| 2014 – 197′ – Mini Series – Comedy, Crime  –
Written and Directed by Bruno Dumont.
Starring Alane Delhaye, Lucy Caron, Bernard Pruvost, Philippe Jore, Corentin Carpentier, Julien Bodard, Baptiste Anquez, Lisa Hartmann  .
Special Presentation Cannes Film Festival – Directors Fortnight. Official Selections Toronto International Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film Festival, New York International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival.
In French with English subtitles.
A Kino Lorber release. |

Trailer

French auteur Bruno Dumont, best known for uncompromising and austere dramas, proves with the comedy Li’l Quinquin that he is capable of shifting gears without conceding his signature style. This absurdist, metaphysical murder mystery opens with the discovery of human body parts stuffed inside a cow – a literal bete humaine – on the outskirts of the English Channel in northern France. The bumbling and mumbling Captain Van der Weyden (played by Bernard Pruvost) is assigned to investigate the crime, but he has to contend with a young prankster, the mischievous Quinquin (Alane Delhaye), as he proceeds to investigate the case. Dubbed an “epic farce” by the New York Film Festival, LI’L QUINQUIN has been compared to TWIN PEAKS and TRUE DETECTIVE. But simply speaking, LI’L QUINQUIN is “a wonderfully weird and unexpectedly hilarious” (Scott Foundas, Variety) masterwork from one of the most important contemporary French directors.

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The post LI’L QUINQUIN appeared first on The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles.

| 2010 – 113′ –  Thriller / Biopic / Drama / Crime -,
Written by Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet
Directed by Jean-François Richet.
Based on Jacques Mesrine’s memoirs.
Starring Vincent Cassel, Ludivine Sagnier, Mathieu Amalric, Gérard Lanvin, Samuel Le Bihan, Olivier Gourmet, Michel Duchaussoy, Anne Consigny.
Official Selections COLCOA French Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival. 5 César Awards nomination including Best Director.
In French with English subtitles.
A Music Box Films release.|

The second opus of a 2-part biopic dedicated to the 70’s most wanted French gangster, MESRINE: ENEMY PUBLIC #1 starts when, now back in France, Mesrine is finally in police custody and facing justice for his crimes. After escaping a courtroom and kidnapping the judge at gunpoint, Mesrine is declared Public Enemy Number 1 and is eventually condemned to a maximum-security prison where he writes his memoirs, establishing himself as a household name and the anti-hero across France. Mesrine stages another daring escape and disappears into the lawless underworld, taunting the police and reinventing himself as a celebrity criminal through his savvy manipulation of the media. After such a monumental rise, comes the inevitable fall as the police close in, bringing the life of Jacques Mesrine to full bloody circle.(The first part of the biopic MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT, is also available on COLCOA VIRTUAL CINEMA)

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The post MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1 appeared first on The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles.

| 2010 – 113′ –  Thriller / Biopic / Drama / Crime -,
Written by Abdel Raouf Dafri, Jean-François Richet
Directed by Jean-François Richet.
Based on Jacques Mesrine’s memoirs.
Starring Vincent Cassel, Cécile de France, Gérard Depardieu, Gilles Lellouche, Myriam Boyer, Michel Duchaussoy, Roy Dupuis, Elena Anaya.
Official Selections COLCOA French Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival. 5 César Awards nomination including Best Director.
In French with English subtitles.
A Music Box Films release.|

Trailer

The first opus of a 2-part biopic dedicated to the 70’s most wanted French gangster, MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT introduces us to Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel), a loyal son and dedicated soldier back home and living with his parents after serving in the Algerian War. Soon he is seduced by the neon glamour of sixties Paris and the easy money it presents. Mentored by Guido (Gérard Depardieu) Mesrine turns his back on middle class law-abiding and soon moves swiftly up the criminal ladder. After pulling off an audacious heist he and his lover Jeanne (Cécile de France) flee to Canada where the opportunity of one big payout lures him out of hiding and propels him towards international notoriety. (MESRINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1, the second part is also available on COLCOA VIRTUAL CINEMA)

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The post MESRINE: KILLER INSTINCT appeared first on The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles.

| 2014 – 111′ –  Thriller / Crime / Drama / Film Noir –
Co-written and directed by Cédric Anger.
Starring Guillaume Canet, Ana Girardot, Jean-Yves Berteloot, Patrick Azam.
Official Selection COLCOA French Film Festival.
In French with English subtitles.
A Kino Lorber release.|

Trailer

Consider the case of Franck Neuhart, aka the “Oise Killer” – a monster that terrorizes a region north of Paris in 1978. He begins by running girls over with his car, young girls, the ones who excite him. He graduates to gunning down hitchhikers at random. He can’t be caught. He is everywhere and nowhere. He is cold, meticulous, brilliant. He is also a policeman. A model officer assigned to solve his own murders. Based on the real-life Alain Lamare, Franck is portrayed by Guillaume Canet in a performance memorable for its chilling understatement. Set in a grainy winter landscape, this matter-of-fact tale walks us through the daily life of Franck without any pretense to psychological insights, focusing instead on the suspense of the situation. The result is a maddeningly tense thriller with a masterful touch.

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The post NEXT TIME I’LL AIM FOR THE HEART appeared first on The American French Film Festival in Los Angeles.

| 1957 – 100′ – Classic / Film Noir / Crime / Thriller –
Written by Auguste Le Breton.
Directed by Henri Decoin.
Starring Jean Gabin, Marcel Dalio, Lino Ventura, Magali Noël, Paul Frankeur.
In French with English subtitles.
A Kino Lorber release.|

Razzia Sur La Chnouf is based on a novel by the legendary writer Auguste Le Breton (RIFIFI BOB LE FLAMBEUR) with direction by Henri Decoin (ONE STEP OF ETERNITY) — After a spell in the U.S.A., master criminal Henri Ferré dit ‘Le Nantais’ (Jean Gabin, TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI) returns to Paris and is recruited by Paul Liski (Marcel Dalio, TO HAVE OR TO HAVE NOT), head of a major narcotics ring, to oversee and improve the efficiency of their distribution. Merchandise has been disappearing and unreliable dealers must be eliminated. For the latter, Henri is assigned two hitmen, Roger le Catalan (Lino Ventura, THE SICILIAN CLAN) and Bibi (Albert Rémy, THE TRAIN). Released as RAZZIA in the U.S., RAZZIA SUR LA CHNOUF thrillingly explores the criminal underworld of 1950s Paris.

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| 1982 – 117′ – Classic – Crime / Thriller / Romance –
Written and Directed by Jean-Jacques Beineix.
Starring Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, Frédéric Andrei, Jacques Fabbri, Richard Bohringer, Dominique Pinon.
Winner 4 César Awards: Best First Picture, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Sound.
In French with English subtitles.
A Kino Lorber release.|

Trailer

Director Jean-Jacques Beineix (BETTY BLUE) launched the Cinéma du look movement with this stylish cult thriller that remains as innovative today as when it premiered in 1981 in France. Jules (Frédéric Andréi), a young postal carrier, illegally tapes a concert of a reclusive opera singer (American soprano Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez). Jules’ attempts to woo the diva are interrupted when Taiwanese bootleggers come after the recording. His problems worsen when a prostitute slips another tape, one that incriminates a police chief, into his bag. Now, Jules must escape the police chief, the cop’s henchmen and the bootleggers to keep both precious tapes safe—and to stay alive. Featuring a celebrated chase through the Paris Metro and an early appearance by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie) favorite Dominique Pinon, Diva earned César Awards for Beineix, Vladimir Cosma’s sumptuous music and Philippe Rousselot’s eye-popping cinematography.

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