HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR
The rare French and Japanese co-production, Alain Resnais’ Hiroshima mon amour, is a nonlinear film featuring long conversations and flashbacks. It tells the story of a Japanese architect and French actress’s love affair and the destruction of the Atomic Bomb.
THE 400 BLOWS
The 400 Blows is one of the most influential French films of all time. Directed by François Truffaut. The 400 Blows follows a rebellious young boy misunderstood by his parents. The film is semi-autobiographical and loosely based on Truffaut’s childhood.
AMÉLIE
Amélie is a French juggernaut. The film introduced many to the world of French cinema, It was a run-away box office success both in France and Internationally. The adorably quirky romantic comedy stars Audrey Tautou as a shy waitress who decides to improve the lives of those around her.
LA HAINE
“La haine attire la haine!” Starring Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé and Saïd Taghmaoui, La Haine follows the aftermath of police brutality and the arrest of a young Arab man as a riot breaks out in the suburbs of Paris. The film is notable for its grit, comedy, watchability and anti-fascist messaging.
A PROPHET
A Prophet follows a young Algerian prisoner’s rise to the top of a crime syndicate. The film won the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language and nine Césars.
RIFIFI
Rififi is a French film noir about an aging jewel thief who tries to pull off a heist with help from other European gangsters. Directed by Jules Dassin, the film stars Jean Servais, Robert Hossein, Magali Noël and Janine Darcey.
BLACK GIRL
Black Girl is sometimes called the first Sub-Saharan film by an African director to gain international recognition. However, it is a French-Senegalese production. The film follows a young Senegalese woman who comes to work in France only to be mistreated by her employers.
Written by Daniela Gama
Culled from: https://www.forbes.com