Picturing myriad emotions

WITH THE screening of the first motion picture in Paris on December 20, 1895, French films began to grow in popularity the world over and bag awards at festivals.

In recent years, French films have come to be appreciated for their technical brilliance and aestheticism.

A French film festival, in collaboration with the cultural centre, Embassy of France, New Delhi, Federation of Film Societies of India (Northern Region) and the International Cine Appreciation Forum is to be held from May 4 to 9 at the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce auditorium in Chennai. Seven films, with varied themes, are to be screened.

"Horseman on the Roof", starring Juliette Binoche, Olivier Martinez, Pierre Arditi, Claudio Amendola and Isabelle Carre, is about a handsome officer Angleo, who is on a search for the elusive. His search takes him atop roofs, across fields, on roads and through alleyways.

He meets Pauline de Theus, who is also searching, but for a mysterious husband, who may be dead. What follows in an interesting climax. "Horseman... was produced in 1995 and directed by Jean-Claude Rappeneau.

"Blue Moon'', directed by Antoine Desrosieres, is about a teenager in love. However, Thomas, hero of the tale, has to choose from not one, but four young women. He is in a dilemma. Should he choose Marion, his romantic ideal or, her friend Rebecca? Then there is Claire, who lives with his classmate and Hannah, a circus performer, from Poland. Thomas wants to open his heart to one of them. But to whom? Mathieu Demy, Jule Gayet, Chiara Mastroiani are the lead players.

"Butterfly Chase'' is about antique dealers and thieves, vying with one another to rob a dilapidated French castle where two women live. Will the women donate the priceless antiques adorning their home to the world during their lifetime or not? The story builds up to a gripping climax. Narda Blanchet, Pierette Pompom Bailhace and Thamar Tarassachvili comprise the cast of the film which is directed by Ottar Losseliani.

"Reader''is among director Michel Deville's best works and weaves into it a variety of emotions... humour, desire...There is an element of the surreal too throughout. Excellent dialogues and screenplay are the highpoints of this film. Constance, the lead player, has a special avocation. She reads to people who are unable to do so. Her sweet voice transports her listeners to another realm. It also brings joy and consolation to the broken- hearted. This happens to a sentimental General's wife, a mother and a daughter. She also reads to her lover and acts the part of Marie from the novel "The Reader''. The cast includes Miou-Miou, Maria Casares, Patrick Chesnais and Pierre Dux.

"My Favorite Season''is about a brother and sister who learn the ways of the world. As their mother loses grip on life and sanity, her two children face the world together. The happiness of reunion and the pain of parting are emotions which are dealt with sensitively. In the end the two come to understand their place in a bitter world. Directed by Andre Techine with Catherine Deneuve, Daniel Auteuil and Marthe Villalonga in the lead, the film is sure to delight audiences.

A big shopping complex in the heart of the city is facing a unique crisis. How it is overcome is told in a comic way in "Nothing At All''. The artistes Fabrice Luchini and Nathalie Richard steal the show with their brilliant performance. A creditable first film by director Cedric Klapisch."See How They Fall'', featuring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mathieu Kassovitz and Jean Yanne, is about a businessman, unwittingly thrown into the scene of action when he finds that he is on the trail of a killer who has murdered his best friend. What appears to be a murder mystery turns out to be a story replete with humour and humanism. Director Jacques Audiard holds the interest of the audience right through.

S. R.ASHOK KUMAR

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