20 best French films of all time: from Bresson to Besson

20. A toy

Le Jouet

• France, 1976.
• Comedy, drama.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

The selection should start with one of the best roles of the comedian Pierre Richard, who is loved not only at home, but also in other countries, including Russia.

Unlucky journalist François Perrin sets out to report on a toy store. Exactly at the same time, the millionaire, who owns both the store and the newspaper where the hero works, comes to the same place to choose a new toy for his son. But the capricious child likes Perrin himself. He becomes the boy's favorite toy, and soon - his only friend.

The film's director Francis Weber worked with the famous actor, even when he was a screenwriter of the film "Tall Blonde in a Black Boot". Of course, he called Richard into his debut film. And then Gerard Depardieu joined the team: together they released three films, including the legendary "Unlucky".

19. Professional

Le Professionnel

• France, 1981.
• Drama, action, crime.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Secret agent Josselin Beaumont is tasked with assassinating the President of the African Republic. But suddenly, relations between states change and the hero is handed over to the authorities, after which he ends up in hard labor. Having escaped, Beaumont decides to complete the task, and at the same time take revenge on the traitors.

In this film, the main role was played by another favorite of the audience - Jean-Paul Belmondo. And with all the variety of roles, many for years remembered him precisely in the image of the principled agent of Beaumont. Interestingly, in the original book Death of a Wounded Thin-Skinned Beast by Patrick Alexander, on which the film was filmed, this character was an Englishman. Well, the audience fell in love even more music Ennio Morricone, which, by the way, he wrote long before the filming of "The Professional".

18. Mad Pierrot

Pierrot le fou

• France, Italy, 1965.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Ferdinand Griffon is married to a wealthy woman whom he does not love too much, and is already tired of a wealthy, but monotonous life. Once a girl Marianna comes to their house to look after the children. Griffon recognizes her as his old acquaintance, and they decide to drop everything and run away somewhere. Here are just behind the girl's back problems with mafia.

Another role of Jean-Paul Belmondo, only much younger. And the director and scriptwriter of this film was the great Jean-Luc Godard - one of the the founders of the French new wave in cinema, which made this art form more daring and modern. Belmondo starred with the director four times, and it was "Mad Pierrot" that became their last collaboration.

17. Contempt

Le Mépris

• France, Italy, 1963.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Screenwriter Paul Javal decides to make money by joining the team making an American film based on Homer's Odyssey. To impress director, he introduces him to his beautiful wife, Camilla. But she feels that her husband is trying to take advantage of her, and responds with contempt.

Many feared that, having received a large budget for his film and the star of Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Luc Godard would betray the ideals of a new wave and go into a commercial channel. However, this picture, on the contrary, became a vivid criticism of operational cinema and the desire for commercial success.

16. Pickpocket

Pickpocket

• France, 1959.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 76 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.7.

Michelle becomes a pickpocket out of boredom. Soon he is caught by the police, but it is impossible to put the young man in prison - there is no evidence. Then Michelle realizes that theft is his way of expressing himself. And he decides to learn the skill from a professional.

Robert Bresson, the author of this film, is an acclaimed classic and one of the greatest directors of all time. His minimalistic style, clear connection of certain sounds with characters and frequent work with non-professional actors influenced the work of many directors: from Andrei Tarkovsky to Jim Jarmusch. And the plot of The Pickpocket itself is very similar to the ideas of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.

15. Cherbourg umbrellas

Les Parapluies de Cherbourg

• France, Germany, 1964.
• Drama, musical.
• Duration: 91 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.8.

Auto mechanic Guy is in love with a young umbrella saleswoman Genevieve. But soon they have to part - the young man is taken into the army and sent to Algeria. The heroes promise not to forget each other. But gradually, letters from Guy come less and less, and Genevieve finds out that she is pregnant.

In one of the greatest musicals there is not a single spoken dialogue at all times. The heroes only sing to the magnificent music of Michel Legrand. A few years later, director Jacques Demy again invited the composer to cooperate, as well as Catherine Deneuve, who played the main role. And together they created another musical film - "Girls from Rochefort".

14. Entertainment time

Playtime

• France, Italy, 1967.
• Comedy.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.9.

The film, consisting of six separate scenes, tells the story of Hulot, who first gets lost at the airport, and then tries to understand the life of modern Paris. He collides with the group constantly American tourists led by Barbara, also lost in the metropolis.

The film was directed by Jacques Tati, who himself played the main role. And for the most part, everything shown in the film is an improvisation of the film crew. This is how the authors wanted to show the vanity and ugliness of modern megacities. Interestingly, for some of the filming, instead of real scenery, huge photographs were used.

13. Artist

The artist

• France, Belgium, 2011.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.9.

The action takes place in the mid-twenties of the XX century. Silent movies are a thing of the past, but actor George Valentine still struggles to adapt to the changes. He is helped by the extra Pippi Miller, who is madly in love with her idol.

Little-known French director Michel Hazanavicius made a splash with his film in 2011. Black and white silent painting took the main award at the Oscar, bypassing the works Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.

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12. On the last breath

À bout de souffle

• France, 1960.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.9.

Michel Poicard steals expensive cars, and with the proceeds he spends his life. After accidentally killing a police officer, he decides to hide with his girlfriend. She understands that the good will not end, but she cannot overcome the attraction to the criminal.

Godard's debut picture and Belmondo's first notable role made a splash. "In the Last Breath" is still considered one of the iconic films in the entire history of world cinema. Young Godard included in his work many quotes from the classics noir, but in the end he created a tape, which was then referred to by dozens of directors.

11. Rules of the game

La Règle du jeu

• France, 1939.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

Aviator André Jurier took the longest flight to prove his love for Christine. However, the girl does not reciprocate and prepares to bring her husband to the public. He, in turn, tries to break up with his mistress. And it all ends with unexpected news: Andre's best friend, it turns out, is also in love with Christine. All of them will have to meet in a country house and find out the relationship.

A film by Jean Renoir (son of the famous artist Auguste Renoir) was initially received ambiguously: the public could not forgive the director for the irony of high society. However, over time, the perception of the picture has changed a lot. It was only during the Second World War that the original film was destroyed. The painting was restored in 1959, collecting the remaining negatives, working materials with different takes and cut scenes.

10. American night

La Nuit américaine

• France, Italy, 1973.
• Drama, melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

Director Ferrand is working on Meet Pamela in Nice. For a month and a half of filming, there are many conflicts between the participants in the process. Sometimes this is due to the usual fatigue, and sometimes to the deep feelings of the workers. But they all have one main goal: to make a film. And the director is always at the head of the process.

The film by the legendary François Truffaut, who not only directed, wrote and produced, but also played Ferrand himself, is often called the best confession of love for cinema. The author showed that a whole world appears on the set, in which many people live. As a result, the painting took “Oscar"In the category" Best Foreign Language Film ".

9. Cleo 5 to 7

Cléo de 5 à 7

• France, Italy, 1962.
• Drama, comedy, music.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

Aspiring singer Cleo is waiting for the result of a medical examination and comes to fortune teller. The cards predict her imminent death. Upset, Cleo sets off to wander around the city, meeting her old friends, and at the same time making new acquaintances.

The title of Agnes Varda's painting is telling: the action unfolds in about a two-hour interval. The plot of "Cleo from 5 to 7" is as simple as possible: it is just a small excerpt from the everyday life of different people. That is why there are a lot of background lines in the picture, which hardly affect the main action, but add atmosphere.

8. Big walk

La Grande Vadrouille

• France, Great Britain, 1966.
• Comedy, military.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

This selection would be incomplete without films with great comedians Louis de Funes and Bourville. The director of the film "Big Walk" Gerard Ury had already worked with the aforementioned couple in the comedy "Razinya", and then repeatedly filmed them separately.

An English bomber on a mission during World War II was hit by the Germans. The pilots agree to meet in a Turkish bath and leave the plane. One of them falls on the house where the local painter works, the second ends up in the Paris Opera, and the third ends up in the zoo. Now the heroes need to enlist the support of the residents they meet so as not to get caught by the Germans.

"The Great Walk" is generally recognized as one of the best works of de Funes, although it is quite possible to make a separate rating from his famous films. And the picture remained the highest grossing film in France for more than 30 years, until Titanic came out. James Cameron.

7. Spacesuit and butterfly

Le Scaphandre et le Papillon

• France, USA, 2007.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

After a stroke, ELLE France editor Jean-Dominique Boby was completely paralyzed. However, even in this state, he managed to write a whole book. Boby could only blink his left eye, but a special alphabet was developed for him, and he began to dictate to his assistant, talking about his feelings and imaginary worlds.

An incredibly moving picture based on a true story. Jean-Dominique Bobi really wrote the book "The Spacesuit and the Butterfly", which was used for the film. The autobiography has sold millions of copies around the world, and the film adaptation took the main prize. Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globes and Cesar.

6. Four hundred strokes

Les Quatre Cents Coups

• France, 1959.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.1.

Young Antoine Doinel is left to himself most of the time. The mother is engaged in her personal life, the stepfather does not want to share his opinion, and the teacher only punishes. As a result, the child commits many offenses and runs away from home.

In the plot of the picture, it is easy to find similarities with the biography of its author François Truffaut, for whom she made his debut in a big movie. It was not for nothing that the director made Antoine Doinel his alter ego and then made three more films about him. At one time, Akira Kurosawa, Jean Cocteau, Jean-Luc Godard and many other celebrities admired Truffaut's innovative approach in this film. And now "Four hundred strokes" are studied in film schools as one of the brightest examples of great film language.

5. The passion of Jeanne d'Arc

La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc

• France, 1928.
• Drama, historical.
• Duration: 82 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.1.

The film summarizes the trial of the legendary Jeanne d'Arc. The Inquisition tortures her and demands to confess to witchcraft. But Jeanne is adamant even in the face of fear of public execution.

Dane director Karl Theodor Dreyer's silent film is still considered one of the greatest creations cinematography. The actors were filmed without makeup, and an almost real city was built as scenery. At the same time, the author tried to show close-ups as much as possible, and the emotions of actress Rene Falconetti are called “perhaps the brightest work in cinema of all time”.

4. Amelie

Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain

• France, Germany, 2001.
• Comedy, melodrama.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.3.

From the childhood Amelie preferred to live in her fictional world and communicate with an imaginary friend - a crocodile. And even when the girl grew up, she did not lose her optimism. Amelie decided to help people, giving them all sorts of small joys. And then I fell in love.

Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet dreamed of starring Emily Watson. Probably, the name of the film comes from her name. But the actress was busy, and even did not speak French. And then the director found the growing popularity of Audrey Tautou, who became the ideal Amelie. After the release of the film, real fan-clubs of this heroine were even formed in different countries.

3. Raik's children

Les enfants du paradis

• France, 1945.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 190 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.4.

At the beginning of the 20th century, two actors met in the Parisian pantomime theater: Baptiste and Frederic. Both of them fall in love with the beautiful Garanz, but over time, fate divorces the heroes. Having met in a few years, they still have to sort out their relationship.

The film, based on the script of the famous poet Jacques Prevert, was filmed during the German occupation, and even members of the French resistance appeared in it. The authors of Children of the Raik were later criticized for not reflecting in the plot. military theme. But in fact, the film tells about things that are relevant at all times.

2. Leon

Léon

• France, 1994.
• Drama, action, crime.
• Duration: 133 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.5.

The whole family of young Matilda was shot by the police. And then the girl went to her neighbor - the unsociable killer Leon. He took Matilda into his care and for the first time in his life felt affection for someone. Meanwhile, the girl decides to take revenge on the killers.

Prior to that, director Luc Besson had already worked with Jean Reno, but it was "Leon" that brought his acting career to a new level. Well, for young Natalie Portman, the image of Matilda became the first and immediately starring role. The picture invariably falls into the ratings of the best films of all time and is confidently in the top thirty on IMDb.

1. 1+1

Intouchables

• France, 2011.
• Drama, comedy, biography.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.5.

After a paragliding accident, the wealthy aristocrat Philip was paralyzed. He hires a dark-skinned Driss as his assistant, although it seems that he is completely unsuitable for such a job. But only a new friend helps Philip to feel alive again.

The story of this picture is somewhat similar to "Spacesuit and Butterfly" - its life-affirming and very emotional plot is also based on real events. And what is even more interesting, over time, "1 + 1" (in the original - "The Untouchables") has turned into a global franchise: their versions of the film were shot in the USA, India and Argentina.

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What French films do you like? Share your recommendations in the comments.