The Five French Films to Watch on TV5Monde in September
A striking comedy of tolerance by the directors of Intouchables, a captivating rural thriller, and even a documentary on the French king of shoes Christian Louboutin. September's programming on TV5MONDE has something for everyone's tastes!
Hors normes (2019)
September 6 at 8:35PM ET/5:35PM PT, in French with English subtitles
The directors of Untouchables return with a touching and heartfelt new comedy with a particularly powerful message of tolerance. A fabulous film made even more dazzling by the performances of Reda Kateb and Vincent Cassel.
For twenty years, Bruno and Malik have been living in a world apart, the world of autistic children and teenagers. Their respective associations train youngsters from difficult neighborhoods to care for these cases categorized as “extremely complex”. A special partnership for special personalities.
"A film aimed at the heart." - Fotogramas
Cast : Vincent Cassel (Bruno), Reda Kateb (Malik), Hélène Vincent (Hélène), Brian Mialoudama (Dylan), Alban Ivanov (Menahem), Benjamin Lesieur (Joseph), Marco Locatelli (Valentin), Catherine Mouchet (Doctor Ronssin)
Genre : Comedy
Trois jours et une vie (2018)
September 13 at 8.30 PM ET/5.30 PM PT, in French with English subtitles
A particularly dark rural thriller where the silences are heavy and the expressions woeful. A gripping thriller.
Christmas 1999. In this peaceful village in the Belgian Ardennes, a child disappears. Did he simply wander off and get lost? Was he abducted? As the community rapidly becomes a hotbed of rumor and suspicion, a devastating event suddenly deals fate a new hand.
"Between lies, omissions, hidden love and double crossing, the subtle line between innocence and guilt forms the focus of this provincial film noir, a very well-interwoven and well-acted work." - Cineuropa
Directed by : Nicolas Boukhrief
Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire (Blanche Courtin), Pablo Pauly (Antoine Courtin), Charles Berling (Michel Desmedt), Philippe Torreton (Doctor Hubert Dieulafory)
Genre : Crime drama
Le mystère Henri Pick (2018)
September 20 at 8:30PM ET/5:30PM PT, in French with English subtitles
A successful adaptation of the novel of the same name by David Foenkinos, of course with some added charm, provided by Fabrice Luchini's lavish delivery.
"It is a warm, light-hearted caper: blessed with a strong cast, a script sparkling with wit, and a literary sense that makes it bounce along like an Agatha Christie-styled thriller." - Fiction Machine
Directed by: Rémi Bezançon
Cast : Alice Isaaz (Daphné Despero), Fabrice Luchini (Jean-Michel Rouche), Camille Cottin (Joséphine Pick), Bastien Bouillon (Frédéric Koskas), Hanna Shygulla (Ludmila Blavitsky), Josiane Stoléru (Madeleine Pick), Astrid Whettnall (Inès de Crécy), Marc Fraize (Jean-Pierre Gourvec)
Genre : Comedy
L'amour (2018)
September 27 at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT, in French with English subtitles
Inspired by a news story involving an impromptu vigilante who faces predators, this Quebec thriller is remarkably well written and succeeds in remaining a mystery until its final outcome.
"Marc Bisaillon succeeds above all in humanizing characters who could have turned into campy caricature, rejecting any form of Manichaeism. There is nothing terrible about the torturers here, and all of them end up being victims, not just of deafening silence." - Le Devoir
Directed by : Marc Bisaillon
Cast: Pierre-Luc Lafontaine (Alex), Paul Doucet (J.J Marchand), Fanny Mallette (Rose Maher), Claude Despins (Laurent Maher)
Genre : Drama
Sur les pas de Christian Louboutin (2020)
September 30 at 8:30PM ET/5:30PM PT, in French with English subtitles
A tasty documentary on the famous designer of red-soled shoes, his process of creation and unique extravagence.
"From his childhood in Paris to his first successes including his Palace period, Christian Louboutin tells us about himself in this intimate and generous portrait." - Vogue
Directed by : Olivier Garouste
Genre : Documentary