French Language Program Films disponibles la bibliothque de SAIS
WEST AFRICA (location of movie, not nationality)
1. Kirikou
An African fairy-tale (superb design) : a young boy ' search for the way to rid his village of a sorceress who cast a spell on their water supply. Great fun !!
French or English ; no subtitles ; French : intermediate
ALGERIA/TUNISIA/MOROCCO
1. Bataille dAlger
The battle between French forces and liberation fighters in Algiers in the 1950s. A view of the use of terrorist techniques in times of war. Widely used today to illustrate some aspects of contemporary warfare.
French or Arabic with English subtitles ; French level : intermediate
2. Indignes (Days of Glory)
The integration of North-African and African troops to fight against Germany/Italy during the first world war. Segregation, bias and lack of recognition for services rendered. This film led to France changing its compensation for (North) African veterans to align them with French ones.
French with English subtitles ; French level: very easy
BELGIUM
1. L'enfant
Earned the French "Oscar" for its depiction of poverty in Belgium and its impact on family life and values. (same director as La Promesse). Docu-fiction style with easy dialogues.
French with English and French subtitles ; French level : easy
2. La Promesse
Illegal immigration in Belgium through the story of a young boy who betrays his morally bankrupt father to keep his promise. (same director as Lenfant) . Docu-fiction style
(Not much speaking) French with English and Italian subtitles ; French level: easy
CARIBBEAN
1. Rue Cases Ngres (Sugar Cane Alley)
(de)colonization in the French Antilles seen through the schooling of a young boy raised on a sugar plantation.French with English subtitles French level: intermediate
FRANCE
1. La Gloire de mon Pre
Discovery of Provence by a young boy in the early nineteenth century. School as a tool for secular education.French with English, French subtitles ; French : dialogues are intermediate ; the off-voice is hard
2. Au revoir les enfants
Jewish children hidden in a Catholic orphanage. They and the priest who hid them are denounced and deported during the second world war.
French with English subtitles ; French : intermediate
3. Lacombe Lucien
A young farmer hesitates between joining the Gestapo or the resistance.
French with English subtitles ; French level: intermediate
4. Avenue Montaigne
A young woman from the province comes to work in a Parisian cafe and discovers life in a wealthy Parisian neighborhood. Light and easy, story-wise.
French with English subtitles ; French : intermediate
5. Mr Ibrahim
a Jewish boy who discovers life with the help of an old immigrant from the Middle-East. A very different view of Paris from Avenue Montaigne.
French with English/Portuguese/Spanish subtitles ; French : easy
6. InchAllah DImanche
Algerian migration to France. An Algerian wife and children move to a small French town after 10 years of separation from the husband and face both the challenge of reconnecting as a family and of displacement away from home. (Not much speaking)
French with English subtitles ; French level: intermediate
INDOCHINA
1. Indochine
A view of French colonialism in Indochina, the rise of the communist regime and the march to independence. Beautiful imagery. Note : movie lasts 2h and 40 minutes.
French level: intermediate. TWO copies on DVD : #1 (yellow jacket) : French with no subtitles
#2 : French with English, Spanish and French subtitles.
QUEBEC
1. La Turbulence des Fluides
Thriller-like quest to elucidate paranormal events in a small town. Much better than it sounds.
French with English and French subtitles French level: intermediate
RWANDA
1 Un dimanche Kigali
a Canadian Hotel Rwanda. Excellent but very graphic.
French with English subtitles ; French : intermediate (some slang