May 2014 : FROM STORIES TO MOVIES
French Novels And Cinema
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Tuesday May 6th @ 6:45pm
A Secret Synopsis: The film follows Maxime Nathan and his Jewish family in France during the years leading up to World War II. François Grimbert grows up in Paris in the 1950s. He is the skinny, sickly son of two marvelously athletic parents, Tania and Maxime . For a while, he dreams of a stronger, fitter, more charismatic older brother to compensate for his own feelings of inadequacy. Only gradually does he learn of his parents' tragic past and that he has a sibling — a half-brother named Simon, his father's first son. Simon is the big secret, but the discovery opens the door to further revelations and deeper enigmas. François knows that his parents met sometime around the war, and he imagines their courtship and marriage in the shadow of atrocities which nobody talks about any more. Directed by Claude Miller Released in 2007 Starring Cécile de France, Patrick Bruel, Ludivine Sagnier, Julie Depardieu, Mathieu Amalric 100 min. | In French with English Subtitles |
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Tuesday May 13th @ 6:45pm
Persepolis Synopsis: In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Statrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own. With Marji dangerously refusing to remain silent at this injustice, her parents send her abroad to Vienna to study for a better life. However, this change proves an equally difficult trial with the young woman finding herself in a different culture loaded with abrasive characters and profound disappointments that deeply trouble her. Even when she returns home, Marji finds that both she and homeland have changed too much and the young woman and her loving family must decide where she truly belongs. Directed by Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud Released in 2007 Dubbing: Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darieux 95 min. | In French with English Subtitles |
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Tuesday May 20th @ 6:45pm
I've Loved You So long Synopsis: Juliette was 15 years in prison. Confronted with the unexpected goodness of her younger sister, Léa, who makes Juliette a part of her family, very slowly breaks up Juliette's ice and bitterness and she carefully opens up. Directed by Philippe Claudel Released in 2008 Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylbertstein, Serge Hazanavicius 117 min. | In French with English Subtitles |
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Tuesday May 27th @ 6:45pm
A Very Long Engagement Synopsis: Five desperate French soldiers during The Battle of the Somme shoot themselves, either by accident or with purpose, in order to be invalided back home. Having been "caught" a court-martial convenes and determines punishment to be banishment to No Man's Land with the objective of having the Germans finish them off. In the process of telling this tale each man's life is briefly explored along with their next of kin as Methilde, fiancée to one of the men, tries to determine the circumstances of her lover's death. This task is not made any easier for her due to a bout with polio as a child. Along the way she discovers the heights and depths of the human soul. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet Released in 2004 Starring Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Jodie Foster 133 min. | In French with English Subtitles |