In the winter months, I try to cram in as many oscar-nominated films as I can before the awards are given out. After that movie-binge, I typically take a needed break from the cinemas. Until April and Filmfest DC! Filmfest is the District’s first, largest and only international film festival. Between April 14 and 24, 2016 Filmfest DC will celebrate 30 years of delighting Washington cinephiles with a really impressive line-up of 75 movies from 45 different countries. As always, that includes a number of films from France and Belgium. Here are some of the French(-ish) or French-language films you can look forward to this year. THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT The poster claims that "G-d exist... and ...
Grand Ecran
I’m in a Marseille State of Mind
I've had Marseille on my mind lately. Part of it has been following along my friend Tammy's adventures in house swapping and remote working from Marseille (you can read all about it on her blog Florida Girl in DC.) It's definitely made me look at my mom's hometown completely differently! And the other part, of course, is that Marseille seems to be everywhere lately. First, there was the recent release of the movie Marseille in France. And now, there's the countdown to the much anticipated (at least by me) release of Netflix's first French-language original series Marseille. The trailer looks SO GOOD!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WvqgV7-kSc The show's 8 episodes (52 minutes each) will ...
Watch La Famille Belier at l’Alliance Francaise
Grab some tissues and head to l'Alliance Francaise on April 1 to catch a screening of La Famille Belier. The feel good film was quite a hit in France in 2014, but it didn't really come out in the United States :( I got to watch during my Air France flight back to Washington, DC last August and while the film is technically a comedy I found myself practically bawling in my crammed middle seat during the final scenes. Here's the trailer with English subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzWvI8BkrJo La Famille Belier is a coming of age tale about Paula, a musically gifted teenager who has to come to terms with allowing her voice to be heard. The reason it's so difficult for her is that ...
For Your Consideration – the Brooklyn Cocktail
It's Oscar time! Have you seen Brooklyn? The coming-of-age period drama about a young Irish immigrant blossoming in 1950s New York City was one of my favourite films last year. As an expat, I loved and related to the delicate way the film covered the immigrant experience and in a sea of rather bleak movies I appreciated the optimism of its characters. Also, Montreal plays the title role of Brooklyn! The boarding house where Saoirse Ronan’s character, Eilis, lives in Brooklyn is actually the Memorial Chapter House of Montreal’s Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, on McGill University's campus! The perfect drink to celebrate this best picture nominees is the classic cocktail that shares its name: ...
Save the Date: Screening of Full Moon in Paris at the National Gallery of Arts
I've got an idea for you: travel to Paris without leaving DC. Actually, without leaving the National Gallery of Art... On September 20th, the National Gallery of Art is hosting a 4PM screening of Les Nuits de la Pleine Lune/Full Moon in Paris, a masterful comedy of manners by new wave film maker Eric Rohmer that was recently restored. You can read a summary of the film here. Also on view at the National Gallery of Art right now (and through October 4th) are 50 of the most important and beloved paintings of Paris and its environs by impressionist Gustave Caillebotte. Never heard of Caillebotte? You're not alone ;-) "Known" as the “unknown Impressionist” in light of Cézanne, Degas, Monet ...
Francophonie Festival, 2015 Edition
The largest celebration of French culture and language in the world—the Francophonie Cultural Festival—is returning to the US capital March 5 to April 1, 2015. Organized by the D.C. Francophonie Committee in association with l'Alliance Française and Smithsonian Associates, the festival engages over 40 embassies for a month of cultural events ranging from lectures to concerts and movie screenings, culminating as usual with la Grande Fête de la Francophonie, a huge foodie bash at la Maison Française at the French Embassy. What I've loved about the partnership with Smithsonian Associates this year is how active Smithsonian at 8 (the 21+ after-hours event planning art of the Smithsonian) has ...
20 Best French Films on Netflix Right Now
Looking for a quick escape to France without leaving the comfort of your couch? (and without having to spend $1000 on plane tickets...) I've got you covered with this list of some French films I've been pleasantly surprised to find on Netflix. I wasn't easy narrowing them down, but here are 20 plus of the best French films you can stream or get on DVD via Netflix, according to moi: AVAILABLE ON DEMAND Populaire ~ The French could learn a thing or two from Hollywood when it comes to RomCom's, but occasionally, we get it right! Populaire is kitschy, funny and colourful. Its heroin, Rose, is an adorable small town girl with big dreams and fingers that can type so fast they might just ...
A Year In Champagne at the Angelika Film Center
With its reserved seating, gourmet concessions and interesting mix of blockbuster and special interest films, the Angelika Film Center & Cafe at the Mosaic District is one of my absolute favourite movie theater in the Washington area. Keyword: Washington area. It’s nowhere near the city and pretty inconvenient to get to if you don’t have a car. So I was thrilled when a smaller, albeit temporary version, of the art-house movie theater popped up behind Union Market. It became pretty handy when I was trying to catch up on my Oscar nominated films, showing Whiplash, Still Alice and a couple of other nominated flicks. Eventually, the pop-up Angelika Film theater at Union Market will transform ...
French Offerings at the 25th Washington Jewish Film Festival
Joyeux anniversaire to the Washington Jewish Film Festival (WJFF)! This year, the WJFF celebrates its 25th year with 11 days of film programming, and cultural events exploring the diversity of the Jewish experience across the globe. Between February 19 and March 1, 2015, D.C. audiences will be treated to some 100 movie screenings and related events across the DMV, including many premieres and an exciting roster of filmmaker and cast appearances. To honour the festival's past, former festival directors have also selected a special line up of retrospective film screenings that includes the heartbreaking classic Louis Malle film Au Revoir les Enfants (on Feb 21 at the Goethe Institut and Feb 24 ...
Chinese Food & a (French) Movie On Erev Christmas
Are Chinese diner and a movie part of your Christmas traditions? If the answer is yes (or oui) and you want to add a little something French to your Erev Christmas, look no further than the Washington DC Jewish Community Center on 16th street. They will be screening It Happened in Saint-Tropez, a French comedy of manners featuring the stunning (and now age appropriate Bond girl) Monica Bellucci. The screening will be preceded by some traditional Chinese food starting at 6:30PM. Speaking of "traditional Jewish Christmas food," the night before (12/23) you can also swing by DGS Delicatessen, which will be hosting its second "Jewish Christmas" Chinese banquet, with guest chefs Erik Bruner ...
