French movies kick ass

[Bereta_Eder]

coming to think about it: Marcus you're dutch so maybe you'd know this: I was at a dutch movie festival some years ago, dragged by a friend, but I was so glad I went in the end. One of the films that really impressed me was done by one of your most well known directors?
I don't know his name, that is what I am asking you.

I'm afraid the only think I know is the plot of that movie.

A kid, orphan from a father (it seemed) was raised by his sentimentaly detached and very strict mother. They change neighboorhoods because the social stigma of him being not the product of a marriage turned the neighborhood against him and his mother. He grows up and goes to work at a company. He is very poor. Later on it is revieled that the owner? of that company is actually his father but he is also a very cruel man.
He actually doesn't help him at all but instead puts even more obstacles on his way.
The film reaches its crescendo when the man explodes in a wave of fury and attacks his father. He has him pinned down, holds a knife over his father's head and decides what to do.

My english are too poor to offer a more vivid or a more complex and spherical description of its many facedes.

Anyway, this what I remember of the film. It was IIRC made by one of your most famous directors. Would you know his name perhaps? So I can track down more of his films?
Thanks.
(the film dialogues were in dutch BTW of course)

[Saint Marcus]

I think you're refering to the movie Karakter. It won an Oscar. It's based on a literary masterpiece, which I read some years ago.

[Saint Marcus]

I believe Van Diem was the director, but I have to look it up. The author of the book was Bordewijk btw (who died in 1965).

[Kropotkin]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara L'Humanité

I've seen that one. Can really get why you walked out on that one. It's really slow and boring.

[axi]

Skandinavian cinema really depresses me. Perhaps I hold this impression because of Bergmann, but still, the language sounds dull and really gives me the glooms.

[moomin]

Zorba it ain't.

[Akka]

Originally posted by axi
I also like all the films with Jean Reno, like "Les rivieres pourpres" because i think he's cool.

You mean you liked Godzilla and the new version of Rollerball ?

[axi]

Godzilla yes, he's the only thing that saves the film. Rollerball I haven't seen yet, but Jean Reno is one more reason for me to go see it (which I won't do btw, because I don't like the scenario).

[DanS]

By and large, I agree with Che. Many French movies have the pacing and editing of either documentaries or porn and end up not being true to the essential story.

If you get past the torrent of pap, Hollywood does quite well with good stories. The French really can't compete, but they do OK for a country of France's size. Other than France and India, are there any other countries that have a stable of home-grown directors who put out fare with regularity?

The French are incredibly inconsistent, and when they work with others it sometimes evens out their inconsistencies. Sometimes they can do a movie that could never be done in Hollywood.

Some of my faves include The Double Life of Veronique (Irène Jacob is HOT!), La Femme Nikita, Red/Blue/White, Manon of the Spring. I like long takes, but sometimes the French filmmakers indulge themselves too much.

[DanS]

FYI: Here are the international box office numbers. I have to hand it to the French. They are only of the only countries that isn't almost 100% Hollywood.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/

[MOBIUS]

Fantastique!

Saw the Le Dîner de cons a few weeks ago...

I liked that one so much, that as part of the thank you gift to my friend for letting us stay with him in Hawaii, I got him Ridicule.

Others not mentioned that I've seen include Les Rivières pourpres starring Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel; and Le Goût des autres.

What about Cyrano de Bergerac ?????

A classic movie - far better than Steve Martin's 'Roxanne' anyway!

[Saint Marcus]

Hollywood does quite well with good stories.

Too bad that 99% of the hollywood movies don't have good stories.

[Zevico]

I saw 'Let there be light', that was a good movie. ONe thing I've noticed in French movies s that there is ALWAYS a compulsory nude/scantily clad scene. Not that I'm complaining

[DanS]

"Too bad that 99% of the hollywood movies don't have good stories."

You're way too harsh. If you look over the years, Hollywood does exceptionally well at story telling. Otherwise, Hollywood would never have been successful.

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Zevico
I saw 'Let there be light', that was a good movie. ONe thing I've noticed in French movies s that there is ALWAYS a compulsory nude/scantily clad scene. Not that I'm complaining

It´s by no means compulsory. In RL people get naked all the time, not like you average american movie/soap where the actresses wake up dressed and with full make up after a night of supposedly steaming sex.

Europeans in general and french (and swedes) in particular show it the way it is, we don´t have that immense fear of sexuality that saturates the movie industry in Hollywood.