The 9th edition of the French Film Festival will take place from March 17 – April 5, 2012, with screenings at the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Sderot, Rosh Pina, Holon, Herzliya and Ashdod Cinematheques. The festival will host special guests Charlotte Rampling for the screening of The Look, a documentary on her life and work, directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano with their film Untouchables which will open the festival, and the directors of the closing film, La Delicatesse – David and Stéphane Foenkinos.
Films:
Untouchable (France, 2011, 110 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache
Several years ago, Philippe suffered an injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He goes through caretakers, until a recently released prisoner applies for the position. The two form a unique friendship. Cast: Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 17.3 at 21:00
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 18.3 at 21:00
Les Hommes Libre (France, 2011, 99 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
An unexpected meeting and friendship with a Jewish refugee in Paris 1942, motivates an Algerian immigrant, who has been unwillingly working with the Gestapo, to contemplate where his loyalties lie. An effective period drama that successfully integrates the different plot lines into a powerful dramatic structure.
Cast: Tahar Rahim, Michael Lonsdale.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 23.3 at 16:00
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 19.3 at 18:00
Polisse (France, 2011, 127 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Maïwenn
The daily grind and personal lives of the Police Department’s Juvenile Protection Unit’s officers are depicted in Maןwenn third film. Polisse is an epic police drama that won the Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Cast: Karin Viard, Joey Starr.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 24.3 at 21:45.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 20.3 at 21:45
The Look (France, Germany, 2011, 94 min, English & French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Angelina Maccarone
An intimate portrait of Charlotte Rampling seen through a series of fascinating conversations between Rampling and those artists, writers, photographers, and directors with whom she has worked throughout her rich career. Featuring: Charlotte Rampling, Peter Lindbergh, Paul Auster.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 25.3 at 19:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 21.3 at 21:00 In the presence of Charlotte Rampling.
Chicken with Plums (France, Germany, Belgium, 2011, 91 min, French & English with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Parronaud
Iran, the 1950s. After not being recognized by his first love, Nassar־Ali is in crisis and asks to die. Lying on his deathbed, his thoughts wonder between different junctions in his life. From the makers of Perspolis, comes a story about the simple feelings that touch us all. Cast: Mathieu Amalric, Edouard Baer.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 22.3 at 20:15; 24.3 at 15:15.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 21.3 at 19:00.
L’art D’aimer (The Art of Love, France, 2011, 85 min, French with English subtitles)
Director: Emmanuel Mouret
The amusing and peculiar aspects of love are depicted through the stories of several couples, each dealing with the challenges of love and sexual desire. Pleasant and sophisticated, L’art d’aimer will surely leave you with a smile and some lingering thoughts. Cast: Julie Depardieu, Francois Cluzet, Frédérique Bel.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 21.3 at 19:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 23.3 at 14:00.
Lemming (France, 2005, 129 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Dominik Moll
Alain and his wife just moved to a bourgeois suburb somewhere outside of Paris, and everything looks wonderful. The trouble begins one evening, while they host Alain’s boss and his wife for dinner…. The plot leads to strange, nightmarish seemingly impossible, territories that become logical within the wild fabric created by Dominik Moll. Cast: Laurent Lucas, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Charlotte Rampling, Andre Dussollier.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 20.3 at 21:45.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 24.3 at 17:00
Les Adoptés (France, 2011, 100 min, French with English subtitles)
Marine’s relationship with Alex drives a wedge between the women of a close־knit family. In her directorial debut, Melanie Laurent presents a stirring family drama that moves between unique humor and emotional outbursts. Cast: Mélanie Laurent, Marie Denarnaud, Denis Menochet.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 19.3 at 21:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 24.3 at 19:30.
Un Amour de Jeunesse (Goodbye First Love, France, 2011, 108 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Mia Hansen-Love
Just as she thought she found a stable relationship, Camille’s first love comes back into her life. Now, she finds herself torn between the two. A touching and thoughtful work on the significance of first love. Cast: Lola Creton, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Magne-Havard Brekke.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 18.3 at 17:30.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 24.3 at 21:30
Elles (France, Germany, Poland, 2011, 96 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Malgorzata Szumowska
Anne is writing an article about two students that turned to prostitution to fund their studies. She is surprised to find she has quite a bit in common with the two. A provocative and intriguing film that sends a powerful message about its subject. Cast: Juliette Binoche, Anais Demoustier, Joanna Kulig.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 19.3 at 19:00, 24.3 at 11:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 25.3 at 19:00.
Declaration of War (France, 2011, 100 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Valérie Donzelli
She’s named Juliette. He is called Romeo. They fall in love, move in together, have a baby. But something is wrong their child. It’s cancer. From now on war is declared. War against the illness, bureaucracy, despair. War for life and love. A precise and moving portrayal of a family’s struggle and triumph.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 18.3 at 21:45.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 25.3 at 21:30.
Poupoupidou (France, 2011, 103 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Gerald Hustache-Mathieu
A mystery writer, experiencing writer’s block, finds himself mixed up in a small־town murder mystery involving a Marilyn Monroe look־alike local star. A comedic thriller with a touch of film noir. Cast: Jean-Paul Rouve, Sophie Quinton.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 23.3 at 14:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 26.3 at 21:30
L’ordre et La Morale (France, 2011, 136 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
April, 1988. Dissidents of a French colony attack a police station, taking 30 officers hostage. Over shared values, the head of the special task force and the rebels’ leader have to find common grounds for dialogue. But, at a time of great political turmoil, order isn’t necessarily dictated by ethics. Cast: Mathieu Kassovitz, Iabe Lapacas, Malik Zidi.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 24.3 at 19:15
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 27.3 at 21:15
Embrassez Qui Vous Voudrez (France, 2002, 103 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Michel Blanc
A comedy of errors that takes place in a hotel-he will want her, she will want another, and he the other. A sweet French comedy on love, jealousy, desire, and friendship. Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Jacques Dutronc , Lou Doillon.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 24.3 at 13:15.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 28.3 at 21:30
All Our Desires (France, 2011, 120 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Phillipe Lioret
Learning she has terminal cancer, Claire, a young judge, decides to dedicate the rest of her life to helping those that have been dealt an injustice. But such a cause might just create more damage than good. Cast: Vincent Lindon, Marie Gillain.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 20.3 at 18:00, 23.3 at 21:45.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 28.3 at 19:00
Une Nuit (France, 2012, 100 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Phillipe Lefebvre
Simon Weiss, a high־ranked Parisian police officer, plays for both sides of the law. Caught in the crossfire between gangsters and the internal affairs division of the police, Weiss will have to stand up to cops, businessmen and thugs to survive. Cast: Ruchdy Zem, Forestier Sara.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 18.3 at 19:45.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 29.3 at 19:00.
Donoma (France, 2011, 140 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Djinn Carrenard
Djinn Carrenard directorial debut is a powerful and uncompromising drama about intimacy, faith and identity, and the way in which they affect one’s happiness. Cast: Emilia Derou-Bernal, Salome Blechmans, Sékouba Doucouré
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 21.3 at 21:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 30.3 at 14:00
Apres le Sud (France, 2011, 91 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Jean-Jacques Jauffret
A summer’s day in south France. The paths of four characters intertwine, as each character has to deal with its own personal drama. An intriguing directorial debut by Jean־Jacques Jauffret. Cast: Adele Haenel, Sylvie Lachat, Ulysse Grojean.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 23.3 at 20:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 30.3 at 22:00.
Sous le Sable (Under the Sand, France, 2000, 95 min, French with English and Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Francois Ozon
Marie and Jean have been happily married for 25 years. While on vacation, Marie dozes off on the beach and Jean goes for a swim. When she wakes up, he is nowhere in sight. Marie’s life descends into confusion as she retreats into her own world. Francois Ozon explores what has become a characteristic theme of his work-the fragility and vulnerability underlying seemingly solid bourgeois appearances. Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Bruno Cremer, Jacues Nolot.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 20.3 at 18:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 31.3 at 17:00.
Tu Seras Mon Fils (France, 2011, 101 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: Gilles Legrand
Paul de Marseul needs to decide on a successor for his thriving winery. But who will he choose – his son, who is good with the numbers, but not so much with the grapes, or should it be his right-hand man François. Cast: Niels Arestrup, Lorant Deutsch.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 22.3 at 22:00.
Jerusalem Cinematheque: 31.3 at 21:45.
La Delicatesse (France, 2011, 108 min, French with Hebrew subtitles)
Director: David and Stéphane Foenkinos
Based on the novel by David Foenkinos, a French woman mourning over the death of her husband three years prior is courted by a Swedish co-worker. Cast: Audrey Tatou, Francois Damiens, Bruno Todeschini.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque: 26.3 at 21:45.
Cinematheques:
Tel Aviv Cinematheque, 2 Sprintzak Street, Tel Aviv. 03-6060800
Jerusalem Cinematheque, 11 Hebron Road, Jerusalem, 02-5654356
Haifa Cinematheque, 142 Sderot HaNasi Street, Haifa, 04-8104299/302
Sderot Cinematheque, 4 Hadegel Street, Sderot, 08 – 6849695
Rosh Pina, 04-6801453
Holon Cinematheque, 6 Golda Meir Street, Holon, 03-5021555
Herzliya Cinematheque, 29 Sokolov Street, Herzliya, 09-9513361
Ashdod Cinematheque, Matnas Beit Lavron, 25 Nathan Elbaz Street, Ashdod, 08-8555834
