The French film 'Under Paris', directed by Xavier Gens, has become a surprise success on Netflix, surpassing 'La Grande Vadrouille' to become the most-watched French film of all time on the streaming platform. Gens, who wanted to pay tribute to 'Jaws' and create a metaphor for showbusiness and the destruction of the ultimate blockbuster, used Hollywood tricks to make the film visually spectacular and subversive. The movie features a mutated shark terrorizing Paris during the Olympics and combines cultural satire, environmental themes, and gory fun. Gens aimed to balance satire and credible scares, challenging the conventions of Hollywood endings. The film also critiques human greed and the perils of entertainment, highlighting environmental issues and the consequences of human decisions. 'Under Paris' has reached over 70 million views on Netflix, breaking records and solidifying Gens' approach to making French cinema that is entertaining, visually ambitious, and maintains creative freedom [9e9651e1].
Director Xavier Gens has hinted at the possibility of a sequel to 'Under Paris' in an interview with Variety. While a sequel has not yet been greenlit, Gens expressed interest in exploring a submerged Paris and expanding the narrative to other cities like Tokyo, Bangkok, or Venice. The popularity of the first film, which initially earned a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes before settling at 63%, makes it a strong candidate for a sequel. The ending of 'Under Paris' sets the stage for a continuation, with the city flooded and infested with sharks. Gens envisions a pre-apocalyptic narrative that explores the global ramifications of the events depicted in the first film [cad28fac].
The French film 'Madeleine Collins' has received a positive review from France Today magazine. The film, directed by Antoine Barraud, tells the story of Judith, played by Virginie Efira, who lives a double life as Margot in Switzerland and Judith in France. She navigates the delicate balance between her two lives, living with her partner Abdel and their daughter in Switzerland, and with renowned orchestra conductor Melvil and their two sons in France. However, this fragile equilibrium begins to crumble, leading to complications and dangerous consequences. The review praises Virginie Efira's performance, describing it as standout. The film explores the reasons behind Judith's lies and the lengths she goes to keep her two lives separate. 'Madeleine Collins' is a compelling exploration of identity and the consequences of living a double life [a9854462].
Directed by Houda Benyamina, 'The Divines' is a captivating film that explores the turbulent lives of two best friends, Dounia and Maimouna, played brilliantly by Oulaya Amamra and Déborah Lukumuena, respectively. Set against the backdrop of poverty in the Parisian suburbs, the actresses deliver powerful performances that vividly portray the struggles faced by the daughters of Arab immigrants, torn between the allure of easy money and the pursuit of a better life. The film won a category at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and was in the official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section. It is now available on the Netflix platform. 'The Divines' highlights the heavy difference between choosing a different life out of poverty, following dance and arts, or ending up in the path of gangs, selling drugs, and going to jail and trouble. It also reflects the damaging effects of instability and dysfunctionality in one's life. The film's success is attributed to the powerful performances of the actresses and the director's storytelling [242ab906].
The film 'Iris and men', directed by Caroline Vignal, deals with female desire and adultery with lightness. A dentist named Iris, who is a devoted mother and faithful wife, starts using a dating app to have fun and explore her desires after her husband becomes disinterested. The extramarital escapades of Iris turn out to be more wacky than naughty, and the dates become mechanical. The film includes a musical number where Iris sings and dances surrounded by men near a metro station. The film stars Laure Calamy, Vincent Elbaz, and Suzanne De Baecque [bc06a65b].
In 1994, ethnic tensions in Rwanda resulted in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Tutsis. On the anniversary of the genocide, film critic Lisa Nesselson looks back at some of the movie depictions of recent Rwandan history. The article also mentions the films 'Asphalt City' starring Tye Sheridan and Sean Penn, and 'Sidonie in Paris' starring Isabelle Huppert. The Cinémathèque Française is celebrating the tradition of cross-dressing in films. The article provides links to related topics such as the genocide in Rwanda, Rwanda's cultural renaissance, and the imprisonment of a former Rwandan doctor for genocide [79ae7a41].
Roman Polanski's film 'The Palace' has been acquired by French distribution company Swashbuckler Films. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, has received poor reviews but has already sold in several territories. The Paris-based company plans to release the film on May 15, pending the exhibition visa from the National Film Board. 'The Palace' is a black comedy set during New Year's Eve in 1999 at Switzerland's Gstaad Palace hotel. The film features a cast including Oliver Masucci, Fanny Ardant, John Cleese, and Mickey Rourke. Despite controversy surrounding Polanski's inclusion at the Venice festival due to sexual assault allegations, the film has been sold in multiple territories. However, it has not been picked up by any French TV channels and has not attracted a major theatrical distributor in France. Polanski, who faced legal troubles in the past, was arrested in 1977 for assaulting a minor and was later removed from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2018 [b71212ec].