Jean De Florette is a wonderful French film. Making its debut in 1987, the film stars Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil. The beautiful setting for this movie is 1920's Provence, France.

Jean De Florette, the main character, is played by Depardieu. Jean makes his living as a tax collector in the city, until one day he inherits a plot of land in Provence. Only too happy to make a move to the country for a new beginning, he arrives in Provence with family in tow. He is joyously looking forward to working a garden and raising small livestock, all the while utilizing a wonderful fresh water spring that is located on the property.

Unknown to Jean De Florette, his "new" neighbors have long had their eyes on his newly inherited piece of heaven. They scheme against Jean and begin to make his life of farming unbearable. They are motivated by their belief that if they can discourage Jean enough, he will fold like a cheap card table, and sell his land to the first buyer. They block the natural spring, conceal its location from Jean, and sit back to see what happens.

I'll be the first to admit that a story about the tribulations of a rural farmer in 1920's France doesn't sound that interesting. However, that's not really what this film is all about. This film is an interesting study in human nature. Jean De Florette is a must see film for anyone interested in exploring the realm of French Film. This movie is as much a staple to French cinema, as baguettes are a staple to French cuisine.

The official FFG rating of this film is 8.

"White" is the second of movie in the Three colors, trilogy by Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowki. This is a movie of irony, tragedy, and comedy.

This movie tells the story of Karol Karol, a Polish immigrant, who has found himself barely treading water in the scum pond that has become his life. His gorgeous wife Dominique, played Julie Delpy, is totally unsatisfied in her marriage to Karol. So, she decides to file for the big D.

Once divorced Karol finds his bank accounts frozen, and his worldly possesions fitting into one trunk. Understandably so, he becomes desperate to get out of France and go back home to Poland. Coming up with what he believes to be a brilliant scheme, he succesfully convinces a fellow Pole to smuggle him back to his homeland in a suitcase.

Just when we think things couldn't get any worse for Karol, they do! The suitcase he is being smuggled in gets stolen from the airport!! Once the thieves find out they have gotten a middle aged Pole instead of gold bars their frustrations are taken out by the fistfuls on Karol. After finding himself dumped into a gravel pit, broken down emotionally, mentally, and physically he finds all there is left to do is plot his revenge.

Karol picks himself up, dusts himself off, and determinedly goes forth. Finding himself strolling through a field of good luck after working hard to refuel his career, he finds a most opportune time to begin his revenge.....

This Valentine's Day make romantic movies part of your special evening!

French Film Girl would like to share her top ten absolute "romantilicious" film faves with you...

Titanic....Haunting
Chocolat.....Delicious
Dr. Zhivago.....Yearning
Henry & June........Exotic
The Notebook...........Dreamy
Cold Mountain.............Chivalrous
The Lover........................Passionate
Wuthering Heights..............Obsession
The English Patient.................Lovesick
Like Water For Chocolate.............Steamy

Many accoutrements are available to you so you can create the perfect ambiance for your Valentine evening... candles, champagne, flowers, and chocolate are always fantastique!

"Blue" is the first of three films in the "Colors Trilogy" directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski.

This is a 1993 French film set in Paris, and stars Juliette Binoche as Julie de Courcy.

"Blue" is a very intense film dealing with deep human emotion. The title is very à propos.

The story begins with an automobile accident that devastates the 33-year-old Julie's life. Although she is only injured, the crash proves fatal for her husband and daughter. In the blink of an eye her world, as she knows it, has come to a precipitous end.

Although Julie makes a full physical recovery, her mental state is fragile as she grapples with an emotional recovery. She tries to deal with her immense grief and find some sense of closure so she can begin life anew.

Julie's husband was a famous composer, and was working on a commissioned concerto at the time of his death. The piece is left unfinished, and his music haunts her. Julie also learns her late husband has had a lover for years. She finds herself now entangled in a passionate mix of love/hate emotions.

As if that were not enough, Julie's husband's assistant, Olivier, has been in love with her for a long time. So she is soon faced with deciding whether she is ready to risk emotional intimacy, and move on with Olivier in her life.

This is a powerful film that evokes thought and emotion in the viewer. It is definitely a must see film. The official FFG rating for this movie is a 10.

This 1994 French film is part three of the Three Colors Trilogy directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski. The trilogy includes the movies "Blue", "White" and "Red". The movies coincide with the three colors of the French flag.

"Three Colors, Red" stars Irene Jacob as a young model named Valentine. She experiences a chance meeting with a bitter older man, and soon realizes the man has a penchant for spying on his neighbors.

The man is lonely, and although he lives vicariously through the lives of others, she comes to understand him.

As her understanding of this man deepens, she discovers an unbelievable link that binds them together.

This knowledge takes her on amazing journey.

This is a fabulous movie, and is a perfect example of why I love this type of film making. Check it out, and maybe you will realize you're a French Film Fanatic too!

If you love Johnny Depp, wait no longer for your fix. Get to the theater and see him and Tim Burton create cinemagic.

Sweeney Todd, originally a Broadway musical, tells the story of Benjamin Barkerd. Benjamin is sent away for a crime he did not committ, and once freed, opens up a barber shop in downtown London. Using the barber shop as a cover, he vows vengence upon those who wrongfully made him suffer.

Below the barber shop is Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pie Shop. Upon meeting Mrs. Lovett, Helena Bonham Carter, a mutually beneficial partnership blooms.

This wonderfully sinful Tim Burton version of Sweeney Todd won 2 Golden Globe Awards. Depp & Burton are magnicient together. Be ready for a movie that promises "The closest shave you will ever see..."

Our gray rain filled skies bring to mind one of my favorite stories of all time...

Wuthering Heights, the only novel written by Emily Bronte, was published in 1847.

Generally considered a classic, this is a tale about a passionate, turbulent, and ultimately engulfing love affair.

The symbolic setting of the story, which takes place on the Yorkshire Moors, adds an air of apprehension and foreboding to the story. The continually turbulent weather, gives us a glimpse into the romance between Heathcliff and Catherine Linton.

The love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine is brilliantly illumated by Bronte to show us the power of true love. This power can bring about obession, destruction, and misery just as easily as it can bring about euphoria, lust, and bliss.

Neverminding the rain, make yourself a cup of tea, or pour a nice glass of wine. Snuggle down under the softest blanket you can find, and read the novel or watch the DVD. Don't be alarmed if you hear scratching at your window pane or see a beautiful rain soak woman looking in desolately.

Well, it is that time of year again....

I am surrounded by versions of my favorite author, Charles Dickens, amazing tale of proverbial proportions, A Christmas Carol.

This is a wonderful story illuminating life, love, selfishness, and redemption.

Through a spiritually induced epiphany, Ebenezer Scrooge, a crotchety miser, is transformed into a life embracing gleeful fellow. Those who know him can hardly believe the overnight transformation, and declare it a miracle!

Tiny Tim's famous line, "God Bless Us, Everyone!", is whiskey sauce on the bread pudding!

Enjoy.

This time of year always makes me think of the film Doctor Zhivago. The winter comes, and I have visions of fur bearing Omar Sharif standing alone with Julie Christie in a beautiful abandoned ice house.

This epic movie, based on the novel by Boris Pasternak, was origianlly released in 1965.

Doctor Yuri Zhivago, played by Omar Sharif, is a man torn between two women. Although married, Yuri meets nurse Lara, played by Julie Christie, and falls in love with her. The chaos and inhumanity of the Russian revolution add a tragic feel to this movie.

Doctor Zhivago was update in 2003 as a miniseries, starring Sam MacLintock as Yuri, and Keira Knightley as Lara. Check out this version as an updated alternative to the original.

Once banned in the Soviet Union, this film is undoubtedly one of the world’s most famous love stories. It is a must see for your winter movie watching!

The official FFG rating of this film is a 10.

A psychological thriller about "Mr. Earl Brooks" (Kevin Costner) who received a “Man of the Year” award and seems like a nice enough guy, except sometimes he becomes possessed by his psychotic alter ego "Marshall" (William Hurt) and goes on bloody murderous rampages. Hot on his trail is a sexy police detective "Tracy Atwood" (Demi Moore) who develops an unusual bond with the slippery, split-personality serial killer. Watch (Mr. Brooks) Trailer.

Join the U-M center for Chinese Studies for a reception and showing of Bumming in Beijing on Monday December 3rd beginning at 6:30 with an opportunity to meet the film director, Wu Wenguang. This is an excellent forum to experience before reading The Eighth Promise: An American Son's Tribute to his Toisanese Mother, the chosen book for the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads. Copies are available now!

Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is recently widowed but would like to get back into the dating game. Unfortunately, the first woman he falls for is his brother's (Dane Cook) girlfriend Marie (Juliette Binoche). This is a blissfully funny and touching romantic comedy; the real thing is that its characters manage to be romantic, hilarious and recognizably human at the same time. I was entertained and felt pretty good...so will you! Watch Dan in Real Life Trailer.

In 1970s Harlem, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) is a quiet, unassuming driver to one of NYC's most notorious drug lords. When his boss suddenly dies, Frank steps into the power vacuum to become an even bigger crime kingpin. Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is the hardnosed cop determined to bring Frank to justice. This is a gangster movie based on a true story. It focused on character rather than action and on the intricacies of people's backgrounds, strategies and motivations, a sprawling, fascinating look into the complicated mind and operations of the head of a crime syndicate. Watch (American Gangster) Trailer.

Water is a controversial and thought provoking 2006 film directed by Deepa Mehta. The film's setting is 1930's India. The main characters are widows who are forced to live solitary existences. In traditional Hindu culture, when a husband dies, the wife is forced into living out the rest of her life away from society in an ashram. Although, this chaste and meager existence is better than the traditional alternative of being cremated along with the husband, it is similar to a life of imprisonment.

But what happens when 8 year old Chuyia becomes a widow, and is forced to live this way? Her spunk, questioning, and need to live the life of an 8 year old make the women contemplate why this tradition even exists. Kalyani takes Chuyia under her wing, and the story unfolds from there.

This is a film not to be missed because of its questioning of traditional religious beliefs, and the exploration of women's rights. The setting, actors, and cinematography all come together to make this a wonderful and beautiful film. The official FFG rating of this movie is 9.

The Michigan Theater is hosting the 14th Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival Saturday November 10th and Sunday November 11. The festival presents a wide range of films that are indicative of contemporary Polish Cinema. In our collection we have The Double Life of Veronique also in Polish. It features 1991 Cannes Festival winner Irene Jacob. Tickets are sold at the theater before each screening. Perhaps Polish Poetry is your preference. See our catalog for a look at our Foreign Language Collection.