Movies About France

From Jean-Pierre Jeunet, starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta
Rated R

Amélie is a 2001 French romantic comedy-drama set in modern-day Paris. It tells the story of Amélie Poulain, a shy, introverted young woman with an active imagination, who decides to intervene and change the lives of those around her for the better. She discovers a lost treasure belonging to a former occupant of her apartment, and while returning it to him, she is inspired to dedicate her life to helping others find happiness. Along the way, she meets a variety of unique characters, including a reclusive artist, a garden gnome collector, and a hypochondriac waiter. As she sets out to bring joy to others, Amélie gradually learns to open her heart to others and find love in the process. The film is a charming and ultimately uplifting look at the power of selflessness and human connection.

From Directors: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava, starring Brad Garrett, Lou Romano, Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm
Rated G

Ratatouille is a 2007 computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Brad Bird and Jan Pinkava, the film stars the voices of Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, and Janeane Garofalo. In the film, a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family's wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the Parisian restaurant of his idol, a renowned chef named Auguste Gusteau, he finds himself torn between following his dreams and returning to his home. He teams up with Linguini, the restaurant's garbage boy, to create a dish that will turn the restaurant around and make them both stars. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $623 million at the box office against a budget of $150 million. It was also nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Animated Feature, as well as numerous other accolades. The film serves as an inspiration for aspiring chefs and has led to the establishment of several Ratatouille-themed restaurants.

From Richard Linklater, starring Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Vernon Dobtcheff, Louise Lemoine Torrès
Rated R

Before Sunset is a romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The film picks up nine years after the 1995 film Before Sunrise, in which two strangers, Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy), spent a night together in Vienna. Now, Jesse is in Paris on a book tour and Celine is living there, and the pair have a chance encounter. Over the course of an afternoon and evening, the two wander around Paris, catching up, as Jesse is due to leave on a flight out at 9:00 pm. As the clock winds down and Jesse must make an important decision, the two discuss their lives and the possibility of a future together.

From Woody Allen, starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Kurt Fuller
Rated PG-13

Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy-fantasy written and directed by Woody Allen. The film follows Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a troubled screenwriter and aspiring novelist who is struggling to finish his first novel and come to terms with his relationship with his materialistic fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams). While on a trip to Paris with Inez and her parents, Gil takes a late-night walk and discovers he has the ability to travel back in time to the 1920s. During his adventures, Gil meets iconic figures such as Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Gertrude Stein and Cole Porter, who offer him advice and inspiration. The film explores themes of nostalgia, the meaning of life, and the power of love.

From Baz Luhrmann, starring Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent
Rated PG-13

Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 musical film directed by Baz Luhrmann. The film is set in 1899 in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris and follows a young poet, Christian, as he falls in love with a beautiful courtesan, Satine. Christian and Satine must fight against all odds to stay together, including the scheming Duke of Monroth, who wants Satine for himself. Along their journey, they experience many obstacles and obstacles, all while singing and dancing to some of the most popular classics of the 20th century. In the end, love conquers all and the two lovers are reunited.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee, Ben Kingsley
Rated PG

Hugo is a 2011 fantasy drama directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The film follows Hugo, an orphaned boy living in a Paris railway station in the 1930s, as he attempts to repair an automaton left to him by his late father. With the help of a kindly toy seller, Hugo discovers the automaton contains a message from his father, leading him on a quest to uncover the secrets of his past. Along the way, he meets a mysterious girl and discovers the world of early cinema. Together, they must find a way to restore the legacy of a legendary filmmaker and save the train station from destruction.

From Tom Hooper, starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried
Rated PG-13

Les Misérables is a 2012 musical drama film directed by Tom Hooper and based on the stage musical of the same name by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. The film follows Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a French peasant, who is imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family. After breaking parole, Valjean is tracked by the relentless police inspector Javert (Russell Crowe). Valjean eventually finds redemption when he takes in a young girl, Cosette (Isabelle Allen), and takes her away from the abusive Thénardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter). The film features songs sung by the characters, with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil. It also stars Amanda Seyfried as Cosette’s mother, Fantine; Eddie Redmayne as Marius; and Aaron Tveit as Enjolras. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won three including Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway).

From Luc Besson, starring Anne Parillaud, Marc Duret, Patrick Fontana, Alain Lathière
Rated R

From Lasse Hallström, starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina
Rated PG-13

From Vincente Minnelli, starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary
Rated Passed

From Directors: Olivier Assayas, Frédéric Auburtin, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Isabel Coixet, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuarón, Gérard Depardieu, Christopher Doyle, Richard LaGravenese, Vincenzo Natali, Alexander Payne, Bruno Podalydès, Walter Salles, Oliver Schmitz, Nobuhiro Suwa, Daniela Thomas, Tom Tykwer, Gus Van Sant, starring Juliette Binoche, Leonor Watling, Ludivine Sagnier, Fanny Ardant
Rated R

From Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Anna Chancellor
Rated NC-17

From Aleksandr Sokurov, starring Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Benjamin Utzerath, Vincent Nemeth, Johanna Korthals Altes
Rated Not Rated

From Sofia Coppola, starring Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Rip Torn, Steve Coogan
Rated PG-13

From Alan Rickman, starring Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Stanley Tucci, Matthias Schoenaerts
Rated R