Continues through the weekend, Friday-Sunday 7-9 November 2014, Vogue Theater, 3290 Sacramento Street, San Francisco


The San Francisco Film Society's fall series French Cinema Now. I have already reviewed three of the films, and will cover a few more. Here is the schedule. Click on the linked titles for my reviews.

Paris Follies/La Ritournelle (Marc Fitoussi 2014)
Appearing onscreen together for the first time, Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Pierre Darroussin embody the earthy chemistry of long-married spouses in this story of a cattle farmer and his restless wife. (11 June French release; AlloCiné press rating 3.4.)
November 6, 2014, 7:00 p.m.
November 8, 2014, 4:15 p.m.

The Last Diamond/Le dernier diamant (Eric Barbier 2014)
Simon is fresh out of jail but can’t resist a chance at a soon-to-be auctioned 137-carat gem. He poses as a security consultant to get close to Julia, the woman in charge of the jewel’s upcoming sale. (30 Apr. French release; AlloCiné press rating 3.1.)
November 6, 2014, 9:30 p.m.



Girlhood/Bande de filles (Céline Sciamma 2014)
Director Céline Sciamma once again examines the way young women define and present themselves in this engaging look at 16-year-old Marieme, who finds herself involved a girl gang in the projects of suburban Paris. (23 Oct. French release; AlloCiné press rating: 3.8.)
November 7, 2014, 6:30 p.m.



Love at First Fight/Les combattants[ (Thomas Cailley 2014)
In this idiosyncratic romantic comedy, Arnaud is literally knocked off his feet when he ends up wrestling with, and nearly losing to, an intense young woman at an army recruitment event. FIPRESCI Prize Director's Fortnight, Cannes. (20 Aug. French release; AlloCiné press rating 4.1.)
November 7, 2014, 9:00 p.m.



The Good Life/La belle vie (Jean Denizot 2014) [REVIEWED]
Sylvain, his brother Pierre and their father Yves lead a rustic existence, in harmony with nature, away from society. But when missing children flyers appear in the nearby town, the boys realize that something’s afoot. (9 Apr. French release; AlloCiné press rating 3.4.)
November 8, 2014, 2:00 p.m.



Two Days, One Night/Deux jours, une nuit (Jean-Pierre, Luc Dardenne 2014) [REVIEWED--NYFF]
The Dardennes brothers have created a humanist thriller that focuses on one woman’s quest to survive while grappling with humble dreams, the daily strains of the working class and the devastating effects of a downsized culture. (21 May French release; AlloCiné press rating 4.1.)
November 8, 2014, 7:00 p.m.



Love Is the Perfect Crime/L'Amour est un crime parfait (A., J-M. Larrieu 2013) [REVIEWED--R-V]
When one of Marc’s students (and recent romantic conquests) vanishes, he finds himself juggling his attraction to the girl’s beautiful stepmother, the advances of another young student, and paranoia about his possible role in the disappearance. (15 Jan. French release; AlloCiné press rating 3.2.)
November 8, 2014, 9:30 p.m.



Three Men to Kill (Jacques Deray 1980--restoration) [REVIEWED]
While on his way to a high-stakes card game, gambler Michel Gerfaut comes across a solo car wreck on a country road. But this crash is no accident, and Michel soon finds himself the target of ruthless arms dealers.
November 9, 2014, 1:00 p.m.



One of a Kind/Mon âme par toi guérie (François Dupeyron 2013) [REVIEWED]
Though he would like to deny it, Frédi has a gift for healing. One night, an accident compels him to use his talents and soon, much to his chagrin, patients start lining up outside his trailer door. (25 Sept. French release; AlloCiné press rating 3.5.)
November 9, 2014, 3:15 p.m.



The Easy Way Out/L'art de la fugue (Brice Cauvin 2014) [PREVIEW] ]
The romantic travails of three brothers are dissected with heart and humor in Brice Cauvin’s charming feature. The brothers, all in different stages of falling in or out of love, are played by some of the finest actors in France today including Agnès Jaoui, Guy Marchand. (8 March 2015 French release.)
November 9, 2014, 6:00 p.m.

Clouds of Sils Maria (Oivier Assayas 2014)) [REVIEWED, NYFF]
Mysterious and exhilarating, Olivier Assayas’s new film starring Juliette Binoche and Kristin Stewart is a triumph of precision acting and a snaking study of sexuality, acting, aging, ambition and the intermingling of art and experience. (20 Aug. French release; AlloCineé press rating 3.8.)
November 9, 2014, 9:00 p.m.

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©Chris Knipp. Blog: http://chrisknipp.blogspot.com/.