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A selection
of the latest
albums and films
from France |
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Don Cavalli Cryland Parisian blues-rocker Don Cavalli incarnates the sounds of the American South on Cryland, to the point that you may find yourself questioning his nationality. Without a noticeable French accent, he masters a Cajun-influenced vintage sound—something you’d expect to hear playing during a driving sequence in a Quentin Tarantino film. (Everloving)
Yann Tiersen Tabarly Yann Tiersen has a knack for taking the cinematic experience to a higher level with music—try to imagine Amélie lacking those accordion-laced valses, or The Dreamlife of Angels without its emotion-rife “Rue des Cascades.” His third original score—for Tabarly, a portrait of the beloved mariner and “father of yachting”—is his first to accompany a documentary. Resistant at first to the project, Tiersen warmed to the idea of composing the soundtrack upon screening the film. (EMI)
Various artists Acoustic France This collection of intimate guitar-driven music showcases works from established and up-and-coming French musicians. Track highlights include a gypsy-jazz selection from Thomas Dutronc, soft folk yearnings from actress Sandrine Kiberlain, and Carla Bruni’s delectable “Raphaël,” from her inaugural 2002 album, “Quelqu’un m’a dit.” (Putumayo)
ENOUGH (2008) Based in France for more than 30 years, filmmaker Djamila Sahraoui has been honored for her documentaries on the civil war that ravaged her native Algeria during the ’90s. In her first feature, she revisits this period with the compelling story of a young doctor’s journey through the lawless countryside to find her missing husband, a journalist abducted for his subversive articles. (First Run Features)
OSS 117: CAIRO, NEST OF SPIES (2006) Jean Dujardin shows off impeccable comic timing as Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, alias OSS 117, on a top-secret mission in Cairo. Posing ineptly as a chicken exporter and scooting around in a shiny convertible with his lovely assistant, Hubert begins a not-so-discreet search for his missing predecessor. (Music Box Films)
TRAFIC (1971) The last of Jacques Tati’s series of five escapades involving the bumbling and clumsy M. Hulot, Trafic finds its protagonist as the designer of a high-tech camping vehicle. The gadget-packed car might be able to fry a pork chop, but it just can’t seem to make it to the auto expo in Amsterdam. (The Criterion Collection)
JOY HOUSE (1964) Director René Clément gives off a cool Hitchkockian vibe in this ’60s thriller starring a young, wide-eyed Jane Fonda. Marc (Alain Delon) is a playboy on the run from mobsters, with neither family nor money to save him. He finds sanctuary (and trouble) on the Riviera as a chauffeur to the mysterious mansion-dwelling cousins, Barbara (Lola Albright) and Melinda (Fonda). Filmed in English. (Koch Lorber)
THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN Tunisian-born director Abdellatif Kechiche is known for his heartfelt films that share the experiences of individuals living on the margins of society. With The Secret of the Grain, he tells the story of a dockworker in southern France who, despite many obstacles, uses his severance pay to open a floating restaurant. Kechiche took home three Césars for the film, and scene-stealing Hafsi Herzi, a former law student, won the award for breakthrough actress. Slated release: December 2008. (IFC Films)
FEAR(S) OF THE DARK Just in time for Halloween, this collection of animated horror shorts from six graphic artists will have filmgoers squirming in their seats. Drawing its inspiration from phobias and fears of things like spiders, ghosts and unexplained noises, the film is like a nightmare—but in a good way. In color and black and white, with Arthur H., Guillaume Depardieu and Nicole Garcia. Slated release: October 2008. (IFC Films)
A CHRISTMAS TALE With this Golden Palm-nominated feature, director Arnaud Desplechin brings to the screen an emotional comedy of family dysfunction set during the holidays. At its center is Catherine Deneuve as Junon, the family matriarch. Having been recently diagnosed with leukemia, she is searching for a bone marrow donor from among her three children, played by Anne Consigny, Melvil Poupaud and Mathieu Almaric. Slated release: November 2008. (IFC Films)
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