A monthly online film club to discuss French film
French Cinémathèque
Each month we choose a French film or series currently available to stream, watch it independently, and come together for a hosted conversation with other fans of French film.
Our next meeting will be about Emilia Perez, directed by Jacques Audiard.
Join us Monday, January 13th at 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT / 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT.
Popular from France
La Haine
In the banlieues of France, the immigrant populations' resentment simmers away -- until it starts to boil.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States • 1995
- Director Mathieu Kassovitz
- Cast Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Saïd Taghmaoui, Abdel Ahmed Ghili, Souleymane Dicko, Héloïse Rauth
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video
Tour de France: Unchained
(Tour de France : Au cœur du peloton)
A behind the scenes look at the Tour de France.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United Kingdom • 2023
- Creator
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
(Portrait de la jeune fille en feu)
Marianne, a painter, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2019
- Director Céline Sciamma
- Cast Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino, Christel Baras, Armande Boulanger
- Genre Drama, History, Romance
- Available on Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
(Miraculous, les aventures de Ladybug et Chat Noir)
Normal high school kids by day, protectors of Paris by night!
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Korea, Japan • 2015
- Creator Thomas Astruc
- Cast Annouck Hautbois, Benjamin Bollen, Antoine Tomé, Marie Nonnenmacher
- Genre Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids
- Available on Netflix, Amazon Video, fuboTV, Disney Plus, Spectrum On Demand, DisneyNOW, Netflix basic with Ads
The Billionaire, the Butler, and the Boyfriend
(L'Affaire Bettencourt : Scandale chez la femme la plus riche du monde)
How did a conflict between the world's wealthiest woman and her daughter spiral into national scandal?
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2023
- Creator
- Cast Liliane Bettencourt, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, François-Marie Banier, Nicolas Sarkozy
- Genre Crime, Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Return to Seoul
(Retour à Séoul)
A 25-year-old French woman returns to Korea - the country she was born in before being adopted by a French couple - for the very first time.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Germany, Belgium • 2022
- Director Davy Chou
- Cast Park Ji-min, Oh Gwang-rok, Guka Han, Kim Sun-young, Heo Jin, Yoann Zimmer
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
A Kid
(Le fils de Jean)
A man travels to Quebec to attend the funeral of his estranged father.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada • 2016
- Director Philippe Lioret
- Cast Pierre Deladonchamps, Gabriel Arcand, Catherine de Léan, Marie-Thérèse Fortin, Pierre-Yves Cardinal
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, OVID, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Kanopy
Class Act
(Tapie)
In this fictionalized biopic about Bernard Tapie, a relentlessly ambitious working-class man becomes one of France's most controversial public figures.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2023
- Creator Tristan Séguéla, Olivier Demangel
- Cast Laurent Lafitte, Joséphine Japy, Patrick d'Assumçao, Ophélia Kolb, Camille Chamoux, Ivan Murphy
- Genre Drama
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Drops of God
(Les gouttes de Dieu)
A wine mogul's daughter and his student must compete for the chance to inherit the world's greatest wine collection.
- France • 2023
- Creator Quoc Dang Tran
- Cast Tomohisa Yamashita, Fleur Geffrier
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV Plus, Apple TV Plus Amazon Channel
Lucy
Most people only use 10% of their brains. She unlocks the full 100% – and the powers that come with it.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Taiwan, Germany • 2014
- Director Luc Besson
- Cast Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Choi Min-sik, Amr Waked, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Pilou Asbæk
- Genre Action, Science Fiction
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
High Life
A father and daughter must rely on each other to survive a dangerous mission to deep space.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, France, United Kingdom • 2018
- Director Claire Denis
- Cast Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, André Benjamin, Mia Goth, Agata Buzek, Lars Eidinger
- Genre Drama, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Kanopy
CODA
Every family has its own language.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States • 2021
- Director Siân Heder
- Cast Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Eugenio Derbez, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant
- Genre Drama, Music, Romance
- Available on Apple TV Plus, Apple TV Plus Amazon Channel
Taken
An ex-spy must pull out all the stops to save his daughter after she is kidnapped by human traffickers.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States • 2008
- Director Pierre Morel
- Cast Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Famke Janssen, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky
- Genre Action, Thriller
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Lost Highway
A tormented jazz musician finds himself lost in an enigmatic story involving murder, surveillance, and inexplicable dreams.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States • 1997
- Director David Lynch
- Cast Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty, Robert Blake, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Richard Pryor
- Genre Drama, Mystery, Thriller
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube
Alphonse
A chameleon-like man makes it his mission to please women and satisfy all their wishes.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2023
- Creator Nicolas Bedos
- Cast Jean Dujardin, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Pierre Arditi, Nicole Garcia, Laura Morante, Marie-Christine Barrault
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
New from France
High & Low – John Galliano
This documentary shares the life and controversial career of John Galliano.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, United States, France • 2023
- Director Kevin Macdonald
- Cast John Galliano, Naomi Campbell, Penélope Cruz, Anna Wintour, Edward Enninful, Charlize Theron
- Genre Documentary
- Available on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video
Grand Illusion
(La Grande Illusion)
During WWI, a group of French prisoners of war grapple with their class differences as they plot their escape.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 1937
- Director Jean Renoir
- Cast Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Pierre Fresnay, Erich von Stroheim, Georges Péclet
- Genre Drama, History, War
- Available on Kanopy, Darkroom
The Beast
(La bête)
In a world where emotions have become a threat, Gabrielle decides to purify her DNA and rid herself of feelings.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada • 2023
- Director Bertrand Bonello
- Cast Léa Seydoux, George MacKay, Philippe Katerine, Veronica Szawarska, Tom Neal, Tiffany Hofstetter
- Genre Drama, Romance, Science Fiction
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Aquarius
Sometimes staying put is the greatest challenge.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Brazil, France • 2016
- Director Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Cast Sônia Braga, Maeve Jinkings, Irandhir Santos, Humberto Carrão, Fernando Teixeira, Zoraide Coleto
- Genre Drama
- Available on Kino Film Collection, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
La Chimera
Arthur, an archaeologist with a supernatural gift for locating Etruscan relics, reunites with a ragtag group of tomb raiders.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France, Switzerland • 2023
- Director Alice Rohrwacher
- Cast Isabella Rossellini, Josh O'Connor, Carol Duarte, Alba Rohrwacher, Vincenzo Nemolato, Chiara Pazzaglia
- Genre Drama
- Available on Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Vengeance
(復仇)
A violent action-thriller featuring a French former assassin desperate for revenge.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hong Kong, France • 2009
- Director Johnnie To
- Cast Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Gordon Lam, Lam Suet, Simon Yam, Sylvie Testud
- Genre Action, Thriller
- Available on Plex, Plex Channel
Young Soul Rebels
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, France, Germany • 1991
- Director Isaac Julien
- Cast Valentine Nonyela, Sophie Okonedo, Jason Durr, Frances Barber, Mo Sesay, Dorian Healy
- Genre Drama, Mystery, Music
- Available on Criterion Channel, Dekkoo, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Driving Madeleine
(Une belle course)
Before moving into her nursing home, Madeleine asks her taxi driver to stop at places important to her past.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2022
- Director Christian Carion
- Cast Line Renaud, Dany Boon, Alice Isaaz, Gwendoline Hamon, Hadriel Roure, Elie Kaempfen
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Plex
Kamouraska
The story of one woman's destructive commitment to an ideal love.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada • 1973
- Director Claude Jutra
- Cast Geneviève Bujold, Richard Jordan, Marcel Cuvelier, Suzie Baillargeon, Huguette Oligny, Philippe Léotard
- Genre Drama, History
- Available on Apple TV
Telescope Recommends
The Wide Blue Road
(La grande strada azzurra)
A local fisherman turns to illegal methods to support his family.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France, West Germany • 1957
- Director Maleno Malenotti
- Cast Yves Montand, Alida Valli, Francisco Rabal, Umberto Spadaro, Terence Hill, Peter Carsten
- Genre Romance, Drama
- Available on Kanopy
Shoah
Claude Lanzmann's Holocaust documentary reveals the horrors of the Nazi genocide and exposes the persistence of anti-Semitism in Europe.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United Kingdom • 1985
- Director Claude Lanzmann
- Cast Simon Srebnik, Michael Podchlebnik, Motke Zaidl, Claude Lanzmann, Jan Karski
- Genre Documentary, History
- Available on AMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Le Petit Soldat
(Le petit soldat)
Split between love and his country, a French deserter during the Algerian war is forced to prove his loyalty.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 1963
- Director Jean-Luc Godard
- Cast Michel Subor, Anna Karina, Henri-Jacques Huet, Paul Beauvais, László Szabó, Georges de Beauregard
- Genre Drama, War
- Available on Criterion Channel
I Am Not a Witch
An 8-year-old girl is convicted of witchcraft and brought to a penal colony where witches do hard labor.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, France, Germany • 2017
- Director Rungano Nyoni
- Cast Maggie Mulubwa, Henry B.J. Phiri, Gloria Huwiler, Nellie Munamonga, Dyna Mufuni
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Metrograph, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
L'Avventura
(L'avventura)
A new adventure in filmmaking...
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1960
- Director Michelangelo Antonioni
- Cast Gabriele Ferzetti, Monica Vitti, Lea Massari, Dominique Blanchar, Renzo Ricci, James Addams
- Genre Drama, Mystery
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Kanopy, Darkroom
Incendies
The search began at the opening of their mother's will.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada, France • 2010
- Director Denis Villeneuve
- Cast Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Rémy Girard, Allen Altman, Abdelghafour Elaaziz
- Genre Drama, Mystery, War
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV
The Death of Louis XIV
(La mort de Louis XIV)
King Louis XIV feels a sharp pain in his leg and slowly begins to die surrounded by his loyal followers.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Spain, Portugal • 2016
- Director Albert Serra
- Cast Jean-Pierre Léaud, Patrick d'Assumçao, Marc Susini, Bernard Belin, Irène Silvagni, Vicenç Altaió
- Genre Drama, History
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Ernest & Celestine
(Ernest et Célestine)
When mouse Celestine meets bear Ernest, they overcome their learned animosity by forging a life of crime together.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Belgium, Luxembourg • 2012
- Director Benjamin Renner
- Cast Anne-Marie Loop, Lambert Wilson, Pauline Brunner, Patrice Melennec, Brigitte Virtudes, Léonard Louf
- Genre Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family
- Available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Tubi TV
Mustang
In a small Turkish village, five sisters struggle against the restrictions of their conservative family.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Turkey, France, Germany • 2015
- Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven
- Cast Güneş Nezihe Şensoy, Doğa Zeynep Doğuşlu, Elit İşcan, Tuğba Sunguroğlu, Ilayda Akdoğan, Nihal Koldaş
- Genre Drama
- Available on Fandor Amazon Channel, Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, Cineverse, Kanopy
French Series
Tour de France: Unchained
(Tour de France : Au cœur du peloton)
A behind the scenes look at the Tour de France.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United Kingdom • 2023
- Creator
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Raël: The Alien Prophet
(Raël : Le prophète des extraterrestres)
A docuseries following the origins of Raëlism, a UFO inspired religious sect.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2024
- Creator
- Cast Raël
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
(Jayce et les Conquérants de la lumière)
Teenager Jayce and his friends search for the only weapon that could defeat their mortal enemies.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada, United States • 1985
- Creator J. Michael Straczynski, Jean Chalopin
- Cast Darrin Baker, Charles Jolliffe, Valerie Politis, Len Carlson, Gilles Tamiz, Giulio Kukurugya
- Genre Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Available on Apple TV, Fandango At Home
Martin Mystery
(Martin Mystère)
Stepsiblings Martin and Diana investigate the paranormal and protect Earth from the supernatural.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada, Italy • 2003
- Creator David Michel
- Cast Alexis Tomassian, Dorothée Pousséo, Sylvain Lemarie, Yann Le Madic, Laurence Dourlens, Emmanuel Garijo
- Genre Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- Available on The Roku Channel
Queen of Swords
To avenge her father and protect her hometown, a young woman becomes a mysterious vigilante.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, France, United Kingdom • 2000
- Creator
- Cast Tessie Santiago, Anthony Lemke, Elsa Pataky, Peter Wingfield, Valentine Pelka, Paulina Gálvez
- Genre Action & Adventure, Western
- Available on Tubi TV, Amazon Prime Video, Plex, Freevee, DistroTV, Plex Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Oggy and the Cockroaches
(Oggy et les Cafards)
Follow the antics of Oggy the cat and his three cockroach roommates.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada • 1999
- Creator Jean-Yves Raimbaud
- Cast
- Genre Animation, Comedy
- Available on Tubi TV, The Roku Channel
Napoleon
(Napoléon)
Expert soldier and tactician Napoleon Bonaparte rises from an unpaid soldier to the most powerful man in Europe.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Germany, Italy • 2002
- Creator Yves Simoneau, Max Gallo
- Cast Christian Clavier, Isabella Rossellini, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu, Anouk Aimée, Heino Ferch
- Genre Drama, War & Politics
- Available on Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
The Adventures of Tintin
A young reporter and his dog travel around the world solving mysteries.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada, Belgium • 1991
- Creator Hergé
- Cast Thierry Wermuth
- Genre Action & Adventure, Animation
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Bernard
A curious polar bear travels around the world exploring and investigating.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Korea, Spain • 2006
- Creator José Luis Ucha
- Cast
- Genre Animation
- Available on Apple TV, Toon Goggles
Spiral
(Engrenages)
Eager to restore her tarnished reputation, Police Captain Laure Berthaud leads her squad on the hunt for a serial killer.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2005
- Creator Alexandra Clert, Guy-Patrick Sainderichin
- Cast Caroline Proust, Philippe Duclos, Audrey Fleurot, Thierry Godard
- Genre Drama, Mystery, Action & Adventure
- Available on Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla, MZ Choice Amazon Channel, Mhz Choice, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
The Secret World of Santa Claus
(Le Monde secret du Père Noël)
Every year, Santa Claus and his elves are kept busy preparing for Christmas.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada • 1997
- Creator Christian Choquet, Prakash Topsy
- Cast Benoît Allemane, Thor Bishopric, Mélanie Dermont, Aurélien Ringelheim
- Genre Animation, Family
- Available on Apple TV, Amazon Video
The Bellflower Bunnies
(La Famille Passiflore)
Based on the books by Genevieve Huriet, “The Bellflower Bunnies” follows a family of rabbits
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Canada • 2001
- Creator Geneviève Huriet
- Cast
- Genre Animation, Kids
- Available on Amazon Video
Mafiosa
The most dangerous man in Corsica is a woman.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2006
- Creator Hugues Pagan
- Cast Hélène Fillières, Véronique Volta
- Genre Drama
- Available on MZ Choice Amazon Channel, Mhz Choice
Death in Paradise
A pasty English detective is transferred to a tropical paradise and has to adjust to a new form of policing.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, France • 2011
- Creator Robert Thorogood
- Cast Ralf Little, Don Warrington, Élisabeth Bourgine
- Genre Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, BritBox, BritBox Amazon Channel, Hoopla, Pluto TV, Britbox Apple TV Channel
Candice Renoir
After putting her career on standby for 10 years, Candice Renoir returns to her detective job with her enthusiastic flair.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2013
- Creator Solen Roy-Pagenault, Robin Barataud, Brigitte Peskine
- Cast Cécile Bois, Raphaël Lenglet
- Genre Comedy, Crime
- Available on Acorn TV, AcornTV Amazon Channel, Spectrum On Demand, Acorn TV Apple TV