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Merry Christmas (Joyeux Noel), 2005

In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man’s Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood.

Joyeux Noel film dramatizes one such section as the French, British and German sides partake in the unique event, even though they are aware that their superiors will not tolerate its occurrence.

IMDB Rating : 7.8 /10

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Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du Paradis), 1945

And at 187 minutes running time, it’s an edifice indeed, Les Enfants du Paradis, built from a rambunctious cast of characters–ranging from pickpockets and prostitutes to aristocrats and actors–whose lives intersect around the Theatre des Funambules, a popular Parisian theater on the Boulevard du Crime, during the 1840s. (The title refers to the poor who can only afford seats in the upper galleries of the theater.)

The heart of the plot is a love story between mime artiste Baptiste (Jean-Louis Barrault) and streetwalker Garance (the magnificent, sand-paper-voiced Arletty). When Garance is falsely accused of pickpocketing, Baptiste provides a mimed alibi for her to the police (one of the film’s most famous set pieces). The rose she later throws him in gratitude sets off a romantic obsession, one of several that structure the film, as do love triangles, duels, and tortured confessions of feeling.

IMDB Rating : 8.0/10

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Le Mepris (Contempt), 1963

French cult-director Jean-Luc Godard made this masterpiece way in 1963 but it is still as captivating as it was then. Le Mepris, Featuring superstar Brigitte Bardot and Michel Piccoli as her husband- screenwriter who is hired to write a screenplay based on the ancient Greek myth “The Odyssey”.

The story deals with the creative process of film making as viewed by Godard, but also focuses on the breakdown of a marriage by the growing contempt of Bardot for her husband , whom she feels is selling out to greedy US producer Jack Palance.

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Asterix at the Olympic Games, 2008

Asterix and Obelix have to win the Olympic Games in order to help their friend Alafolix marry Princess Irina, portrayed by supermodel Vanessa Hessler. Brutus uses every trick to have his own team win the game, and get rid of his father Julius Caesar in the process, but fails. A family and fun film which will give you enjoyable moments. Its €78 million budget makes it one of the most expensive European movies ever.

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Chocolat, 2000

Driven by fate, Vianne drifts into a tranquil French village with her daughter Anouk in the winter of 1959. Her newly opened chocolatier is a source of attraction and fear, since Vianne’s ability to revive the villagers’ passions threatens to disrupt their repressive traditions.

The pious mayor sees Vianne as the enemy, and his war against her peaks with the arrival of “river rats” led by Roux, whose attraction to Vianne is immediate and reciprocal. Splendid subplots involve a battered wife, a village elder, and her estranged daughter, and while the film’s broader strokes may be regrettable (if not for Molina’s rich performance, the mayor would be a caricature), its subtleties are often sublime. A sweet delightful treat.

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 28 nominations

IMDB Rating : 7.3/10

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The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain, 2001

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards and another 51 wins & 46 nominations including Best Original Screenplay, this magical comedy Amelie earned overwhelming acclaim nationwide! A painfully shy waitress working at a tiny Paris cafe, Amelie makes a surprising discovery and sees her life drastically changed for the better!

From then on, Amelie dedicates herself to helping others find happiness … in the most delightfully unexpected way! But will she have the courage to do for herself what she has done for others? Amelie is, without a doubt, one of the most heartwarming films ever made.

IMDB Rating : 8.6/10

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Le Samourai, 1967

Alain Delon is the coolest killer to hit the screen, a film noir loner for the modern era, in Jean-Pierre Melville’s austere 1967 French crime classic. Delon’s impassive hit man, Jef Costello, is the ultimate professional in an alienated world of glass and metal.

Hitman Jef Costello is a perfectionist who always carefully plans his murders and who never gets caught. One night however, after killing a night-club owner, he’s seen by witnesses. His efforts to provide himself with an alibi fail and more and more he gets driven into a corner.

IMDB Rating : 8.2/10

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Pierrot le fou, 1965

A very unique movie which words can not easily tell the highest level of quality!

Pierro escapes his boring society and travels from Paris to the Mediterranean Sea with Marianne, a girl, who is chased by hit-men from Algeria.

They lead a unorthodox live, always on the run. One of the best Belmondo classics.

IMDB Rating : 7.5