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Welcome to our foreign films page, featuring foreign movies in video and DVD format in languages from a host of countries. Note: unless stated otherwise, all videocassettes are in VHS and NTSC format, and all DVDs are for players that support Region 1 encoding (United States and Canada) and are in NTSC format. Check our DVD Compatibility FAQ for more information about region encoding, television formats, and other specifications. If you can't find what you need, please email us.
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Lemming Dominik Moll Dominik Moll follows up his 2000 triumph With a Friend Like Harry with a psychosexual thriller about two couples, a disastrous dinner party, and a dead rodent in the kitchen plumbing. The tale begins as tech inventor Alain (Harry star Laurent Lucas) and his sweet-natured wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg) invite the former's boss (Andre Dussollier) and his frigid partner (Charlotte Rampling) over for dinner. When Alain finds a dead rodent in a drainpipe, the unpleasant discovery portends a series of startling revelations. "It's a patient, savory psychodrama, and a triumph of unsettled reaction shots" (Michael Atkinson, Village Voice). In French with English subtitles. France, 2005, 129 mins. DVD $37.95
La Vie en Rose Olivier Dahan Marion Cotillard soars in her role as Edith Piaf in Olivier Dahan's musical biopic about the legendary French songstress. Though Cotillard does not do her own singing, her possession of the dramatic sequences is astonishing. "One of the most devastating, inspired and breath-taking performances in film history" (Rex Reed, New York Observer). Nominated for the Golden Bear at the 2007 Berlin film festival. Also known as La Mome and The Passionate Life of Edith Piaf. In French and English with English subtitles. France, 2007, 141 mins. DVD $37.95
The Accidental Hero Laurent Jaoui A troubled teen copes with tumultuous life changes in this coming-of-age story from the acclaimed French TV movie series The Rebel Years. Tom Maillard (Alexandre Hamidi, Code Unknown) is prone to angry outbursts that overwhelm his harried single mother. But when one of their arguments leads to a horrible car accident, their lives will forever be changed. Laurent Jaoui's intricate drama hews closely to themes of identity, memory, and family. With Anne Coesens (Ma Vie en Rose) and Isabelle Renauld (Monsieur Ibrahim). In French with English subtitles. France 2003 90 mins. DVD $44.95
The Adventures of Felix Olivier Ducastel/Jacques Martineau The directors of Jeanne and the Perfect Guy present this warm, humane road film, described as "a gentle response" to Gregg Araki's The Living End by Onion critic Scott Tobias. A French dock-worker of Arab descent, who happens to be HIV-positive, sets off in search of the father he's never met. "...poignant, funny and clear-eyed about some tough topics" (Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer). In French with English subtitles. France 2000 95 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
An Affair of Love Frederic Fonteyne Nathalie Baye (The Return of Martin Guerre, Godard's Detective) and Sergi Lopez (Western) star in this intelligent account of erotic fantasy turning to emotional attachment. What begins as a deliberately anonymous sexual affair becomes more complex and meaningful as the participants realize the growing love between them. "...so much of Affair's understated power is derived from its mastery of small details, its grasp of how seemingly insignificant gestures and comments can have life-altering ramifications" (Nathan Rabin, The Onion A.V. Club). French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 78 mins. DVD $44.95
After Sex (Post Coitum) Brigitte Rouan A serious portrait of obsession with a comical edge, Post Coitum is a fine showcase for the directing and acting talents of Brigitte Rouan. Rouan stars as a married book editor in her forties who meets a client's much younger roommate and almost immediately falls into an intense, sexual relationship with him. When their affair ends, she has an emotional breakdown that takes a toll on all aspects of her life. "...inventive, angry and sardonically funny..." (Dave Kehr, New York Daily News). French with English subtitles. France, 1997, 97 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
And God Created Woman Roger Vadim The film that made Brigitte Bardot an international sex symbol, Roger Vadim's directorial debut stars the amazing Bardot as an 18-year-old orphan with an unbridled sexual appetite. With Jean-Louis Trintignant, Christian Marquand and Curt Jurgens. "[Bardot] is undeniably a creation of superlative craftsmanship" (Bosley Crowther, New York Times). In French with English subtitles. France, 1956, 91 mins. DVD $44.95
Artemisia Agnes Merlet From the director of Son of the Shark comes this lush, exquisitely photographed feature on the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, a pioneer female artist of 17th-century Italy. Forbidden to study painting because of her gender, she becomes the pupil and lover of the artist Agostino Tassi. With Valentina Cervi in the title role and Miki Manojlovic (from Kusturica's Underground) as Tassi. "A ravishingly lit and decorated romantic biography" (Ray Pride, New City). French with English subtitles. France, 1997, 95 mins. DVD $44.95
Back to the Wall Edouard Molinaro An entertaining and suspenseful tale of murder and blackmail starring the great Jeanne Moreau as the adulterous wife in the middle of everything. French with English subtitles. France 1958 94 mins. Videocassette $44.95
Bad Company Jean-Pierre Ameris Based on real events, this coming-of-age drama tells the story of Delphine, a shy high school girl who is pulled into an after-hours world of drugs, alcohol and sexual experimentation by a new friend from the opposite side of the tracks. Awakened emotionally and sexually, Delphine falls madly in love with a boy she meets one night at a club. But her life takes a drastic turn when she begins to sacrifice her beliefs and her body in order to keep him. In French with English subtitles. France, 1999. DVD $44.95
Balzac: A Life of Passion Josee Dayan Gerard Depardieu stars as the French literary genius Honore de Balzac in this epic television production that dramatizes the writer's professional and private passions. Balzac's relationship with the married Russian countess Eve Hanska plays a prominent part in this great looking presentation. The excellent supporting cast includes Jeanne Moreau, Fanny Ardant and Virna Lisi. In French with English subtitles. France/Germany, 1999, 210 mins. DVD $37.95
The Bathers (Les Baigneuses) Viviane Candas Director Viviane Candas' erotic melodrama looks at one day in the lives of six women who work in a Paris peep show. The strippers endure crass conditions at the hands of the show's corrupt owner and their clientele of voyeurs, and their lives become even more strained when a mysterious stranger visits the show. In French with English subtitles. France, 2003, 83 mins. DVD $44.95
Beach Cafe Benoit Graffin Adapted from a short story by Paul Bowles, this moody and unsettling drama is infused with the steamy, romantic atmosphere of its Moroccan coastal setting. When the charismatic drifter Driss stumbles into a run-down cafe, he finds himself drawn to its odd proprietor, Fouad. The two agree to a business proposition, but as their partnership develops, Driss learns some surprising facts about his enigmatic and unsavory new friend. Starring Ouassini Embarek and Jaques Nolot (Wild Reeds). In French and Arabic with English subtitles. France 2001 85 mins. DVD $44.95
Beaumarchais Edouard Molinaro From the director of La Cage aux Folles comes an elegant, wicked, witty portrait of the legendary French playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. Author of the comic plays The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville, which were made into operas by Mozart and Rossini, Beaumarchais was also an inventor, playwright, diplomat, playboy and Royal spy. With Fabrice Luchini, Manuel Blanc, Sandrine Kiberlain and Michel Serrault. "Glorious! Giddy! Inspired! Light and fanciful…sparkles with wit" (LA Times). French with English subtitles. France, 1997, 100 mins. Videocassette $37.95
Betty Blue Jean-Jacques Beineix A lusty, oddball romance might be the best way to describe the relationship between Betty and Zorg. Beatrice Dalle is the much troubled and very sexy Betty and Jean-Hughes Anglade is the would-be writer she loves. The third film from Jean-Jacques Beineix (Diva). DVD is the Unrated Director's Cut. In French with English subtitles. France, 1986, 185 mins. DVD $44.95
Black and White in Color Jean-Jacques Annaud A satire on racism, colonialism and war, Black and White in Color follows a group of French colonists in Africa who learn of their country's involvement in WWI a few months late and enlist the native population to attack a nearby German outpost. Brutal and hilariously unfortunate events ensue. Winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 1976. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes the documentary The Sky Above, The Mud Below (Pierre-Dominique Gaisseau, 1961, 92 mins.), which traces a 1959 expedition into the jungles of Dutch New Guinea by an international team of explorers. An incredible glimpse into primitive societies. Winner of the Best Documentary Oscar in 1961. Also includes interviews with director Jean-Jacques Annaud and producer Arthur Cohn. France, 1976, 92 mins. DVD $44.95
The Boat Is Full Markus Imhoof It is the summer of 1942 and the Swiss government, alarmed at the vast numbers of people fleeing Nazi Germany, has set up immigration policies so stringent that they have declared the country "a full lifeboat." Complications arise when a Swiss innkeeper's wife takes in a group of frightened refugees. A haunting film from noted Swiss Filmmaker Markus Imhoof. "Virtually a flawless movie….One I will not soon forget!" (Jeffrey Lyons). French and German with English subtitles. Switzerland, 1980, 100 mins. Videocassette $37.95
Bon Voyage Jean-Paul Rappeneau Bordeaux just prior to the German occupation of Paris during WWII sets the stage for this beautifully filmed, nostaglic mixture of suspense, farce and dark comedy from director Jean-Paul Rappeneau (Cyrano de Bergerac). A myriad of characters stumble through romance and a Nazi plot to steal a top-secret formula, including a stunning French actress (Isabelle Adjani), an aspiring writer (Gregori Derangere), a government minister (Gerard Depardieu), a distinguished scientist (Jean-Marc Stehle), his young assistant (Virginie Ledoyen), and a journalist (Peter Coyote). "...a triumph of narrative ingenuity" (A.O. Scott, The New York Times). In French with English subtitles. France, 2004, 114 mins. DVD $44.95
Borsalino and Co. Jacques Deray A historical mob saga, set in 1930's France. Screen giant Alain Delon (The Leopard) stars as Roch Siffredi, a well-manicured gangster impresario who's unwilling to relinquish his vice grip on pre-war Marseille. When an upstart Italian mob tries to move on in his territory, Siffredi's response is swift and violent. Jacques Deray (Flic Story) adorns a meticulous, multi-layered storyline with action-packed sequences and evocative period detail. The result is a top-notch piece of '70s pulp. The DVD is letterboxed and includes stills gallery, Alain Delon filmography, and trailer gallery. In French with English subtitles. France 1974 102 mins. DVD $44.95
Breakin' Out Olivier Peray A young French teenager finds his life in shambles after a high-speed car crash kills his father and lands his mother in prison. Placed with a foster family, Nicolas (Erwan Demaure) finds it difficult to overcome the tragic turn his life has taken. But when he's introduced to a boy from a similar background (Ouassini Embarek, in a wonderful debut performance), Nicolas finds the courage to move forward--though the direction he takes could prove just as disastrous. The DVD is letterboxed and includes photo gallery and 5.1 sound. In French with English subtitles. France 2001 86 mins. DVD $44.95
The Bridge Gerard Depardieu/Frederic Auburtin In his second directorial effort, Gerard Depardieu collaborates with Frederic Auburtin to craft a convincing portrayal of the price of adultery. Depardieu also stars in the film, playing a middle-aged laborer whose beautiful wife (Carole Bouquet) falls in love with the engineer of her husband's latest construction job. Modest yet very moving, The Bridge is a realistic depiction of a relationship torn apart. Also starring Charles Berling. In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 92 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
Brotherhood of the Wolf Christophe Gans This international box office hit from France is a real genre-buster, mixing up elements of period piece costume drama, horror films, melodrama, swashbuckling adventure, and martial arts action. A scientist-adventurer and his mysterious Iroquois sidekick investigate attacks by an unknown beast that have been terrifying the countryside. They find the truth about the creature, and the corrupt man behind its violence. Fast-paced, violent, sexy, and suspenseful, Brotherhood of the Wolf is a thrill ride wolf in art-house sheep's clothing. With Samuel Le Bihan (Capitaine Conan) Monica Belluci (Malena), Emilie Dequenne (Rosetta), Vincent Cassel (Hate), and former martial arts champion Mark Dacascos as the mysterious Mani. French with English subtitles. France, 2001, 144 mins. DVD $44.95
Bye Bye Karim Dridi Reminiscent of Kids, Salaam Bombay and Pixote, this realistic slice of urban teen life in modern-day France is a serious yet sensitive tale of two young French-Arab brothers dealing with the clash of cultures and generations in Marseilles. After a family tragedy, Ismael and Mouloud leave Paris and end up on the doorstep of their uncle and family. Once there, the two brothers are pulled apart as one is seduced by the streets and its life of drugs and crime, while the other desperately seeks to rescue him without falling to its temptations. French with English subtitles. France, 1996, 107 mins. Videocassette $37.95
Camille Claudel Bruno Nuytten Intense performances by Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu add fire to this biography of overlooked sculptress Camille Claudel. After years of living with master sculptor Auguste Rodin (Depardieu) as pupil and lover, Claudel fell into a paranoid depression when he left her. Her disapproving family had her committed to a mental institution, where she wasted away for the remaining 30 years of her life. Adjani won a Cesar for her performance in this tragic story. French with English subtitles. France, 1988, 149 mins. DVD $37.95
Carnage Delphine Gleize Delphine Gleize's debut feature follows a dismembered Andalusian bull's bizarre journey through Europe and the labyrinth of startling coincidences, parallels and revealed secrets that follow in its wake. Each individual who comes in contact with the bull, who had been destroyed after goring a bullfighter, becomes a part of a large chain of circumstances connected through life, love and death. Winner of the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. "Sophisticated, coolly imaginative, and genre-carefree" (Michael Atkinson, Village Voice). In French, Italian and Spanish with English subtitles. France/Belgium/Spain/Switzerland, 2002, 130 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Casque d'Or Jacques Becker One of the truly great French films: Jacques Becker's "elegant masterwork is a glowingly nostalgic evocation of the Paris of the Impressionists." Serge Reggiani plays a carpenter who is drawn into the underworld of pimps and thieves and eventually driven to murder because of his great love for Marie, a gangster's moll, in a glowing performance from Simone Signoret. Signoret brings a remarkable sensuality to her role in a film that is filled with the sun, open air and a kind of transcendence. The DVD is aCriterion Collection Edition, and includes audio commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie, 1995 video interview with Serge Reggiani, 1963 interview with Simone Signoret from the French television program Cinepanorama, excerpt from an episode of the French television series Cineastes de notre temps dedicated to Jacques Becker, behind-the-scenes footage of Becker on set with commentary by film scholar Philip Kemp, new essay by Philip Kemp, and new English subtitles. In French with English subtitles. France, 1952, 94 mins. DVD $59.95
The Chambermaid on the Titanic Bigas Luna A poor French foundry worker travels to England to witness the launch of the maiden voyage of the Titanic. A woman claiming to be a chambermaid on the vessel asks to share his hotel room, arousing erotic dreams after her departure. He takes a photograph of her home with him and exaggerates his relationship with her until his fantasy is accepted as reality. "...at once a delightful piece of romantic whimsy and a meditation on the duplicity inherent in storytelling" (Fred Camper, Chicago Reader). French with English subtitles. Spain/France, 1997, 96 mins. Videocassette $44.95
Chaos Coline Serreau A couple helps a young prostitute (Rachida Brakni) after witnessing her beating at the hands of a group of thugs. Upon hearing her harrowing life story, they are prompted to help her out of her situation. Director Coline Serreau (Three Men and a Cradle) addresses the serious issue of physical and psychological abuse of women with a light, yet serious, hand, balancing the film's satirical side with moments of real emotional resonance. "Darkly hilarious and brilliantly touching" (Ray Pride, Newcity Chicago). Nominated for five Cesar Awards, with Brakni taking home the Cesar for Best Female Newcomer. In French with English subtitles. France, 2001, 109 mins. DVD $44.95
The Chorus Christophe Barratier Inspired by Jean Dreville's La Cage aux Rossignols, this debut film by French musician Christophe Barratier explores the uplifting effect that teachers can have on their students' lives. When an acclaimed orchestra conductor (Jacques Perrin) returns home to bury his mother, he finds his thoughts drifting to his childhood music instructor. Although his boarding school experience was drab and often cruel, Pierre (Perrin) always found a spark of light in Clement Mathieu's (Gerard Jugnot) music lessons. Christophe Barratier's film captures scenes from childhood and adulthood with great grace, lyricism, and poignancy. Featuring performances by Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc Choir. Nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Original Song, Best Foreign Language Film). In French with English subtitles. France, 2004, 97 mins. DVD $44.95
The City of Lost Children Jean-Pierre Jeunet/Marc Caro This cross between a children's fairy tale and a hellish sci-fi nightmare questions the very nature of dreams, fantasy and the hope of a collective social fabric. Though heavy with ambition, the fantastic sets and backdrops, together with superb effects, animate a truly engrossing cast of characters, ranging from a villainous pair of Siamese twins to hitmen fleas. Amidst the tumult, children struggle in a world dominated by crime and perverse ambitions. Jean-Paul Gaultier did the costumes. French with English subtitles. France, 1995, 112 mins. DVD $44.95
Close to Leo Christophe Honore A close-knit family tries to protect its youngest member from knowing that his older brother, named Leo, has contracted HIV in this intimate drama from French director Christophe Honore, who adapted the film from his own novel. When the boy becomes frightened after overhearing the rest of the family discussing his brother's health, Leo takes him on a trip to Paris to ease his mind and explain the situation. "A film of much perception in illuminating the complexities of truly loving relationships" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). In French with English subtitles. France 2003 90 mins. DVD $44.95
Code Unknown Michael Haneke Juliette Binoche stars in "the most intellectually stimulating and emotionally provocative piece of European cinema of recent times" (Richard Falcon, Sight and Sound). The lives of several characters intersect around one confrontation, but the film also veers off to detail these very separate existences. Indeed, it is the divisions of class, race, and modern existence that really define this morally challenging work from one of the most debated auteurs of modern film. In French, with scenes in several other languages, with English subtitles. France/Germany/Romania, 2000, 117 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Come Undone Sebastien Lifshitz A passionate summer relationship between two young Frenchmen turns darker and more serious in this film that artfully leaves some narrative gaps open to the viewer. "...Lifshitz confidently takes us through the stages of their relationship, from its fiercely sexual beginning to grown-up considerations of how they are going to live together, through to a wintry and ambiguous 'aftermath'" (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian). In French with English subtitles. France 2000 94 mins. DVD $44.95
Comedy of Innocence Raul Ruiz An eerie and engrossing supernatural thriller from the director of Life is a Dream. On his ninth birthday, Camille (Nils Hugon) tells his parents that he wants to live with his "real" mother. He then leads them across town to a stranger's small flat where he announces that he is the reincarnation of the woman's dead son. Unsure of what to do, Camille's parents initially play along, but soon they must seek alternative solutions. Also stars Isabelle Huppert, Denis Podalydes, and Jeanne Balibar. In French with English subtitles. DVD includes an interview, trailer, filmographies, optional English subtitles and more. France, 2000, 99 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
The Count of Monte Cristo Josee Dayan Gerard Depardieu stars in this fine adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic novel about an unjustly imprisoned man who returns to seek revenge on the people who set him up. This eight hour mini-series ranks as one of the most watched programs in the history of French television. The supporting cast includes Ornella Muti and Jean Rochefort. In French with English subtitles. Four volume boxed set, with filmographies, episode summaries, and a photo gallery. France, 1998, 480 mins. DVD $44.95
The Crazy Stranger (Gadjo Dilo) Tony Gatlif The director of Latcho Drom and Mondo delivers another seductive exploration of Gypsy culture in this vibrant tale of a young Parisian who comes to Romania to track down a legendary folk singer, finding romance along the way. "A spontaneity and freshness rare in movies…the talk is raw, the atmosphere is earthy, the drink is strong and the sex is not exactly refined" (Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle). "A great, free, emotionally powerful pageant that, at its best, makes your body and soul dance" (Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune). French and Romany with English subtitles. France, 1998, 97 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Creezy Pierre Granier-Deferre A French melodrama with political undertones, Creezy shares its name with the beautiful fashion model (Sydne Rome) who has stolen the heart of a rising politician (Alain Delon). Plagued by guilt over the affair, he must choose between his wife and career or the woman he loves. With Jeanne Moreau. In French with English subtitles. France/Italy, 1974, 90 mins. DVD $37.95
The Crimson Rivers Mathieu Kassovitz Mathieu Kassovitz (Hate, Cafe au Lait) steps into Silence of the Lambs and Seven territory with this film about two cops (Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel) trying to stop a string of gruesome killings. "...a breathtaking exercise in the macabre...even when the movie is perfect nonsense, it's so voluptuous that you're grateful to be watching it anyway. This is the work of a natural filmmaker" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). The DVD comes with French and English soundtrack and subtitle options, and is letterboxed, closed-captioned, and includes audio commentary by director Mathieu Kassovitz and the cast, "making of" and other behind-the-scenes segments, more. France, 2000, 105 mins. DVD $44.95
The Crimson Rivers 2: The Angels of the Apocalypse Olivier Dahan Luc Besson and Jean Reno team up once again for the chilling sequel to their popular French thriller The Crimson Rivers. This time out, the brooding Inspector Niemans (Reno) searches for the force behind a spate of brutal murders in the Lorraine region of France. He teams up with police captain Reda (Benoit Magimel) to explore an eerie monastery with dark secrets hidden deep within its walls. Olivier Dahan directs Luc Besson's taut script. DVD includes deleted scene, making-of featurette, and 5 behind-the-scenes featurettes. In French with English subtitles. France, 2004, 99 mins. DVD $44.95
Cyrano de Bergerac Jean-Paul Rappeneau Gerard Depardieu is magnificent as the poetic soldier with the prominent proboscis. Based on the classic play by Rostand in which a 17th century swordsman proves inarticulate only when it comes to expressing his love for his cousin Roxanne face to face. Packed with pageantry, poetry and robust performances. With Anne Brochet, Jacques Weber, and some 2000 extras. In French with English and Spanish subtitles, letterboxed. France, 1989, 138 mins. DVD $37.95
Dangerous Moves Richard Dembo The game of chess mirrors the Cold War in this award-winning film. A Russian master (Michel Piccoli) is pitted in a high stakes game of chess against a Soviet exile (Alexandre Arbatt), who has dreamed since childhood of defeating the champion. Every move becomes dangerous when the KGB gets involved, using the exile's detained wife (Liv Ullmann) as a pawn to distract the challenger. Winner of the Best Foreign Language Academy Award in 1984. In French with optional English subtitles, letterboxed, and includes an interview with producer Arthur Cohn. France, 1984, 96 mins. DVD $44.95
Diva Jean-Jacques Beineix A breathtaking series of visual images in this stylish romantic thriller; at the heart of the film is an opera-intoxicated 18-year-old mail carrier who becomes unwittingly entangled in a web of murder, intrigue and passion. French dialog with English subtitles. France, 1982, 123 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Doctor Chance F.J. Ossang With a fistful of counterfeit money, volatile Angstel hits a South American nightclub in search of some company. He finds it with dancer/hooker Ancetta, but the hot-blooded couple also finds trouble. Hitting the highway with a trunk full of weapons, they set out on a wild, dangerous road trip. Pulsating with energy, this feature includes a techno-industrial-rock soundtrack by the director's own band, Messagero Killer Boy. The cast includes Marisa Paredes (All About My Mother). In French with English subtitles. France/Chile, 1997, 97 mins. DVD $44.95
Don Juan Jacques Weber The legendary tale of Don Juan, the 17th century Spanish nobleman who defaulted on his promise to marry the Donna Elvira, is retold here with high drama and visual flare. Jacques Weber stars as the womanizing protagonist, who roams the countryside with young Siganarelle (Michel Boujenah) while trying to evade his vengeful enemies. With Penelope Cruz. In French with English subtitles. France 1998 104 mins. DVD $44.95
Don Juan (If Don Juan Was a Woman) Roger Vadim Also known as Ms. Don Juan and Don Juan '73, this film brought back together Brigitte Bardot and her ex-husband Roger Vadim for a sexy spin-off of the Don Juan legend. Bardot (in one of her last film appearances) confesses to her cousin, a priest, about all the men she has seduced. With Jane Birkin, Maurice Ronet, Mathieu Carriere and Robert Hossein. In French with English subtitles. France, 1973, 94 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
Don't Let Me Die on a Sunday Didier Le Pecheur Sexual transgression becomes the only alternative to an otherwise meaningless and empty modern existence for the despairing characters in this provocative feature. Elodie Bouchez (The Dreamlife of Angels) stars as a woman who is revived from an Ecstasy overdose by the lovemaking of a morgue attendant (Jean-Marc Barr). This necrophilic introduction leads her into an odyssey of erotic encounters among a group of people who see no boundaries for explorations into the pleasures of the flesh. In French with English subtitles. France, 1998, 86 mins. DVD $44.95
Dry Cleaning Anne Fontaine Sexual temptation leads a married couple down a dark road in this provocative drama. The couple runs a dry cleaning business and seem content enough until they see a brother-sister drag act that awakens their imaginations to new erotic possibilities. When the act splits up, the bisexual brother is invited to stay with the married couple. Turning his amorous attention to both of his landlords, his presence changes their lives forever. "...marvelously unsettling..." (Ella Taylor, Atlantic Monthly). "...a hauntingly erotic fable..." (Stephen Holden, New York Times). In French with English subtitles. France, 1997, 98 mins. DVD $44.95
East/West Regis Wargnier Sandrine Bonnaire, Catherine Deneuve, Oleg Menchikov and Sergei Bodrov Jr. star in this moving drama about a tragic chapter in Russian history. A medic and his French wife return to Russia when Stalin invites exiles back to help "rebuild" the country at the end of World War II. While avoiding the executions that awaited many of those who returned, the couple is forced to endure bleak living and working conditions and the deprived circumstances threaten to drive them apart. Escaping to the West seems impossible until the arrival of a famous French actress opens a risky door of opportunity. From the director of Indochine. "Poetic, tragic and emotionally heart-wrenching" (Louse Keller, Urban Cinefile). In Russian and French with English subtitles; DVD is letterboxed, with audio commentary by director and screenwriter, isolated music score, theatrical trailers, optional Spanish and French subtitles, and more. France/Russia/Spain/Bulgaria, 1999, 125 mins. DVD $44.95
The Fanny Trilogy Marius/Fanny/Cesar Marcel Pagnol French playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol's charming humanist trilogy set amidst the seaside beauty of Marseilles is presented in its entirety in this impressive boxed set. The first entry, Marius (Alexander Korda, 1931, 120 mins.), introduces Marius, son of the cafe owner, Cesar, who longs to go to sea in spite of his love for Fanny. In Fanny (Marc Allegret, 1931, 120 mins.), the abandoned love discovers that she is pregnant by Marius, now at sea. She reluctantly accepts a marriage offer from an older man when Marius reappears. In the final film, Cesar (Marcel Pagnol, 1936, 121 mins.), set twenty years after Marius, Fanny's husband, and also Cesar's best friend, has died and her son is at last told about his true father, the legendary Marius. This is a four-DVD boxed set, and includes an introductory essay by Bertrand Tavernier; a 74-minute documentary; brief commentaries by Pagnol; trailers; poster, still and promotional material galleries; a biography; filmographies; and optional English subtitles. All films in French with English subtitles. France, 1931/1931/1936 DVD $99.95
Farinelli Gerard Corbiau Farinelli, an 18th-century castrato, was one of Europe's most acclaimed singers. This lavishly designed, brilliantly costumed film focuses on his troubled artistic and personal life as he conquers the opera world and has women faint in his presence, yet needs his brother to consummate his sexual conquests. Corbiau ingeniously recreates the unique castrato sound by electronically blending a male and female voice; Jeroen Krabbe appears as Friedrich Handel. French with English subtitles. France/Belgium/Italy 1995 115 mins. DVD $44.95
Fear and Trembling Alain Corneau Adapted from Amelie Nothomb's autobiographical novel, Alain Corneau's scathing, sexually charged psychodrama chronicles the efforts of a Japanese-born Belgian twentysomething (Sylvie Testud) to transform herself into "a true Japanese woman". Having landed an interpreter position at a large Japanese corporation, Amelie (Testud) immerses herself in the rigid protocols, vicious back-stabbing, and erotic innuendo of corporate life. "A comic nightmare that soothes spirits in the age of the computer and the culture of the samurai" (Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune). In French and Japanese with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed and includes making-of featurette, trailer, 5.1 sound, and essay by film critic Mark Peranson. France 2003 107 mins. DVD $44.95
Flic Story Jacques Deray A 70's crime classic. Producer/star Alain Delon and director Jacques Deray team up for a hardboiled cat-and-mouse thriller based on the shocking memoir from French police detective Roger Borniche. Set in post-liberation France, Delon stars as an overtaxed French cop who's been assigned to a notorious psychopath with a penchant for murder. Faced with bureaucratic roadblocks, the frazzled cop decides to risk the safety of his lover (Claudine Auger) to put his nemesis behind bars. In French with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed and includes stills gallery, Alain Delon filmography, and trailer gallery. France 1975 107 mins. DVD $44.95
Fogi Is a Bastard Marcel Gisler Set in Zurich during the early 1970s, this drama follows a gay teenager who falls madly in love with the sexy lead singer of a band called The Minks. He hits the road with the band, working as a roadie and enjoying a passionate fling with the singer, but soon their relationship turns to heartbreak. The selfish, cruel, and addicted rocker begins pimping the love-struck teen out to other men to pay for his drug habit, sending the young man into a spiral of alienation and possible self-destruction. In French with English subtitles. France/Switzerland, 1998, 92 mins. DVD $44.95
For Sale (A Vendre) Laetitia Masson When a beautiful young woman leaves her fiance stranded at the altar, the jilted groom hires a private detective to track her down. Through flashbacks the film follows the woman's nomadic wanderings, which reveal a pattern of relationships as a sort of commerce - including actual prostitution from which her impending marriage offered a possible escape. But as the detective gets closer to the runaway bride, we also see the dissatisfactions in his own life that drive his dedication to his job. Sandrine Kiberlain (Seventh Heaven) and Sergio Castellito star in this enigmatic study of sexuality and self-discovery. In French with English subtitles. France, 1998, 113 min. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
Franck Spadone: Confessions of a Pickpocket Richard Bean Slick and fast-moving, this French noir stars Stanislas Mehrar as the eponymous pickpocket, who's drawn into an obsession with a Parisian stripper (Monica Bellucci) after swiping her wallet. Richard Bean wrote and directed this stylish mix of sultry romance and high-stakes crime. In French with English subtitles. France 1999 89 mins. DVD $44.95
Full Speed Gael Morel Gael Morel, star of Andre Techine's Wild Reeds, wrote and directed this film with similar themes about the conflicting sexual and emotional attachments among a quartet of post-adolescents. Morel's film intelligently shows how unrequited love and personal resentments make permanent impressions on the world view of young adults. "A brilliant, assured coming-of-age story that has everything" (G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Examiner). French with English subtitles. France, 1996, 85 mins. Videocassette $37.95
Furia Alexandre Aja Alexandre Aja's thriller unfolds in a dystopian future where a totalitarian government limits its citizens' freedom of expression. Graffiti artist Theo (Stanislas Merhar) continues to work covertly, however, thereby alienating family members who are loyal to the regime. When Theo meets fellow artist Elia (Marion Cotillard), he jeopardizes his safety by falling in love with the radical activist. "Aja appears to have talent to burn" (Variety). In French with English subtitles. France 1999 99 mins. DVD $44.95
The Game is Over (La Curee) Roger Vadim Jane Fonda stars in this adaptation of the Emile Zola novel, directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim. Fonda plays the much younger, bored wife of a stuffy millionaire who falls in love with her stepson - a love that destroys her life and marriage. Also stars Michel Piccoli and Peter McEnery. In French with English subtitles. France, 1966, 96 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
The Girl from Paris Christian Carion Sandrine, a successful Parisian businesswoman, is unhappy with her life, so she buys a goat farm in the French countryside to start anew. The farm's previous owner, an old man named Adrien, agrees to stay on for a while to insure a smooth transfer, but he only creates more obstacles with his resentment and hostile behavior toward Sandrine, making her work even harder to earn his respect. Nominated for two Cesar Awards. In French with English subtitles. France, 2001, 103 mins. DVD $44.95
Girls Can't Swim Anne-Sophie Birot This deeply felt portrayal of the painful confusion of adolescence follows two 15-year-old girls as they struggle to deal with the changing nature of their friendship, their families, and their emerging sexuality. When her long absent father dies suddenly, young Lise takes refuge in the company of best friend Gwen and her family. But Gwen's rebellious nature and sexual activity eventually causes a rift that leads to shocking consequences. "...captures the deep currents of love and rivalry that make female teen friendships so important and so volatile" (Leslie Camhi, Village Voice). In French with English subtitles. France, 2000, 98 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
Guardian of the Night Jean-Pierre Limosin Jean-Pierre Limosin (Tokyo Eyes) presents this quirky, comic look at the extremes of love. A policeman admires a pretty nurse from afar, finally committing a robbery to get her attention. His illegal pursuits get wilder as his passion gets crazier. Starring Jean-Philippe Ecoffey (Queen Margot), Aurelle Doazan (Camille Claudel) and Vincent Perez in his feature film debut. In French with English subtitles. France, 1986, 100 mins. DVD $44.95
Happily Ever After Yvan Attal Yvann Attal writes, directs, and stars in this acclaimed French comedy--a witty reflection on love and sex. Attal plays a married man with a steady job, a young son, and a loving wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg). But when his marriage hits a rough patch, he embarks on an extramarital affair, thereby tempting his wife to do the same. Attal compares and contrasts his central couple with their middle-aged friends, rendering a panoramic portrait of married life's highs and lows. "Drop everything and see it" (Andrew Sarris, New York Observer). The DVD is letterboxed and includes trailer and stills gallery, interview with Yvan Attal, and deleted scene with director commentary. In French with English subtitles. France 2004 105 mins. DVD $44.95
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (A La Folie...Pas Du Tout) Laetitia Colombani Both sides of an ill-fated love affair are put on display in this romantic thriller, and ambitious debut film, from Laetitia Colombani. Audrey Tautou (Amelie) plays a lovesick art student involved with a married doctor (Samuel Le Bihan). As her affections for the doctor grow more intense and less discreet, his life begins to fall apart. "Wickedly clever" (Rita Kempley, Washington Post). In French with English subtitles. France, 2002, 96 mins. DVD $44.95
Head over Heels Serge Bourguignon Brigitte Bardot stars as a woman, bored with her marriage, who resumes her career as a model. While on assignment in London she meets a man and is flattered by his attention. Also known as Two Weeks in September. From the director of Sundays and Cybele. In French with English subtitles. France, 1967, 89 mins. DVD $37.95
The Horseman on the Roof Jean-Paul Rappeneau In a world ravaged by revolution and a sweeping epidemic, two strangers - a beautiful countess (Juliet Binoche) searching for her family and a handsome renegade (Olivier Martinez) who is being hunted by assassins - discover their only chance for survival is each other. Based on the novel by Jean Giono. "A swashbuckling romance adventure" (Wall Street Journal). In French with English subtitles. France, 1995, 135 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $37.95
Human Resources Laurent Cantet A penetrating film from the director of Time Out about a factory worker father and his son, a Parisian business college student interning in the human resources department at the factory. With a cast primarily made up of real factory workers and an emotional clarity that recalls the best of the Neo-Realists, Laurent charts their distanced relationship, which is strained further when the son's efforts at the company lead to the firing of many employees, including his father. Winner of the Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival. "A valuable, heart-breaking film" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 103 mins. DVD $44.95
I Stand Alone Gaspar Noe Confrontational in every regard, I Stand Alone is a shocking portrait of hatred and the disturbed mind that gives it free reign. An unemployed, 50-year-old butcher finds rage as the only fuel for his existence. His angry, racist, misogynist, homophobic, and class-conscious thoughts are shared in an expletive-laced voice-over narration that runs through most of the film as his pitiful life unravels. His destructive behavior escalates to a terrible act of violence and depraved sexual fantasies about his mute teenaged daughter. "...a bit like watching Taxi Driver written by Dostoyevsky and starring Charles Bukowski at his most rancidly disgusted...The movie blisters with the scalding poignance of a man trying - and failing - to surgically remove his own heart" (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly). In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 93 mins. DVD $44.95
I'm Going Home Manoel de Oliveira An aging Parisian actor (Michel Piccoli) tragically loses his wife, daughter and son-in-law in a car wreck, leading him to care for his orphaned grandson in this touching and often funny film from Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira (Voyage to the Beginning of the World). Just as life begins to return to normal, an American director (John Malkovich) offers the actor a role in a production of James Joyce's Ulysses, which stirs up old emotions. Also stars Catherine Deneuve. "Beautiful...A glorious film full of revelations" (Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader). In French with English subtitles. France/Portugal, 2001, 90 mins. DVD $44.95
In My Skin Marina de Van Frequent Francois Ozon collaborator Marina de Van makes her directorial debut with this dark, disturbing psychological drama about a young woman's fascination with her own body. After seriously scratching her leg on a piece of scrap metal, Esther (de Van) becomes obsessed with the deep, gouging wound and continually picks and irritates it until her entire leg is a mass of scars. Esther soon lets her love and professional life slide into obscurity as her obsessive-compulsive behavior manifests itself further into extreme fits of self-mutilation. In French with English subtitles. France, 2002, 93 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Intimacy Patrice Chereau The first English-language film from French director Patrice Chereau (Queen Margot) is a bold exploration of one man's sexual obsessions and emotional weaknesses. A lonely nightclub worker, Jay (Mark Rylance), and an actress, Claire (Kerry Fox), engage in an impersonal sexual affair. When Jay learns that Claire is married, he strikes up a bizarre friendship with her husband. Winner of the Golden Bear at the 2001 Berlin Film Festival and a Best Actress Award for Fox. "Intelligent and courageous" (Elvis Mitchell, New York Times). France, 2001, 115 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
The Invitation Claude Goretta Claude Goretta (The Lacemaker) takes viewers to a garden party that begins respectfully and falls to pieces as the sun and alcohol take their toll. Removed from their office surroundings, the guests let down their reserve until the butler restores the party and people to their proper order. Both charming and insightful, the film wryly observes the impact that time and space have on ordinary people. "One of the most impressive works to come out of Switzerland" (James Monaco, The Movie Guide). Digitally mastered with new electronic subtitles. French with English subtitles. Switzerland/France, 1973, 100 mins. Videocassette $44.95
Irma Vep Olivier Assayas Olivier Assayas' stylish take on the world of French surrealist film serials stars Hong Kong action film star Maggie Cheung, who, playing herself, is brought to Paris to star in a modern version of the famous silent Feuillade serial, Les Vampires. But Jean-Pierre Leaud, who plays the director of the film, is at the end of his emotional rope, and the production becomes a series of emotional entanglements between its protagonists. Assayas' witty, acute observations of people and places touches on the nature of creation in a film which is a favorite of film festivals worldwide. DVD is widescreen, 1:66.1, stereo, with filmographies. English subtitles. English and French with English subtitles. France, 1996, 97 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
Irreversible Gaspar Noe Gaspar Noe's disturbing thriller shocked festival crowds with its extended rape scene and graphic violence, prompting some audience members to leave the theater or faint. But those who made it to the end experienced an intense, brutal and emotional ride. Monica Bellucci (Tears of the Sun) and Vincent Cassell (Elizabeth) star as a couple who experience an absolutely horrific night together. Opening with the final scene and moving backward, Noe tells the story in reverse chronological order, revealing every atrocity through unflinching, drawn out single shots. "Amazing! A rapt, cinematic force" (Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly). In French with English subtitles. France, 2002, 99 mins. DVD $44.95
It's Easier for a Camel Valeria Bruni Tedeschi Talented french actress Valeria Bruni Tedeschi makes her directorial debut with this heartfelt, semi-autobiographic film about growing up in a privileged Italian family that has immigrated to France. One of three children, Federica (Bruno-Tedeschi) feels lost and disconnected after her family's move. Instead of squaring up to her situation, Federica flees to the fantasy world of her daydreams, where she imagines a life of romance and stardom. But as her family life and professional ambitions begin to unravel, Federica realizes that she must make a signicant change for herself. Featuring stellar performances from Tedeschi and Chiara Mastroianni, "this is a rich comedy that leaves you suspended, with all its hubbub, between wanting to laugh and wanting to cry" (Andrew Sarris, New York Observer). In French with English subtitles. France/Italy, 2003, 110 mins. DVD $44.95
Jeanne and the Perfect Guy Olivier Ducastel/Jacques Martineau Made in the spirit of Jacques Demy's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort, this "bittersweet and ultimately irresistible Parisian confection" (Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com) boldly adds a measure of social realism to the musical form. Viginie Ledoyen (A Single Girl) plays a sexually adventurous young woman who, despite her love for the wild life, is a true romantic at heart, waiting to find Mr. Wonderful. She thinks she has found him when she meets Olivier, played by none other than Demy's son, Mathieu. However the love affair has a stumbling block...Olivier is HIV-positive. Through the songs of Philippe Miller and co-writer/co-director Jacques Martineau, the film makes this unusual blend of the whimsical and harsh reality work. In French with English subtitles. France, 1998, 98 mins. DVD $44.95
Killer Kid Gilles de Maistre Laid (Teufik Jallab), an eleven-year-old orphan from Lebanon, is recruited and trained by a fundamentalist military organization. They send Laid to perform an assassination in Paris, where he meets another young boy who teaches him to enjoy his youth. The new friendship is put in jeopardy, though, when Laid must choose between his new friend and his mission. In French with English subtitles. France, 1994, 95 mins. DVD $44.95
L'Annee Sainte (Pilgrimage to Rome) Jean Girault This was the final film to star Jean Gabin, one of France's most beloved movie actors. Gabin plays an unrepentant gangster who upon release from jail sets off, disguised as a priest, to recover his hidden loot in Rome. International terrorists hijack his plane, causing a small detour on this pilgrimage to the object of his veneration. A.k.a. The Holy Year. In French with English subtitles. France, 1976, 95 mins. DVD $44.95
L'Ennui Cedric Kahn Based on Alberto Moravia's novel La Noia, this smart, sexy film combines a dramatic contemplation of the male mid-life crisis with some unexpected humor and some rather explicit loves scenes. Charles Berling plays a writer and philosophy teacher who becomes increasingly obsessed with a teenaged model who, despite their intimate relationship, seems nearly indifferent to his attention. "...mesmerizes us as we watch as an intelligent, attractive man willingly sows the seeds of his own destruction. One recalls Godard's Contempt (adapted from a Moravia novel) and Visconti's Ossessione (scripted by Moravia)" (Film Society of Lincoln Center). French with English subtitles. France, 1998, 120 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
L'Humanite Bruno Dumont Winner of the Grand Prize of the Jury, Best Actor and Best Actress at Cannes, Bruno Dumont's second feature (after Life of Jesus) is a spare, often ambiguous study in human nature. The story follows an awkward, small town policeman as he investigates the rape and murder of a young girl. His sad life is preoccupied by a sexually active neighbor and her boyfriend, but his seemingly empty daily rituals mask deep pain and dark secrets. "...brave, ambitious, difficult, and highly memorable..." (Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader). In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 148 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
La Balance Bob Swaim Winner of France's Cesar Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress, La Balance is a tough, violent crime drama about a small-time, basically good-natured pimp who is forced to work as an informant by some brutal police officers intent on nailing his former boss. To secure the services of their new stool pigeon, the cops threaten the prostitute he loves. Gritty and emotionally honest, La Balance packs a wallop. Starring Nathalie Baye, Philippe Leotard and Richard Berry. In French with English subtitles. France, 1982, 102 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $37.95
La Bete Walerian Borowczyk The arrival of an American heiress betrothed to the son of a once powerful French family sparks sexual intrigue in the family's crumbling estate. It also reawakens a centuries-old creature driven by insatiable lust and possessing a mighty male member. "La Bete at its best resembles Renoir crossed with Bunuel. At its worst it's like any pay-on-demand porn video available to clients in their hotel rooms" (Alexander Walker, Evening Standard). Banned for 25 years in Great Britain. Letterboxed 3-DVD set contains trailer, stills, biography, interview (2003), "The Making Of" featurette (1974), lobbycards, the rediscovered complete version, and more. In French with optional English subtitles. France 1975 94 mins. DVD $59.95
La Buche Daniele Thompson Screenwriter Daniele Thompson (Cousin, Cousine, Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train) made a fine directorial debut with this comedy about the messy relationships of three sisters who gather for their dysfunctional family Christmas. Starring Emmanuelle Beart (Manon of the Spring), Sabine Azema (Life and Nothing But), and Charlotte Gainsbourg (The Little Thief) who won the Cesar Award for Best Supporting Actress for this film. "...an intricate web of secrets, lies, and revelations...an emotional shape-shifter that captures the manic-depressive intensity of the holiday season" (Amy Taubin, The Village Voice). French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 104 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
La Chamade (Heartbeat) Alain Cavalier A beautiful woman (Catherine Deneuve) must choose between the passionate love of a young penniless writer (Roger Van Hool) or her comfortable life with a wealthy older man (Michel Piccoli) in this romantic drama. The DVD is letterboxed and includes an English language track and Spanish subtitles. In Italian with English subtitles. France/Italy 1969 103 mins. DVD $44.95
La Femme Nikita Luc Besson A stylish punk thriller from director Luc Besson (Subway, The Big Blue) in which a French street junkie (played by the beautiful Anne Parillaud) is arrested and threatened with life imprisonment. She is then allowed to leave if she agrees to go to work for the French secret police as an assassin. This suspenseful film is highlighted by Besson's stylishly decorous visual compositions and innate sense of dramatic pacing. Also starring Tcheky Karyo and Jeanne Moreau. In French with English subtitles. France, 1991, 117 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
La Petite Sirene Roger Andrieux The shocking subject matter of this film - a love affair between a 14 year old girl and a 40 year old man - is handled with a great deal of restraint by French director Roger Andrieux. At first the situation is rather innocent, almost funny. But as the movie progresses things take a dangerous turn, and the climax is jolting. The sex scenes are handled with delicacy; more is suggested than shown. Starring Laura Alexis and Philippe Leotard. French with English subtitles. France, 1985, 104 mins. Videocassette $37.95
La Promesse Jean-Pierre Dardenne/Luc Dardenne Named Best Foreign Language Film by the National Society of Film Critics and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, La Promesse is a moving, authentic drama in the neo-realist tradition. Igor and his father Roger run an apartment scam, renting to illegal immigrants and exploiting them as a work force. Immigrant Amidou is injured when he falls off a scaffold and Igor makes a promise that exposes the different values of Igor, Roger and Amidou's wife, Assita. The film "casts a critical journalistic eye on European multiculturalism and the escalating hostility toward immigrants, especially Africans. What it sees is a Darwinian survival struggle" (Stephen Holden, New York Times). In France with English subtitles. Belgium/France/Luxembourg, 1996, 93 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
La Repetition Catherine Corsini From the director of The New Eve comes this melodrama about two women who mix love, sex and obsession with dangerous results. After ten years apart, childhood friends Louise (Pascale Brussieres) and Natalie (Emmanuelle Beart) are reunited and renew their old friendship. But, as Natalie's love for Louise grows, the relationship morphs into something more erotic and impossible to escape. In French and Danish with English subtitles. Canada/France, 2001, 96 mins. DVD $44.95
La Sentinelle Arnaud Desplechin A medical intern is drawn into a morbid mystery after he finds a mummified human head in his luggage. Choosing to investigate the matter on his own, he discovers a world of international intrigue and becomes the target of the French Secret Service. From the acclaimed director of My Sex Life…Or How I Got into an Argument. Emmanuel Salinger, Thibault de Montalembert and Jean-Louis Richard star. "A surreal psychological thriller…confirms Desplechin's place among the most promising new French directors" (Leslie Camhi, The Village Voice). French with English subtitles. France, 1992, 139 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
La Separation Christian Vincent In this honest, wonderfully acted portrayal of the disintegration of a marriage, Isabelle Huppert and Daniel Auteuil play a couple whose peaceful, domestic relationship is ripped apart when the wife announces she has fallen in love with another man. While the husband's simmering rage finally does erupt, the movie is less about outward anger than the subtle, quiet resentments and dissatisfaction that build up over years and are difficult to articulate. "La Separation shows a hundred small failures of communication that have created the gulf; the small gestures of refusal and disgust, the meaningful looks that are not followed up with words and the negative power that comes from withholding, evading and keeping the lid on" (Stephen Holden, The New York Times). French with English subtitles. France, 1994, 85 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
La Symphonie Pastorale Jean Delannoy Based on Andre Gide's introspective short story. Set in a mountain village, the story follows the spiritual growth and decline of a well-meaning pastor (Pierre Blanchar) and Gertrude (Michele Morgan), a blind orphan he takes into his home. Initially, the minister is guided by Christian principles to raise Gertrude with fatherly love, but as she grows into a beautiful woman, he is driven by a passion that destroys the happiness of his wife and son. Digitally mastered with new electronic subtitles. French with English subtitles. France 1976 105 mins. DVD $44.95
La Vie de Chateau Jean-Paul Rappeneau Catherine Deneuve and Philippe Noiret star in the fine directorial debut of Jean-Paul Rappeneau (The Horseman on the Roof). The leads play a quietly dissatisfied couple whose placid life becomes chaotic when German soldiers occupy their chateau and a Free French agent claims to be in love with Deneuve. Claude Sautet (Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud) contributed to the screenplay. "Rappeneau manages a dose of charm and a sense of the comic which he would seldom repeat" (Faber Companion to Foreign Films). French with English subtitles. DVD is letterboxed, 16x9 widescreen, and includes filmographies and trailers of other Deneuve films. France, 1965, 90 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
La Vie Promise (The Promised Life) Olivier Dahan Acclaimed French actress Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher, Time of the Wolf) is dazzling in the role of Sylvia, a vulnerable prostitute whose routine is radically interrupted by the arrival of her estranged daughter. When a violent confrontation puts the pair on the run, Sylvia finds herself on a journey to repair the broken pieces of her life. The beautiful Huppert shines under the direction of Olivier Dahan, lending credence to the Village Voice's claim that "Huppert is possibly the most indispensable actress in the world". French with English subtitles. France, 2002, 94 mins. DVD $44.95
Late August, Early September Olivier Assayas In this profound drama from the gifted director of Irma Vep and L'Eeau Froide, a group of young Parisians, connected by their friendship with an older writer, grapple with life's difficulties after learning the writer is terminally ill. Confronting relationship complexities, general insecurities and, of course, their fear of mortality, the characters examine their place in the world. Mathieu Amalric, Jeanne Balibar, Francois Cluzet and Virginie Ledoyen star. "...the film is so deeply transformative that it catches the audience in its grip and, slowly but ineluctably, makes us take its lessons to heart" (B. Ruby Rich, San Francisco Bay Guardian). In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 112 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Le Dernier Combat Luc Besson Luc Besson's post-apocalyptic drama uses no dialogue to tell its story. Set sometime in the future, amidst the rubble of a war-devastated world, a nameless man fights a desperate battle for survival. A violent struggle for power and sexual possession takes place as the continuation of the species and the creation of a new society become of paramount importance. France, 1983, 90 mins. DVD $44.95
Le Professionnel Georges Lautner Jean-Paul Belmondo brings his smoldering intensity to the role of a top French spy and assassin, sent on a mission to knock off a foreign dictator. There is a shift in the political climate, however, and Belmondo finds himself betrayed by his own government. Locked away in prison, he manages to escape and heads back to Paris for revenge. Suspenseful action fare aided immensely by Belmondo's presence and a score by Ennio Morricone. In French with English subtitles. France, 1981, 105 mins. DVD $44.95
Le Trou (The Hole) Jacques Becker Jacques Becker's swan song was this masterfully realized, realistic drama about an attempted prison escape and it is considered by some to be the best film of his career. Inspired by a true incident, the film meticulously details the struggle of five convicts to tunnel their way to freedom, while a traitor may be among them. Building its suspense methodically and effectively, Le Trou makes heavy use of non-professional actors, and its realism is heightened by the absence of a musical score. A great work from the director who was the inspirational bridge between Renoir and the New Wave. Also known as The Night Watch. The DVD is a letterboxed Criterion Collection edition, and includes excerpts from 1960 U.S. press book. French with English subtitles. France/Italy, 1960, 123 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Leon, The Professional Luc Besson Two years after it was first released, Luc Besson came out with this extended version of his international hit Leon (released as The Professional in the U.S.). 24 minutes of footage was added to the stylish tale of a hit-man (Jean Reno) who becomes an unlikely friend to a 12-year-old girl (Natalie Portman) as he shoots it out with the police and a maniacal gangster, played in typically unrestrained fashion by Gary Oldman. In English. USA/France, 1994/1996, 132 mins. DVD $37.95
Les Destinees Olivier Assayas Charles Berling (A Matter of Taste, Ridicule), Emmanuelle Beart (Time Regained, Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud), and Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher, La Ceremonie) star in this intimate epic of one man's life and loves from the director of Irma Vep and Late August, Early September. Set among the affluent in early 20th century France, the film follows Berling's character through two marriages and a career change from minister to heading the family's porcelain business. "...master storyteller Assayas focuses on the forward, uncontrollable vicissitudes of life as most of us experience it" (Tom Keogh, Seattle Times). French with English subtitles. France/Switzerland, 2000, 174 mins. DVD $44.95
Les Liaisons Dangereuses Roger Vadim The first - and many say the best - version of Laclos' novel, with the incredible Gerard Philipe playing Valmont and Jeanne Moreau as Madame de Merteuil. Updated to 1959, Roger Vadim's exploration of sexual game playing among the corrupt upper-class of society is particularly distinguished by the outstanding performances of both Philipe and Moreau. Also starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Annette Vadim, with music by Thelonious Monk and Art Blakey. French with English subtitles. France, 1959, 106 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
Life After All Olivier Peray This entry in the Tales from the Orphanage series (which includes the Cannes Award-winner Class Trip and Berlin Film Festival Award-winner Abandoned and Boy's Choir) looks at two brothers - 18-year-old Vincent and 11-year-old Lucien - whose lives are devastatingly altered after their parents are killed in a car crash. Ignoring his grief, Vincent attempts to obtain legal guardianship over his brother, while Lucien slowly drifts into an imaginary make-believe world where his parents are still alive. Directed by Cesar Award-winner Olivier Peray. In French with English subtitles. France, 2003, 90 mins. DVD $44.95
Life of Jesus Bruno Dumont Bruno Dumont's impressive debut feature depicts the often brutal and empty lives of alienated teenagers in Flanders. Filled with anger and ashamed of his epilepsy, working class Freddy manages to find some peace with his beautiful girlfriend, until a young Arab boy attracts her attention. With the one satisfying aspect of his life taken away, Freddy's life takes a violent and tragic turn. The film's "precise rhythms and spare storytelling build to a shattering, and beautiful, final scene" (Robert Horton, Film Comment). Winner of the Prix Jean Vigo for Best First Feature at the Cannes Film festival and the FIPRESCI International Critic's Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival. French with English subtitles. France, 1996, 96 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
Like a Fish Out of Water Herve Hadmar Tcheky Karyo (Full Moon in Paris, La Femme Nikita) and Monica Bellucci (Malena) star in this sleek, comic crime film about an innocent who gets involved with a femme fatale and two criminals planning to steal a rare and valuable fish from a Turkish gangster. In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 90 mins. DVD $44.95
Life Upside Down Alain Jessua This Winner of the Best First Film Award at the Venice Film Festival tells the story of a successful real estate developer (Charles Denner) who withdraws from his perfect life. Between his flighty wife and a round of meaningless events his growing detachment may seem insane at first, but it could also be the only sensible solution. French with English subtitles. France 1965 115 mins. Videocassette $44.95
The Living Dead Girl Jean Rollin Heavily censored upon its initial release, this is the rarely seen, uncut version of one of Jean Rollin's more fascinating "art of gore" features. A strangely tragic tone is present even in the more lurid scenes of this tale of a resurrected girl with a hunger for blood. "Like Daughters of Darkness...it's a film that combines savage bloodletting and dreamy lyricism" (Peter Tombs, Immoral Tales). Remastered from the original negative, includes theatrical trailers. In French with English subtitles. France 1982 91 mins. DVD $44.95
Look at Me Agnes Jaoui Agnes Jaoui's second film follows a group of Parisians who balance their affection and friendship with fierce ambition and a willingness to betray one another to get what they want. At the center of the struggle is Lolita (Marilou Berry), the daughter of a successful literary editor (Jean-Pierre Bacri). The self-conscious Lolita seeks attention from two men, but suspects that they're more interested in her father than they are in her. A ripe and exacting comedy, the film earned the prize for Best Screenplay at Cannes. The DVD is letterboxed and includes 8 deleted scenes, making-of featurette, trailers, English and Spanish subtitle options, and 5.1 sound. In French with English subtitles. France 2004 110 mins. DVD $44.95
Loulou Maurice Pialat French film icons Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Huppert star in this acclaimed film by Maurice Pialat. Huppert plays Nelly, a married woman who meets Loulou (Depardieu), a charming, leather-jacketed stud in a crowded Paris disco. She can't resist his lustful style and returns home with him. Loulou turns out to be as passionate in bed as on the dance floor, and they embark on a free-wheeling relationship that is a mixture of unabashed eroticism and authentic romance. French with English subtitles. France, 1980, 110 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
Love Bites Antoine de Caunes A Parisian social climber (Guilliaume Canet) spends his cash on fancy clothes and popular nightclubs, leaving him broke when it comes time to take care of his day-to-day needs. Forced to bed down at the local gym, the frustrated narcissist takes a dangerous job with a wealthy club owner. His mission: to track down a beautiful, elusive woman (Asia Argento) with a penchant for biting the necks of her lovers. With its glossy euro style and creepy plot twists, Antoine de Caunes's film is a flashy modern vampire flick. Includes making-of featurette, director commentary, photo gallery, and trailer. In French with English subtitles. France 2005 95 mins. DVD $37.95
Love, etc. Marion Vernoux Shy Marie and Benoit meet through a personal ad, hit it off and eventually marry. But on the day of their wedding, Benoit's best friend Pierre realizes that he is also in love with Marie and that she is attracted to him. Rather than take the typically melodramatic approach to the love triangle, this film maturely addresses the emotional complexities and conflicting motivations of the characters. "...reminiscent of Truffaut's 1961 classic Jules & Jim..." (The New York Times). In French with English subtitles. France, 1996, 105 mins. DVD $37.95
Love Rites Walerian Borowczyk The final film by the talented and imaginative Polish auteur Walerian Borowczyk (La Bete, Immoral Tales), this surreal erotic drama stars Mathieu Carriere as Hugo Arnold, a young hedonist who becomes obsessed with a sultry Parisian prostitute named Myriam (Marina Pierro). After following her to a borrowed flat, Arnold is allowed to act out his erotic fantasies on the young woman, but his actions come at a terrible price when Myriam claims control of his body and soul. Moody and macabre, the film co-stars Josy Bernard and Isabelle Tinard. The DVD is letterboxed and includes both the complete version and a director's approved cut of the film. In French with English subtitles. France 1989 98 mins. DVD $44.95
The Lover Jean-Jacques Annaud Jean-Jacques Annaud adapts Marguerite Duras' autobiographical novel L'Amant: political, social and class tensions and sexual role-playing refracted through an erotic relationship between a beautiful French girl (Jane March) and her older, elegant, aristocratic Chinese lover (Tony Leung). The film is set in French-occupied Indochina during the 1920s. This is the uncut, unrated European version that was initially rated NC-17. Original English dialogue. France/Great Britain, 1991, 113 mins. DVD $37.95
The Lovers on the Bridge (Les Amants du Pont-Neuf) Leos Carax One of the most original and exhilarating works of recent cinema, Les Amants du Pont-Neuf is as daring as it is dazzling--taking the viewer from gritty, docudrama-styled depictions of homeless life to the most whimsical moments of romantic fantasy. Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant star as two unlikely lovers who celebrate and suffer with equal abandon. Director Leos Carax's massive set, duplicating the famous Pont Neuf and much of its surroundings, helped make this one of the most expensive films in French history, but the movie is ultimately more intimate than epic. "... could be the great urban expressionist fantasy of the 90s: like Sunrise and Lonesome in the '20s and Playtime and Alphaville in the '60s" (Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader). In French with English subtitles. France 1991 126 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
Lumumba Raoul Peck This gripping drama depicts the true story of Patrice Emery Lumumba, the first leader of an independent Congo, whose vision of a united Africa earned him loyal allies at home and powerful enemies abroad. The movie details how the U.S. government, through the C.I.A., conspired with Belgium to have Lumumba assassinated to protect business and Cold War power interests. "Mr. Peck makes no plea for crocodile tears; his ambitions are as wide and encompassing as those of his subject...[Eriq] Ebouaney's performance is a muscular assertion of willfulness" (Elvis Mitchell, New York Times). The DVD is letterboxed, and includes excerpts from Peck's 1991 documentary, Lumumba: Prophet of Death; Congo historical background and timeline; production notes; filmographies; and original theatrical trailer. French with English subtitles. France/Belgium/Germany/Haiti, 2000, 115 mins. DVD $44.95
Ma Vie en Rose Alain Berliner Ludovic is a seven-year-old boy who dresses, acts like and is convinced he's a girl, and wants to marry his next door neighbor and best friend Jerome - who also happens to be the son of his father's boss. For Ludovic, nothing is more natural than to change his gender, and he truly believes a miracle will happen. But as the innocent Ludovic tries to set things right, he must deal with the gay phobias, fears and prejudices of the adult world. With a wonderful, self-possessed performance by 11-year-old Georges du Fresne. Winner of The Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. "Deft and wildly colorful" (Janet Maslin, The New York Times). France/Belgium/Great Britain, 1997, 89 mins. DVD $44.95
Mademoiselle Tony Richardson Tony Richardson's film about sexual obsession is based on a screenplay by Jean Genet and Marguerite Duras. Set in a remote French village, the mayor, chief of police and a virginal school teacher played by Jeanne Moreau are unsettled by the appearance of an Italian guest worker and his teenage son. Moreau's sexual longing for the stranger sets in motion a dark menage of betrayal. With Ettore Manni, Keith Skinner and Umberto Orsini. The film was shot in both French and English versions. The DVD is in French with English subtitles, and includes optional Spanish and French subtitles. France/Great Britain 1966 105 mins. DVD $37.95
Marius and Jeannette Robert Guediguian Ariane Ascaride won the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her performance in this romantic drama set among the struggling working class of France, and the film was also nominated for Cesars for Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Pascale Roberts), Best Supporting Actor (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) and Best Original Screenplay. "Warm-hearted...uplifting. It radiates a glow" (Stephen Holden, The New York Times). French with English subtitles. France, 1997, 105 mins. Videocassette $44.95
Marquis Henri Xhonneux An audacious rendering of the political, social and sexual manners of the ancien regime and the class division and social disruption that produced the French Revolution. Adapted from the writings of the Marquis de Sade, Henri Xhonneux and Roland Topor's elegantly witty film uses elaborate puppets in human form to act out erotic and sexual decadence. "Elegantly naughty with wry, intellectual satire. The film plays out all manner of human desire" (J. Hoberman). French with English subtitles. France 1989 85 mins. Videocassette $44.95
A Matter of Taste Bernard Rapp An elegant but scheming business mogul hires a handsome young waiter to be his personal food taster. The strange job becomes more odd and the employer seemingly more sinister, leading the new employee to drastic measures. "This deliciously nasty French deconstruction of male pecking orders, directed by Bernard Rapp, should send a pleasant shiver down the spine of anyone who has ever obsessed about wanting to please a devious and manipulative boss" (Stephen Holden, New York Times). Starring Bernard Giraudeau (Water Drops on Burning Rocks) and Jean-Pierre Lorit (Kieslowski's Red). In French with English subtitles. France, 2000, 90 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
Merci Docteur Rey! Andrew Litvack A loopy French farce from Merchant Ivory productions, this star-studded outing follows the comic plight of a young gay man (Stanislas Merhar) trying to keep his sexuality under wraps from his opera-diva mother (Dianne Wiest). Director Andrew Litvack tosses a murder, a long-lost father, and an enigmatically odd voice-over actress (Jane Birken) into this madcap ode to film and celebrity. Featuring a slew of cameos, including Simon Callow, Vanessa Redgrave, Bulle Ogier, and Jerry Hall. "If it were a drink, it would be pink champagne" (Le Monde). The DVD is letterboxed and includes 5.1 sound and Spanish subtitle options. In French with English subtitles. France 2002 91 mins. DVD $44.95
Mina Tannenbaum Martine Dugowson Mousy, introspective Mina and overweight, outgoing Ethel meet at the age of seven, and for the next 25 years their lives are intertwined. They survive adolescence - the humiliations of an ugly duckling childhood, their guilt-happy Jewish mothers - and emerge, Mina as a star of the Paris art world and Ethel as a self-determined woman. Romane Bohringer and Elsa Zylberstein deliver remarkable performances in a powerful, emotional work called the "best foreign film of the year" by the Boston Society of Film Critics. French with English subtitles. France, 1993, 128 mins. Videocassette $44.95
Mondo Tony Gatlif The director of the widely acclaimed Latcho Drom and Gadjo Dilo again turns to gypsy life for this beautiful, poetic film about a ten-year-old boy who appears, seemingly out of nowhere, on the streets on Nice. He meets a wise fisherman, a magician who takes him on as an assistant, a Vietnamese woman who offers him shelter, and others who show him the joy of life in spite of the hardships he endures. The cast is comprised of non-professionals, giving the film an authentic and intimate tone. Based on a story by Jean-Marie Le Clezio. "Magical…an absolute stunner" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). French with English subtitles. France, 1996, 80 mins. Videocassette $44.95
Monsieur Ibrahim Francois Dupeyron Omar Sharif breaks his self-imposed exile from acting to star as an elderly Muslim widower who develops a friendship with a young Jewish teenager (Pierre Boulanger). Set amongst the crowded, working-class backstreets of Paris in the early 1960s, this coming-of-age tale follows the development of their warm relationship, which sees the boy finding a much-needed father figure in Ibrahim. The boy, in turn, revitalizes Ibrahim with a renewed love of life. "...a small film with an unabashed, even old-fashioned but timeless humanist spirit - and a triumphant portrayal by a veteran star that is likely to be regarded as one of the year's best" (Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times). In French with English subtitles. France, 2003, 94 mins. DVD $44.95
The Mother and the Whore Jean Eustache Epic in length but intimate in scale, Jean Eustache's best-known work epitomizes the narrative and cinematic liberty of the French New Wave. Jean-Pierre Leaud stars as a man torn between an older woman who cares for and supports him and the young, promiscuous nurse he sees on the side. An often funny and intricately detailed portrayal of sexual insecurities, and a reminder of the great talent Eustache demonstrated during his tragically short career. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and International Critics Prize at Cannes. French with English subtitles. France 1973 219 mins. Videocassette $44.95
Murderous Maids Jean-Pierre Denis Two young sisters kill the mother and daughter who employ them as maids in this tragic story based on 1933's infamous Papin murder case. With a relationship that transcends sisterly love into incest, the girls react to the emotional isolation, jealously and resentment in their lives by lashing out and committing murder. Directed by Jean-Pierre Denis (Adrien's Story). "Troubling and powerful" (Michael O'Sullivan, Washingon Post). In French with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes interviews; the original French and English language trailers; a 1933 "Vanity Fair" article recounting the actual events; vintage photos from newspapers; and more. France, 2000, 92 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
My Father and I Anne Fontaine In this reflective drama from Anne Fontaine (Dry Cleaning), a shallow, wealthy doctor (Charles Berling) confronts his strained familial past and his troubled marriage upon the return of his father (Michel Bouquet), who abandoned his family when his children were young, only to return decades later. The father's absence had a profound effect upon the family, creating an uneasy air of uncertainty and distance that bled into the adult life of each. Also released as How I Killed My Father (Comment J'ai Tu Mon Pere). Also stars Stephane Guillon, Natacha Regnier and Amira Casar. In French with English subtitles. France/Spain, 2001, 94 mins. Videocassette $44.95 DVD $44.95
My Father's Glory Yves Robert An 11-year-old boy spends an enchanting summer in the rugged French countryside with his family. The experience becomes a turning point in his young life and cements his relationship with his father. From the novel by Marcel Pagnol, this luminous film stars Philippe Caubere and Nathalie Roussel. In French with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed, 16x9 widescreen, and includes optional English dubbed audio, optional French and Spanish subtitles, and original theatrical trailer. France, 1990, 110 mins. DVD $37.95
My Father, My Mother, My Brothers and My Sisters Charlotte de Turckheim Victoria Abril tops the cast of this quirky comedy about family confusion. Abril is Anne, a free spirit who has had three children by three different men. The children and their fathers don't know each other, but when they all check into the same Mexican hotel, a most unusual sort of reunion seems a sure thing. Also starring Alain Bashung and Charlotte de Turckheim. De Turckheim also made her directorial debut with this film. In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 95 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
My Favorite Season (Ma Saison Preferee) Andre Techine Techine's fascinating, dark and somber story of a middle-aged brother and sister (Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Auteuil), a provincial lawyer and a skilled surgeon, respectively, who begin to come to terms with what they have become professionally and personally when their aging mother (Marthe Villalonge) begins to disintegrate after a stroke. Techine himself describes Ma Saison Preferee as a film "about individuality and the frigidity of the modern world." French with English subtitles. France, 1993, 124 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $37.95
My Mother's Castle Yves Robert In the companion film to My Father's Glory, a boy continues his love affair with the wild country of southern France. Through frequent family visits to their summer home, he learns to love and understand his mother's true nature. The heartfelt conclusion to the story by Marcel Pagnol. French with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed, 16x9 widescreen, and includes optional English dubbed audio, optional French and Spanish subtitles, and original theatrical trailer. France, 1990, 99 mins. DVD $37.95
My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days Andrzej Zulawski French singing sensation Jacques Dutronc stars in a tender, melancholy drama about the romance that develops between a terminally ill man (Dutronc) and a tortured actress (Sophie Marceau). Haunted by their respective pasts, the couple finds comfort in each other's arms. In French with English subtitles. France 1989 110 mins. DVD $44.95
Nearest to Heaven Tonie Marshall In Tonie Marshall's romantic drama, a successful French author (Catherine Deneuve) receives a mysterious message telling her to travel to the United States in order to be reunited with a former lover. Instead, her journey brings her into contact with a charming male photographer (William Hurt) who unexpectedly wins her affection. Marshall's film is a sly hommage to An Affair to Remember, and a screening of that film also figures prominently in the plot. In French with English subtitles. France, 2002, 96 mins. DVD $44.95
The New Eve Catherine Corsini Camille, a reckless libertine, lives a steady routine of hard partying and sexual abandon, until she falls in love with a married man with a family and a career as an idealistic political activist. Determined to have him, Camille invades his life without regard to consequences. An honest, often darkly humorous view of conflicting values and the selfishness of romance. "As Camille, Karin Viard gives a brilliant performance that's as unguarded as they come" (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle). In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 94 mins. Videocassette $37.95 DVD $44.95
No Rest for the Brave Alain Guiraudie A surreal trip from director Alain Guiraudie about a young man who dreams that he will die if he ever falls asleep again. His friend is worried for his health, and equally concerned that he might be responsible for a violent massacre. Hopping from scene to scene with spontaneous dream-logic, Guiraudie's astoundingly inventive work is "a volatile shape-shifter that utterly defies taxonomy" (Dennis Lim, Village Voice). In French with English subtitles. France, 2003, 104 mins. DVD $44.95
Overseas Brigitte Rouan A stylistically audacious first feature by the talented French actress Brigitte Rouan. Set in the late 40s, Overseas traces that opposite fortunes of three wealthy sisters living in French occupied North Africa at the onset of the Algerian war. With Nicole Garcia, Rouan, Marianne Basler and Philippe Galland. France, 1990, 98 mins. Videocassette $37.95
The Pact of Silence Graham Guit In this thriller, actress Elodie Bouchez puts in double-time as twins whose deadly secret threatens a priest (Gerard Depardieu). A troubled young nun, Sarah (Bouchez), is brought to a hospital where a physician/priest (Depardieu) becomes obsessed with helping her. He sets out to find the truth through the nun's twin sister, Gaelle, but quickly experiences a crisis of faith when his forbidden desire for Gaelle begins to cloud his judgment. In French with English subtitles, DVD includes a commentary by actress Elodie Bouchez. France, 2003, 89 mins. DVD $44.95
Paris Vu Par (Six in Paris) This omnibus film from the major figures of the French New Wave (Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol, Eric Rohmer, Jean Douchet, Jean Rouch and Jean-Daniel Pollet) offers a series of witty, wry vignettes about contemporary Paris. Godard's work, Une Femme Est une Femme, is about a young woman who dispatches letters to her two lovers and is concerned she mixed up the contents. With Joanna Shimkus, Nadine Ballot, Barbet Schroeder, Micheline Dax, Claude Melki, Chabrol and Stephane Audran. French with English subtitles. France, 1964, 98 mins. 1964. Videocassette $37.95
Pepe le Moko Julien Duvivier A milestone of French cinema with a superior performance by Jean Gabin as Pepe le Moko, a Parisian gangster hiding out in the Algerian Casbah. He is safe from the police until passion tempts him to risk leaving the confining sanctuary. "...one of the most exciting and moving films I can remember seeing," said the great writer Graham Greene in The Spectator. "...I cannot remember one which has succeeded so admirably in raising the thriller to a poetic level." French with English subtitles. The DVD is a Criterion Collection Edition, and includes 1962 interview with Julien Duvivier, excerpts from the 1978 TV documentary Remembering Jean Gabin, excerpts from a BFI Classics study of the film, theatrical trailer, and more. France, 1936, 95 mins. DVD $44.95
Petits Freres Jacques Doillon This compelling feature by the director of Ponette portrays the struggles and conflicts of underprivileged French youth. A young girl runs away from her embattled home life and finds an uneasy solidarity with some other streetwise kids. "...an uncompromising picture of lives limited by poverty and indifference" (Daniel Eagan, Film Journal International). In French with English subtitles. France, 1999, 92 mins. DVD $44.95
The Piano Teacher Michael Haneke Michael Haneke's challenging adaptation of Elfriede Jelinek's novel won honors for Best Actress (Isabelle Huppert), Best Actor (Benoit Magimel) and the Grand Prize o