking and gripping legal series, inspired by a true story.

Director: Vincent Garenq (France 2020)
Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Charlie Bruneau, Grégoire Bonnet, Catherine Alric, Benjamin Bellecour
Genre: Drama (mini-series)

Notre-Dame du Nil

April 18 at 8:40 pm ET/5:40 pm PT. In French, with subtitles in English.

Adapted from the autobiographical novel by Scholastique Mukasonga, Notre-Dame du Nil is a strong, poetic and surprisingly humane film about the preludes of the Rwandan genocide.

Rwanda, 1973. In the prestigious Catholic boarding school for girls, Notre-Dame du Nil, young Rwandans study to become the country’s elite. But beneath the surface racial hatred  is growing. Harassment of the Tutsis is commonplace. At the high school, the teenagers are  about to see their lives change forever.

     "Atiq Rahimi has once again created a beautiful and disturbing work of cinema." - The Undefeated

Director: Atiq Rahimi (France, Belgium 2018)
Cast: Pascal Greggory, Albina Kirenga, Amanda Mugabekazi
Genre: Drama

Énorme 

April 25 at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT. In French, with subtitles in English.

Unique, unpredictable, and a bit disturbing, Sophie Letourneur's story of a co-dependent couple in their 40's and their journey to become parents sends you on a comical but somewhat jaw-dropping adventure.

Married to Claire, a world-renowned pianist, Frédéric is his wife's lover, coach and personal assistant all rolled into one. But if there is one thing both agree on it's that neither wants a child, under any circumstances! But at 40, Frédéric suddenly finds he really wants to become a father.

"The director Sophie Letourneur, French cinema's near-mumblecorean, fuses sketch comedy with documentary inquiry in this tale of an odd couple's tangled journey to parenthood." New Yorker

Director: Sophie Letourneur (France 2020)
Cast: Marina Foïs, Jonathan Cohen, Jacqueline Kakou
Genre: Comedy