French Movies to Make You Smile After Watching the News
Movies that will inspire, give you fuzzy feelings and most importantly, take your mind off things. It's distraction time!
1. The French Kissers/ Les beaux gosses (2009)
For a French twist on Freaks and Geeks, tune in to the painfully awkward adventures of this teen duo Hervé (Vincent Lacoste), the pimply faced Dugeons and Dragons master, and Camel, the "Arab romantic type", both subject to questionable hair choices. Like Stranger Things, this teen flick reminds you of a simpler, retro time where kids meet up, spill their secrets, and dish about their crushes face to face, on the phone, or even over a ouija board; no cell service required.
Available through Amazon rental
2. Return of a Hero/Le retour du héros (2018)
We don't know about you, but old faithful Jean du Jardin never fails to put a smile (or a smirk) on our face. The cast that includes our favorite leading man, Inglorious Bastards' Mélanie Laurent and Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Noémie Merlant really sparkles together on screen. Escapism at its sweetest.
Available with Amazon Prime Video
3. Call My Agent!/Dix pour cent (TV series, 2015-)
Our favorite binge-worthy Netflix series by far, if you haven't tuned in to this sensational hit yet, have you got some time-filling fun ahead of you. Anybody who's anybody in France guest stars in this witty and plot thickening comedy about Paris' (fictional) top talent agencies and the A-list celebrities they represent. If you enjoy a spotlight on those who work behind the scenes, good writing, and hilarious performances, this is a brilliant choice.
4. The African Doctor/Bienvenue à Marly-Gormont (2016)
Just like all of us at the moment, the members of the Zantoko family must deal with abrupt and upending change in life as they know it in the newly graduated doctor Seyolo Zantoko gets an opportunity to set up a practice a long way frome home: Marly-Gormont, France. Wanting to avoid political corruption in their home town of Congo, Zantoko tells his family they will be moving to a town "just outside of Paris" to start their new life. When they show up in the rural boondocks full of conservative leaning inhabitants who have never seen Africans before, his wife and two children are less than pleased. This movie is a heartwarming and uplifting tale of getting through the tough times, finding community and fighting adversity. Based on the true story of French musician Julian Rambaldi's life, this autobiographical story is just the sort of comfort what we need right now.
5. Chef's Table France (2016)
Call it high art, a religious experience, or food porn, cooking is the highlight of our confined experience. Learn from the culinary geniuses of France and get some ideas for your own kitchen, or just enjoy the mouth-watering entertainment, no questions asked.
6. The Guardians/Les gardiennes (2017)
This one isn't as lighthearted as the others, but giving us a peek into the lesser known world of women in agriculture, it is an inspirational and rich story of female resilience in the face of a time of global upheaval: World War I.
7. The Skin of Sorrow/La peau de chagrin (2010)
Secret gem spotted! Amazon has been hiding a glorious period series adapted from the 1831 Honoré de Balzac novel about a young Parisien who finds a magical piece of shagreen that has the power to fulfill his every desire. The only problem is that each time he uses it, it shrinks the skin and zaps a bit of his physical energy. It seems Tolkien wasn't the first to be inspired by a powerful and damaging object that turns the world upside down.
8. LOLO (2015)
If there was ever a winning comedic combination, we assume it would be Julie Delpy, Danny Boon and Vincent Lacoste. Single mom Violette (Julie Delpy) and computer nerd Jean-René meet in dreamy rom com fashion at a barbeque and everything is smooth sailing, until our leading man meets Eloi, or Lolo as he's affectionately called by his mother. This kid is actually the stuff of nightmares and no one gets between he and his mother...
