Unexpected Love Encounters

• The New Kid (Le nouveau) by Rudi Rosenberg (NC 16 – Sexual References and Nudity): Benoit’s first week in his new school is challenging. He’s being rejected by the popular kids, and struggles to fit in. That is until he meets Johanna, a young Swedish girl he is falling for.

• The Together Project (L’effet aquatique) by Solveig Anspach and Jean-Luc Gaget (M18 – Sexual Scene and Nudity): the César-winning story of Samir, who falls deeply in love with Agathe, a lifeguard at the municipal pool. To seduce her, he starts pretending that he doesn’t know how to swim, and embarks on a trip that will lead them all the way to Iceland.

• Rafiki by Wanuri Kahiu (R21 – Homosexual Theme): in Nairobi, Kena and Ziki live completely different lives. In the midst of an electoral campaign that sees both their fathers competing against each other, they cross paths, and will have to choose between love and security. 5 Nominations at Cannes 2018.

Danger Zone

• Corporate by Nicolas Silhol (PG13 – Some Coarse Language and Sexual References): Emilie is “a killer”, a young and smart Human Resources Manager. Following a drama in her company and the opening of an investigation, she finds herself at the centre of attention and pressure. What will her loyalty dictate her?

• The White Knights (Les chevaliers blancs) by Joachim Lafosse (PG13 – Some Coarse Language): Jacques, president of a NGO, has convinced French families to finance an exfiltration operation for orphans in an African country devastated by wars. But in order to complete his mission, he will have to come up with a lie.

Award Winning Animated Films

• The Girl Without Hands (La jeune fille sans mains) by Sébastien Laudenbach (M18 – Nudity): struggling to make ends meet, a miller has to sell his daughter to the Devil. Protected by her purity, she manages to escape, and begins a long journey towards light. Jury Prize in Annecy 2016.

• The Painting (Le tableau) by Jean-François Laguionie (N16 – Some Nudity): on an unfinished painting live three kinds of characters. As tensions arise and the Toupins take control over the castle, our three heroes Ramo, Lola and Plume begin a quest to find the painter, the only one capable of bringing back harmony. 3 Nominations in Annecy 2012, César-nominated.

Critically Acclaimed French Documentaries

• Little Gems (Les Pépites) by Xavier de Lauzanne (PG): Christian and Marie-France, a French couple living in Cambodia, are fighting for allowing the youth of Phnom Penh to access education.

• Swagger by Olivier Babinet (PG13 – Brief Coarse Language): Swagger is a one-way trip into the minds of eleven kids and teenagers, growing up in some of the most disadvantaged suburbs of France. No matter the difficulties, they are fuelled with dreams and ambition.

Adults Animated Shorts

• The Sense of Touch (Le sens du toucher) by Jean-Charles Mbotti-Malolo (PG): Chloé and Louis are deaf, and secretly in love with each other. One day, Louis gathers all his courage and invites Chloé for dinner.

• The Wordcutter (Le bucheron des mots) by Isabelle Blanchard (PG): in a country where people eat letters and words grown on trees, reading is fundamental. But some too emotional books are forbidden. Nadal, a wordcutter, will make a life-changing encounter…

Kids Animated Shorts

• The Elephant and the Bicycle (Le vélo de l’éléphant) by Olesya Shchukina (G): an elephant living and working in the city sees a poster promoting a new bike. His life will change: he must find this bike!

• In A Cage (La cage) by Loic Bruyere (G): a caged bear befriends a little bird with a beautiful voice.

The cinema may be closed for now, but great films continue! Alliance Française de Singapour partners with MUBI to offer you a three months subscription – entirely free.

Click here to start your free three months of cinema. 

Our top picks on MUBI:

• All the Mornings of the World (Tous les matins du monde) by Alain Corneau: the 7 César Awards winner and Berlin Film Festival nominee story of a musician and his daughter in the 17th century, when Marin Marais bursts into their lives and wants to be taught how to play the viola. Re-discover the iconic duo between father and son Gérard and Guillaume Depardieu in Alain Corneau’s masterpiece.

• Buffet froid by Bertrand Blier: re-discover this French cinema classic by Oscar-winner director Bertrand Blier. Buffet froid is a satirical mixing of crime, dark comedy and absurd rhythm, relying on breathtaking performances from Gérard Depardieu, Bernard Blier, Jean Carmet and young Carole Bouquet.

• Je t’aime moi non plus by Serge Gainsbourg: legendary French singer Serge Gainsbourg’ directorial debuts brings us a tale of doomed love, charm and romance, featuring the musician’s original score, and starring Jane Birkin and Joe Dallesandro.

Free films in July:  

• Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête) by Christophe Gans: a romantic fantasy based on the traditional fairy tale, starring the superstars couple Vincent Cassel and Léa Seydoux. 

• Un plus Une by Claude Lelouch: A famous film composer played by Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin travels to India and falls in love… 

French Touch:

• Eden by Mia Hansen-Løve: the life and rise to success of a French DJ, alongside Daft Punk’s electronic soundtrack.  

 Dangerously in Love:  

• My King (Mon roi) by Maïwenn: After a skiing accident, Tony (Emmanuelle Bercot, Best Actress in Cannes 2015) remembers her tumultuous relationship with Georgio (Vincent Cassel).  

• Möbius by Éric Rochant: Jean Dujardin and Cécile De France break the rules and fall in love on a dangerous special mission in Monaco.  

 Queer Films: 

• The Shiny Shrimps (Les crevettes pailletées) by Maxime Govare and Cédric Le Gallo: Matthias, an Olympic champion swimmer, makes a homophobic comment on TV. His sentence: coaching a gay water polo team who aspires to become champions.  

• Blue Is the Warmest Colour (La vie d’Adèle) by Abdellatif Kechiche: a Palme d’Or winner and Golden Globes nominated romance, following the love story between Adèle and Emma. 

 Ciné-Kids Animated Films: 

• Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart (Jack et la Mécanique du cœur) by Stéphane Berla and Mathias Malzieu: a poetic animated musical telling the story of Jack, whose cuckoo-clock heart doesn’t allow him to feel emotions. Until the day Jack falls in love… 

• The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales... (Le Grand Méchant Renard et autres contes…)by Benjamin Renner and Patrick Imbert: three charming tales told by a big fox in a farm ruled by animals.  

• April and the Extraordinary World (Avril et le Monde truqué) by Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci: a science-fiction fantastic adventure based on the graphic universe of French cartoonist Jacques Tardi. 

Don’t have a Catchplay account? You can sign up and watch Beauty and the Beast and Un plus Une for free until the end of July, so let’s get started! 

For 3 years old and above:  

• The Inspector and the Umbrella by Maël Gourmelen, 2016, 2mins10: a funny inspector struggles with his umbrella as he tries to go outside.  

• Voltige by Léon Brunel, 2016, 1min24: two technicians enter into a poetic dance with the car they are working on. 

• The Legend Of The Crabe Phare by Gaëtan Borde, Benjamin Lebourgeois, Alexandre Veaux, Mengjing Yang & Claire Vandermeersch, 2015, 6mins45: a crab holding a lighthouse on his back quickly becomes a touristic destination. What will happen as more and more curious humans embark on tour to visit this uncommon place?  

• The Short Story of a Fox and a Mouse by Camille Chaix, Hugo Jean, Juliette Jourdan, Marie Pillier and Kévin Roger, 2015, 6mins28: a fox is chasing a mouse in the snow, until they face a common opponent. Could the two ever become friends?  

• Racines by Eva Lusbaronjan, Hugo de Faucompret, Pierre Bassil and Hugo Weiss, 2013, 4mins23: an old woman travels on the back of a rock. Forever unsatisfied, she cannot stop her trip. 

For 5 years old and above:  

• Croc & Odile by Antoine Marchand, 2019, 1min34: two crocodiles get into a fight with a very defensive fly. Who will win?  

• Back to the Moon by François-Xavier Goby & Hélène Leroux, 2018, 2mins18: a poetic and dazzling 360° tribute to black and white film director Georges Méliès.  

• Backbone Tale by Jérémy Clapin, 2012, 9mins10: a short story by Oscar nominated director Jérémy Clapin, about a different man who finally meets someone special.  

French Comedies: 

• Nothing to Hide (Le jeu) by Fred Cavayé: a dinner party with Bérénice Bejo, Suzanne Clément and Stéphane de Groodt turns into a funny game during which everyone has access to its peers’ smartphone, for better or worse…  

• The World is Yours (Le monde est à toi) by Romain Gavras: a César-nominated story about a drug trafficking enterprise becoming a family affair, starring Isabelle Adjani and Vincent Cassel.  

Award-Winning Gems:  

• Planetarium by Rebecca Zlotowski: a fascinating drama about cinema and spiritualism, with Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp exploring Paris in the 1930s.  

• Divines by Houda Benyamina: a multi-awarded and Golden Globes nominated heartfelt story about Dounia’s quest for power and success. 

• Shéhérazade by Jean-Bernard Marlin: 3 times awarded at the César 2018, this Shéhérazade is a modern take on a love story in Marseille’s popular districts.  

French Thrills and Romances:  

• Iris by Jalil Lespert: a rich banker’s kidnapping in the middle of Paris and a love story interwove in this thriller starring Romain Duris and Charlotte Le Bon.   

• Lady J (Mademoiselle de Joncquières) by Emmanuel Mouret: meet Cécile de France as Madame de la Pommeraye, a widow, and Edouard Baer as marquis des Arcins, a notorious libertine.   

 Kids’ Animation:  

• Pachamama by Juan Antin: a César-winning story about two Indians in the Andes and their quest for la Huaca, the village’s sacred statue which has been stolen...  

 Series: 

• Call My Agent! (Dix pour cent): A French hit series about the secrets of the cinema industry, with lovable characters and prestigious guest stars in each episode. A must-see!  

• The Bondfire of Destiny (Le Bazar de la Charité): this hit series inspired by true events will bring you back to 1897’s Paris, when Audrey Fleurot, Julie de Bona and Camille Lou’s characters find their lives upended by betrayals, deceptions and romantic turmoil after a devastating fire. Discover the Globe de Cristal 2020 twice-nominated series now!  

Don’t have a Netflix account? First month is free, so let’s get started! 

• Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu) by Céline Sciamma: the Golden Globes nominated historical romance takes us to 18th century Brittany, and follows the heart-rending forbidden love story between an aristocrat and a painter.  

• Girl by Lukas Dhont: Cannes’ Golden Camera Winner, Girl follows the journey of Victor, a Belgium transgender girl pursuing a career as a ballerina.  

• Faces Places (Visages Villages) by Agnès Varda and JR: photographer and street artist JR teamed up with the legendary Agnès Varda for her last film, a documentary about rural France which won them an Oscar nomination.  

• Custody (Jusqu’à la garde) by Xavier Legrand: a Venice Silver Lion winner poignant story about a couple struggling through their divorce and domestic violence.  

These films are available for online renting, thanks to Alliance Française de Singapour partner Anticipate Pictures.  

Love Stories:  

• Someone, Somewhere (Deux moi) by Cédric Klapisch: two young and slightly depressed Parisians live nearby, but have never talked. Shall the two ever meet? 

• Lost and Found (Je promets d’être sage) by Ronan Le Page: Frank (Pio Marmaï) wants a new quiet life and a fresh start. But then comes the meeting with his new neurotic colleague Sybille (Léa Drucker)… 

 Filming Cinema and Stardom:  

• Play by Anthony Marciano: for 25 years, Max has filmed his life and friends. From the 1990s to the 2010s, the portrait of a whole generation emerges through its objective. Joyful and heartfelt!  

• Redoubtable (Le redoutable) by Michel Hazanavicius: a Palme d’Or nominee story about the making of La Chinoise, in 1967, when Godard falls in love with actress Anne Wiazemsky. Dive into the French New Wave and May 68’s Paris!  

• Guy by Alex Lutz: a young journalist (Alex Lutz, Best Actor César) learns that he is the illegitimate son of a French pop singer who was extremely famous from the 60s to the 90s, and looks for a way to meet him.  

 Fights on Screen:

• The Freshmen (Première année) by Thomas Lilti: friendship sparks between Benjamin (William Lebghil) and Antoine (Vincent Lacoste) during their first year of medical school.  

• The Wolf’s Call (Le chant du loup) by Antonin Baudry: in the near future, a French submarine finds itself in a crisis situation. An electric and César-winning underwater action film. 

• By the Grace of God (Grâce à Dieu) by François Ozon: a Silver Berlin Bear winner, By the Grace of God tells the story of three survivors of a Catholic priest’s abuse, as they begin their fight to expose abuses hidden by the church.  

• A Perfect Man (Un homme idéal) by Yann Gozlan: a struggling writer finds a shortcut to fame, but a blackmailer threatens to ruin his perfect life. A passionate thriller, and an amazing performance from Pierre Niney! 

•  French Comedies:  

• Five by Igor Gotesman: a group of five childhood friends move in together in Paris. In order to fund their luxurious lifestyle, Samuel (Pierre Niney) becomes a drug dealer.  

• The Trouble with You (En liberté !) by Pierre Salvadori: A hilarious comedy with Pio Marmaï and Adèle Haenel about a widow who discovers that her late husband sent an innocent man to jail to cover-up his own crimes.  

• Back to Burgundy (Ce qui nous lie) by Cédric Klapisch: after a 10-year absence, Jean returns to his hometown. Reuniting with his family, they have to re-build their relationship and trust again.  

These films are available for online renting on the iTunes Store and on Apple TV. 

Re-discover two French new waves masterpieces on INA’s new platform Madelen:  

• Masculin Féminin by Jean-Luc Godard: the 1966 romantic drama film is an essential landmark, and a Berlin Film Festival winner. 

• Hiroshima mon amour by Alain Resnais: a most touching love story between Emmanuelle Riva and Eiji Okada, whose magnificent screenplay was written by novelist Marguerite Duras.  

Don’t have a Madelen account? First three months are free, so let’s get started! 

French environmentalist, journalist and photographer Yann-Arthus Bertrand has made his 2015 documentary Human available for free on YouTube! Discover this UN-premiered historic film here and travel all around the globe from your home. 

In French only