Take a trip to France without ever leaving town at the 14th Annual Sacramento French Film Festival, running from June 19 to 28 at the historic Crest Theatre. This summer you’ll exclaim “My Life is a French Movie!” as the SFFF presents two weekends of French films, food and fun including screenings of numerous 2015 César winners (French Academy Awards), as well as classics, a couple late night movies and “too many short films to count,” according to a press release submitted to Submerge.
“Our 2015 film selection includes every genre and style to please every cinephile,” they wrote. “Romance, adventure, drama, comedy, thriller, fantasy …”
You can see, there really is a little something for everyone and as always, all the films have English subtitles! The opening movie is a comedy/drama called Samba that screens on Friday, June 20 at 8:30 p.m., directly after the opening reception in the lobby of the Crest, which starts at 6 p.m. Another film to look forward to is Timbuktu on the closing night, Sunday, June 29. This drama was the most awarded French film of the year taking home Best Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the César Awards. Directly following the screening of Timbuktu there will be a Closing Night Champagne Party with desserts and live music! For a full schedule of screenings and film descriptions, keep an eye out at Sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org. Prices range anywhere from $11 for single tickets to $95 for full festival access, with numerous packages being available. For more on the venue, visit Crestsacramento.com.
The Magnifique World of the Sacramento French Film Festival
Romance between a philosophy professor and a hairdresser, or a 60-year-old dentist and a computer instructor half her age; a 60-year-old former beauty queen who hits the road for an epic road trip; and a judge who finds out not only is she pregnant, but that the father is a murder suspect—you can expect a lot of the unexpected at the 2014 French Film Festival, now in its 13th year and happening June 20 – 29 at the Crest Theatre. The films in this year’s celebration of French cinema explore subject matter ranging from adolescence and young pregnancy to mental illness, self-discovery, and, of course, love.
According to Cecile Mouette Downs, the festival’s executive and artistic director, this year’s selection is one of the strongest yet, and includes 12 of the most acclaimed and awarded premiere films, as well as three classics: the 1970 fairy tale film Donkey Skin (Peau D’Ane), the 1994 historical drama Queen Margot (La Reine Margot), and the 1942 comedy thriller The Murderer Lives At Number 21 (L’Assasin Habite Au 21).
There will also be a screening of short films (complete with petit déjeuner, aka a French breakfast), as well as two late-night films—an erotic thriller and a horror film, both of which have gained high-caliber reputations in their respective genres.
French cinema fans will recognize names like Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris, Juliette Binoche and Roman Polanski. To top it off, Laetitia Dosch, the star of the film Age of Panic, is rumored to be attending the festival and presenting the film on the first weekend (June 20-22).
We’ve highlighted a few films featured in this year’s festival.
Inside (À l’intérieur)
2007 | Horror
Saturday, June 28 • 11:45 p.m.
Considered one of the scariest, most gruesome French horror films out there right now, À l’intérieur features the rare female killer. The plot is a morbid one. While a pregnant widow is waiting for a ride to the hospital from her mother so doctors can induce labor, a mystery woman (a frightening Beatrice Dalle) shows up at the door with plans to perform the procedure herself and take the baby. Critics give À l’intérieur an 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, waxing poetic about what a “damn good” horror film it is, and even toying with the thought of labeling it a classic. “Leave it to the French to make Suspiria look like a ‘30s drawing-room comedy,” one critic commented, referencing the Italian cult classic that has made numerous Greatest Horror Films of All Time lists. If you fancy scissors and guts in your horror movies, this is a not-to-miss.
Chinese Puzzle (Casse Tete Chinois)
2013 | Romantic Comedy
Sunday, June 29 • 3:15 p.m.
Calling all Audrey Tautou fans! Here is yet another film to settle your fix, taking place this time in New York City’s Chinatown. This romantic comedy concerns Xavier (Romain Duris), a writer who may just need a little amour to clear up a bad case of writer’s block after the mother of his children moves from Paris to New York, taking their children with her. To be closer to his kids, Xavier follows suit and winds up living in Chinatown. Suddenly Xavier finds himself in the company of a former roommate and a former lover. “I came to New York to be near my kids, who I had with a Brit, who I lived with for 10 years. I had a baby with two lesbians. I married a Chinese woman to become an American. And life’s not complicated?” Xavier asks in a poignant scene. Casse Tete Chinois is, in fact, a follow-up to Cedric Klapisch’s films L’Auberge Espagnole and Russian Dolls, which follow the same characters. (No, you don’t need to see the previous films in order to follow this story line.)
Queen Margot (La Reine Margot)
1994 | Historical Drama
Saturday, June 21 • 3:45 p.m.
Considered a timeless classic, La Reine Margot is a (very) ‘90s adaptation of the historical novel written in 1845 by Alexandre Dumas. It traces the life of Margaret of France, aka Marguerite de France or Marguerite de Valois, a Catholic who reigned as France’s queen during the 16th and 17th centuries. From poisonings to beheadings, this true story is anything but a happy one, recreating the bloodstained history of France during the battle between Catholics and Protestants for political power—notably the infamous St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572. Entangled in the plot is Margaret’s personal life, starting with her arranged marriage to Henri de Bourbon, the king of Navarre and a Protestant, in order to make peace between the Protestants and Catholics, which is (of course) followed by a love affair with the soldier La Mole. This movie won the Jury Prize and Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as five César Awards. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, SFFF will present the digitally restored director’s cut of this film, honoring the film’s maker and stage director Patrice Chéreau, who passed away last year.
Attila Marcel
2013 | Musical Comedy
Saturday, June 21 • 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 22 • 3:40 p.m.
Some of the best movies are those that walk the line between reality and a dreamlike world sprinkled with oddities and hints of old Paris. Attila Marcel smacks of a magical realism that is found in French films like Amelie. “It’s not Lord of the Rings, it’s not a totally fantastic universe,” says leading actress Anne Le Ny. Attila Marcel is about a dreamy young pianist who became mute after his parents died in a mysterious accident when he was just two. Suspecting his father was violent with his mother, he suppresses his emotions and treats his parents’ deaths as a dark secret. This suppression makes him a bit childlike. Things take a sudden turn when he meets one of his neighbors, a strange woman (Ny) whose home is overrun with vegetable plants. She is rough, tough, outspoken, very eccentric and connected to nature, Ny says of her character. Directed by Sylvain Chomet, who also directed the 2010 animated drama The Illusionist (L’illusionniste), this film is about self-discovery.
Camille Claudel 1915
2013 | Biopic Drama
Sunday, June 22 • 6 p.m.
Camille Claudel 1915 tells the true story of Camille Claudel, the renowned French sculptor and artist who became the protégé, mistress, and muse to Auguste Rodin (another renowned French sculptor). Around the age of 50, Camille (played by award-winning Juliette Binoche) is admitted into an insane asylum at the urging of her brother, the poet, playwright, and diplomat Paul Claudel. The film traces Camille’s despair, convinced that she is not insane and constantly awaiting visits from her brother with hopes he will take her away from the asylum. The story is based on the letters exchanged between Camille and her brother throughout her years spent there. Camille Claudel 1915 tells Camille’s story in a strikingly raw and emotional way. In fact, the film itself was directed in an asylum in France, using its doctors, nurses, and patients as supporting cast members.
Stranger By The Lake (L’Inconnu Du Lac)
2013 | Erotic Thriller
Saturday, June 21 • 11:35 p.m.
Sometimes, it seems we humans are blindly attracted to what’s in our worst interest. Exploring that concept, L’Inconnu Du Lac takes place on a lakeshore in southern France frequented by gay nudists. The beach also serves as a favorite hangout for the main character Franck, a thirty-something handsome gay male who is constantly scouting the shoreline during the summer. On one afternoon, he meets and is immediately attracted to Michel. The next day, from behind the trees, Franck sees Michel murdering a lover in the lake. Blinded by passion, despite what he secretly knows, Franck is even more infatuated with the killer and seeks a relationship with him, even after police begin an investigation into the death. The film received a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, four stars from Michal Oleszczyk on RogerEbert.com, eight César nominations this year (including Best Film and Best Director) and is praised by critics as a sexy and arresting erotic thriller.
Turning Tide (En Solitaire)
2013 | Adventure, Drama
Sunday, June 29 • 8:05 p.m.
This film tells the story of sailor Yann Kermadec (played by François Cluzet), who replaces his sailing cohort in the Vendée Globe. Yann’s prospects of winning the three-month round-the-world yacht race are looking good, until he discovers he’s not alone on the ride. Somehow a teenage stowaway managed to sneak onto the boat when Yann landed on the Canary Islands to repair a damaged rudder. Since the Vendée Globe is a solo race, having a passenger onboard immediately disqualifies Yann. Lacking options, Yann has no choice but to share his journey with his unexpected guest. In doing so, he also has a change of heart. A debut for French cinematographer Christophe Offenstein in a directorial role, this film recreates the harshness of international sailing competitions while revealing the spectacular views and extreme conditions of the untamed sea.
The Sacramento French Film Festival runs June 20 – 29, 2014 at the Crest Theatre. Opening night reception begins at 6 p.m., June 20. There are a variety of ticket prices and passes available; visit Sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org for more info.
5 Must-See Movies at the 2013 Sacramento French Film Festival
Words by James Barone
France. The very name seems to stand for all things romantic and pretentious; beautiful and despondent. Maybe it’s these dichotomies that have made the country such a ripe place for the arts over its rich and colorful history. Claude Monet, Honoré de Balzac and Jean-Luc Godard are just a few of the vaunted artists to come from France; and that’s not even counting all the creative minds who’ve flocked there in hopes of tapping into whatever it is the country seems to have that inspires artistic minds to create great works. Sacramento may be far from Paris (more than 5,500 miles), but that’s no reason you can’t bask in France’s je ne sai quoi from the comfort of your own city, and from June 21 through 30, you’ll have the opportunity to do just that via the magic of cinema.
Organized by the Sacramento French Cultural Society, the Sacramento French Film Festival is entering its 12th year. For the 2013 installment, the festival organizers have brought a host of Sacramento premiers and a handful of notable classics from across the Atlantic to delight local moviegoers, all of which will be shown at the historic Crest Theatre. Here’s a rundown of five of the films that you won’t want to miss.
Cloclo (2012)
Screening: June 21 at 8:30 p.m.
The SFFF gets off to a show-y start with this film about French pop star Claude François, who is best known for composing “Comme d’habitud,” which served as the basis for Frank Sinatra’s classic “My Way.” Starring Jeremie Renier (who appeared in the high-octane French action classic Brotherhood of the Wolf and alongside Colin Farrell in In Bruges), Cloclo (aka My Way) follows François from his upbringing in Egypt, through his rise to fame in Paris until his untimely death in 1978. This sprawling bio-pic features lush camera work and plenty of ‘70s style glam. You’ll only have one chance to catch Cloclo at the SFFF, and its lone screening will be preceded by the festival’s opening reception, starting at 6 p.m. in the Crest Theatre lobby. The reception will feature sets from DJs Christophe and Roger; food provided by Selland’s Market Cafe, Estelle’s Patisserie, Hot Italian and more; and an open bar courtesy of Barefoot Wine and Track 7 Brewery. If that’s not a good way to start a festival, I’m not sure what is.
Starbuck (2012)
Screenings:
June 22 at 1:05 p.m.;
June 23 at 1:20 p.m.
For something a bit lighter, check out Starbuck, a comedy that mushroomed into an unlikely international hit. The film follows the story of David, a forty-something slacker, who donated his sperm to a bank to make some extra cash. Due to a mix-up, his sperm went on to father more than 500 children, and 20 years after many of them are now filing a lawsuit to find out who’s the daddy (known only under the alias of Starbuck). If this sounds familiar, it’s because Hollywood is currently working on its own version of this film, Delivery Man, starring Vince Vaughn due out later this year. Check out the original French version first, so you can act all holier than thou when the American version is released (it’s fun, trust me). This is a fun, accessible film that shatters the myth that French films are all cigarette smoke and sadness (not that we don’t like those things too).
Les Miserables (1958)
Screening: June 30 at 1:25 p.m.
Maybe you were one of the many who swooned over the latest Hollywood musical reinterpretation of Les Miserables last winter? Well, this isn’t anything like that. You won’t find any tear-jerking songs, but you will be treated to perhaps the truest adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel ever to grace the silver screen. This is a bona fide big screen epic clocking in at more than three hours in length (this screening will also have a 20-minute intermission). Adapted and directed by Jean-Paul le Chanois and starring Jean Gabin as Jean Valjean, this is majestic filmmaking on par with classic Hollywood epics such as Ben Hur or Cleopatra.
Aaltra (2004)
Screening: June 29 at Midnight
The SFFF also has a couple of late night options for moviegoers who like films that push the envelope. When an altercation ends in two feuding neighbors getting their legs crushed by farm equipment, the duo must set out on the road across Europe to Finland to track down the tractor’s manufacturer. Aaltra seems to follow typical road trip mode, where two characters who really don’t get along are forced to band together and journey a great distance so comedy may ensue, but unlike other road trip movies, our two protagonists here make most of the trip via wheelchair. This dark comedy will probably make you feel bad for laughing at its jokes. Don’t worry, it’s just a movie. Laugh away. You won’t go to hell, I promise.
Thérèse (2012)
Screening: June 30 at 7:45 p.m.
American audiences fell hopelessly in love (at least I did) with French actress Audrey Tautou when Amelie made a huge splash here in the States. While that hasn’t necessarily translated into a huge career in Hollywood, the actress is still breaking hearts overseas with her Audrey Hepburn-esque looks and sensitive performances. Thérèse, based on the novel by François Mauriac, is the final film Claude Miller completed before he died and closed out last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Thérèse will have the same honors here at the SFFF and for good reason. This harrowing historical drama tells the story of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who never loses her free spirit. Tautou is also featured in another film shown at the SFFF, Delicacy, which will be screened June 28 at 6:15 p.m. and June 29 at 12:50 p.m. Thérèse will be followed by the festival’s closing night’s champagne party, which will also be held in the Crest Theatre lobby.
For more information and a full rundown of all the films featured in the Sacramento French Film Festival, go to Sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org.
Join the Sacramento French Film Festival for all things French-related and Gainsbourg-related on April 13, starting at 7:30 p.m. For the past four years, SFFF throws their annual Serge Gainsbourg tribute party in celebration of the French icon and this year, they’re at it again at Verge Center for the Arts (625 S Street). For only $7, sip on pastis cocktails, which is a French, licorice-flavored liqueur, while listening to live music provided by Afternoon Tea Cup Collection and Peter Petty IS Dirge Gainsbourg! But what the admission really gets you is a seat for screenings of short films inspired by and about Gainsbourg himself. Gainsbourg, who would’ve been 84 years old this year, was a singer/songwriter, director, actor and jack of all trades popular in the ’60s and ’70s. Celebrate his life along with the SFFF, who plans on keeping the night lively with a French pop dance party and music provided by DJs Roger Carpio and Christophe. Learn more at http://sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org/index.htm
Cafe Rolle
5357 H Street – Sacramento, Calif.
Every year when summer finally shines fully upon Sacramento, residents are shocked at the heat waves splashing over our city. But frankly, summer is synonymous with heat. Perhaps that’s why so many choose to live here. With heat, the barbecue gets used, the sprinkler gets run through, many visits occur to the park and the movie theater, we make sure our friends with boats take us out on the river. It’s a beautiful thing and we love summer.
With all of the wonderful aspect of life that summer features, creamy cold desserts deserve a special mention. Although ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, sorbet and blended drinks are common after-suppertries on summer evenings, crème brûlée is a perfectly creamy and cool treat that only a foodie fool could forget.
Like with any interesting person, cracking through the exterior shell (in this case, the hardened, caramelized sugar seal of the trop chic dessert) to get to the treasure beyond is part of the fun. With the coveted Sacramento French Film Festival currently screening, what better time to revisit such a simply sophisticated French dessert?
Crème brûlée has been found on nearly every restaurant menu at one point or another in the last few years and is as commonly known as other French dairy like Brie or chevre cheeses. It’s exotic, foreign and always met with eating intrigue and enthusiasm, yet very pure and simple.
Cream, egg yolks, vanilla bean (as opposed to extract), sugar and flame are plain ingredients that are met with great care, technique, timing and temperature to properly prepare crème custard to be burnt for your pleasure.
With vanilla being the only true flavoring, crème brûlée’s “wow” factor isn’t the taste–it’s the texture. The juxtaposition between rigid, glass-like, burnt sugar and the purest, weightless, cloud-like velvety vanilla cream creates the fabulous flavor.
On a recent lovely drive east down H Street from Midtown, I headed toward Café Rolle for an authentic and reasonably priced cool crème brûlée on a hot summer evening.
With the establishment closing at 7:30 p.m., I managed to grab a corner table before the quaint café closed.
Always on-site and taking the utmost pride in his work (tres francais), server/manager Rafik Rabehi described the desserts du jour when I requested a menu. The crème brûlée of the day was baked with blackberries and chilled before being sugared and torched.
Sold! And it was everything I had hoped it would be. For only $5 (4.03 euros at current exchange), my crème brûlée was freshly flambéed and served in an individual ramekin the diameter of a softball, with fresh blackberries and the best flavor and texture.
Oh hot summer heat and cool treats! Je vous adore!
After my cool crème brûlée encounter, I walked away, grinning like a fool, as if I just met my next ex-boyfriend. The experience was spiritual, inexpensive and inspiring.
The only thing better would be a French film and then a crème brûlée of the day.
