Rated: nr    Runtime: 90 mins.
Friday, Aug. 17 - Thursday, Aug. 23.
(originally scheduled for 7/20-26 - sorry)

The Roxie Theater is pleased to be joining the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in observing the publication of The Beauty of The Real: What Hollywood Can Learn from Contemporary French Actresses, the new book by San Francisco Chronicle film critic, Mick LaSalle. In the book LaSalle describes a golden age that is currently in full swing for French actresses, coming at a time when Hollywood actresses are becoming increasingly marginalized. LaSalle profiles and interviews recent generations of French film stars and pays tribute to their onscreen intelligence, courage and artistry.

The Beauty of the Real also makes the case that many of France’s finest contemporary films are not making it to our shores. Inspired by the book, this film series represents a major undertaking that involved months of complicated negotiations with a French Film industry that seemed strangely uninterested in allowing American audiences the opportunity to see just what see what they’ve been missing. Happily, film lovers in the Bay Area will be treated to a vivid glimpse of what Mick LaSalle illustrates in his book: a total of 14 provocative French films, an amazing seven of which have never been commercially released in the U.S.

Special thanks to Nora Orallo of the Consulate General of France, Paul Richer of Pyraminde Films in Paris, and Richard Peterson of the Christopher B. Smith Film Center.

Admission = $10.00
Double Feature = $15.00 BUY TICKETS NOW!

Listen to Mick and Michael Krasney on KQED Forum
Listen to Mick on KGO Radio


Schedule of films at
The Roxie Theater

Friday, August 17
ANTHONY ZIMMER. An unrelentingly entertaining thriller. Directed by Jerome Salle. Starring SOPHIE MERCEAU, Yvan Attal, Sami Frey. 86 mins. In French with English subtitles. 2005. 7:00pm
Previously unreleased in the U.S
Presented by Mick LaSalle
plus:
LE PRIX A PAYER (THE PRICE TO PAY). #1 at the French box office in 2007! Directed by Alexandra Leclere. Starring NATHALIE BAYE, Christian Clavier, Gerard Lanvin. 92 mins. In French with English subtitles. 2007. 9:00pm.
Previously unreleased in the U.S
Presented by Mick LaSalle

Saturday, August 18
Mick LaSalle expected to be in attendance for certain shows.
LE PETIT LIEUTENANT. A gripping police noir. Directed by Xavier Beauvois. Starring NATHALIE BAYE, Jalil Lespert, Rosschdy Zem. 35mm. 110 mins. In French with English subtitles. 2005. 1:30, 5:30 & 9:30.
plus:
ENTRE SES MAINS (IN HIS HANDS). A French, feminist psychological thriller directed by Anne Fontaine. Starring ISABELLE CARRÉ, (Romantics Anonymous), Benoit Poelvoorde (Romantics Anonymous, Man Bites Dog),, Jonathan Zaccai. 90 mins. . In French with English subtitles. 2005. 3:45 & 7:45
Previously unreleased in the U.S.

Sunday, August 19
LE ROLE DE SA VIE (THE ROLE OF HER LIFE). Directed by Francois Fravat. Starring KARIN VIARD, AGNES JAOUI and Jonathan Zacai. 98 mins. In French with English subtitles. 2004. 3:30 & 7:45
Previously unreleased in the U.S.
plus:
LA CÉRÉMONIE. A dark psychological drama from late French master Claude Chabrol, contains what LaSalle calls "the actress pairing of the decade" in Sandrine Bonnaire and Isabelle Huppert.. Also staring Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Virginie Ledoyen. 35mm. 112 mins. In French with English subtitles. 1995. 1:15, 5:30 & 9:45.

Monday, August 20
POST COITUM ANIMAL TRISTE. Written, directed and starring the remarkable Brigitte Rouan as an attractive, married, mother of two book editor in her late forties and commences a torrid, wanton affair with a man 20 years her junior. Also starring Patrick Chesnais, and Boris Terral. 95 mins. In French with English subtitles. 1997. 7:00.
plus:
A NOS AMOURS (TO OUR LOVES). A searing character study by Maurice Pialat focusing on a promiscuous fifteen-year-old Parisian (Sandrine Bonnaire). With Christophe Odent and Maurice Pialat as dad. 99 mins. In French with English subtitles. 1983. 9:00

Tuesday, August 21
RIEN A FIARE (EMPTY DAYS). Directed by Marion Vernoux. Starring VALERIA BRUNI TEDESCHI, Patrick Dell'Isola, and Sergi Lopez. 35mm. 98 mins. In French with English subtitles. 1999. 7:00.
Previously unreleased in the U.S
plus:
5 x 2. Chronicles the genesis and disintegration of a marriage in five scenes, told in reverse order. Directed by Francois Ozon. Starring VALERIA BRUNI TEDESCHI, Stephane Freiss, and Francoise Fabian. 90 mins. In French with English subtitles. 2004. 9:15

Wednesday, August 22
LES AMBITIEUX (AMBITIOUS). Directed by Catherine Corsini. Starring KARIN VIARD (whom LaSalle calls "the French Meryl Streep"), Eric Caravaca, Jacques Weber. 35mm. 104 mins. In French with English subtitles. 2006. 7:00
Previously unreleased in the U.S.
plus:
ALIAS BETTY (BETTY FISHER ET AUTRES HISTORIES). A this taught psychological thriller from Claude Miller. Starring SANDRINE KIBERLAIN, Nicole Garcia and Mathilde Seginer. 101 mins. In COLOR. In French with English subtitles. 2001. 9:15.

Thursday, August 23
DIDINE. Directed by Vincent Dietschy. Starring GERALDINE PAILHAS, Julie Ferrier, and Benjamin Biolay. 103 mins. 35mm. In French with English subtitles. 2008. 7:00
Previously unreleased in the U.S.
plus:
INTIMATE STRANGERS (CONFIDENCES TROP INTIMES). Directed by Patrice Laconte. Starring SANDRINE BONNAIRE, Fabrice Luchini, and Michel Duchaussoy. 104 mins. In COLOR. In French with English subtitles. 2004. 9:00.

(M)