Alliance Française French Film Festival

It’s that time of year when Sydney is spoilt for choice for events and cultural activities. With the Chinese New Year festivities over and Mardi Gras season about to finish, what’s next on the horizon?

From March 3rd till 22nd, the 2015 Alliance Française French Film Festival will rhapsodize cinema patrons for it’s twenty sixth year, with a stellar line up of the best of French Cinema, most playing for the first time on Australian Cinema screens.

Launching the Festival at Gala Opening Nights will be Gemma Bovery, a beguiling romantic comedy-drama from renowned director Anne Fontaine, which had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Opening at Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona and the Hayden Orpheum, enjoy drinks and live entertainment followed by the Première screening.

Starring Fabrice Luchini alongside Gemma Arterton, Gemma Bovery, tells the story of an English couple named Gemma & Charles Bovery (Arterton and Jason Flemyng) who move to a small, picturesque town in Normandy. Martin Joubert (Luchini), Local baker and ex-Parisian hipster with a passion for Gustave Flaubert can’t believe that here are two real-life figures who seem to be replicating the behaviour of his favourite fictional characters, right before his eyes – and becomes a man obsessed. Balancing real sensuality and hilarious one-liners, this is an endearing film about the dangers of stirring passions, with Arterton radiant as the bored housewife and Luchini delightful in the role of the comically obsessed baker.

One of the most anticipated films of the festival is Volker Schlöndorff’s Diplomacy. Based on Cyril Gély’s 2011 stage show, the majority of the film is an intense dialogue between two men for the fate of Paris. The German military governor Dietrich von Choltitz (Niels Arestrup), determined to follow orders to destroy Paris on the German retreat, and the Finnish Consul-General, Raoul Nordling (André Dussollier), determined to save the city of light. In the end it came dangerously close to losing Notre Dame, The Louvre, The Eifel Tower and countless Parisian citizens. Sanity would win over insanity, but at a cost.

Saint Laurent, Bertrand Bonello’s latest film and France’s entry in to the 2015 Academy Awards is essentially a love story between Yves Saint Laurent (Gaspard Ulliel) and his partner Pierre Bergé (Jérémie Renier). Set across the course of Yves Saint Laurent prodigious career. The dresses are stunning and seeing the evolution of the artist was fascinating and Ulliel’s portrayal of the brilliant but haunted artist and Renier his loving and long suffering partner are deeply moving, you might want to bring tissues to this one.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter, look out for Babysitting, a comedy in the style of The Hangover, Franck (Philippe Lacheau) has to babysit his boss’s son – the same night his friends throw him the party to end all parties! Interestingly, the film is told through ‘found footage’ as the police try and reconstruct what happened. Another fun one for the whole family is Asterix – The Mansions Of The Gods. Since they cannot defeat Asterix, Obelix and friends by force, the Romans decide to surround their quaint village with modern mansions in an attempt to seduce everyone outside the gates with a new life of luxury. Based on one of the best books in the legendary series by Goscinny and Uderzo, there’s plenty of laughs to be had for young and older film goers alike.

Another highlight of the festival will be the festival bar, Le Rendez-Vous at Alliance Française de Sydney CBD, 257 Clarence Street, Sydney. Drop by and attend free talks, special events, and French drinks and food.

And for the Festival’s Closing Night celebrations, enjoy a complimentary glass of sparkling, live entertainment followed by the screening of the modern French classic, Paris, Je T’aime. This film will take the audience through the neighbour-hoods of Paris, finding love where ever we care to see it. Paris Je T’aime is superbly shot, it’s like taking a wander through streets and alley ways of the city of love. Twenty filmmakers have five minutes each; the audience weaves a single narrative out of twenty moments. Inspired by the subject of love and the city itself, with acclaimed directors such as Olivier Assayas, Bruno Podalydès, Gus Van Sant and Ethan and Joel Cohen and Alexander Payne Paris, Je T’aime on the big screen is an experience you don’t want to miss. (JH)

 3-22 March at Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Chauvel Cinema & Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace. For more information: http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/