French fest fields merry mix of noteworthy films
“Sophie’s Misfortunes”
Since I’m a Parisienne trapped in a Pinay’s body, I am more than excited about the 22nd French Film Festival (FFF), to be held from June 9 to 17 at Greenbelt 3 Cinemas and the BHS Central Square Cinemas.
The FFF is the most anticipated event of the yearlong “PhilFrance: Feel French!” festival, launched by the French Embassy last January to celebrate the 70th anniversary of French-Philippine diplomatic relations.
For the first time ever, the FFF will have free public outdoor screenings at Circuit Makati on June 17 and 18. As a French quote goes, “Le cinéma, c’est l’écriture moderne dont l’encre est la lumière”—which means, cinema is the form of modern writing whose ink is light.
For Francophiles comme moi, here’s the 2017 FFF lineup (visit ph.ambafrance.org for screening schedule). Allons au cinema! (Let’s go to the movies.):
“Les Malheurs de Sophie” (Sophie’s Misfortunes): From her castle, little Sophie can’t resist the temptation of the forbidden. She struggles to escape her stepmother’s clutches.
“Nocturama”: A group of young people from different backgrounds launch into a strange ballet in the metro tunnels and streets. They converge at a department store when it’s closing time.
“Un Château en Italie” (A Castle in Italy): When a woman encounters a man, her dreams resurface. It’s a story of a family falling apart, the end of an era and a budding romance.
“Je suis un Soldat” (I am a Soldier): A woman who works at a hub for trafficking dogs rapidly takes control of a male-dominated field.
“Tour de France”: The film follows the improbable friendship that develops between a rapper and a builder.
“Les Chevaliers Blancs”: It examines the fate of 300 orphan victims of the Chadian civil war and the French nationals who want to adopt them.
“21 Nuits avec Pattie” (21 Nights with Pattie): It centers on a village girl who likes to talk about her affairs with men.
“Jamais de la Vie” (The Night Watchman): A night watchman who’s bored with his life seizes an opportunity to feel alive again.
“L’ombre des Femmes” (In the Shadow of Women): It’s about a man torn between his wife and mistress. Things get even more complicated when he finds out his wife also has a lover.
“Le Dernier Diamant” (The Last Diamond): A thief released on parole carries out the biggest job of his life—to steal a mythical diamond.
“Géronimo”: A social educator tries to ease tensions between youngsters in the south of France.
“Bastille Day”: An American pickpocket living in Paris, who’s on top of the CIA’s “Most Wanted List,” gets embroiled in a large-scale conspiracy.
“Personal Shopper”: An American personal shopper of a celeb in Paris has the ability to communicate with spirits.
