The French have been producing fantastic movies for quite some time. Many people are unaware of the existence of French films because, for many of us, our movie entertainment radar is decisively fixed on whatever comes out of Hollywood. We are blind to foreign language flicks that are produced by studios from other states.

But interest in French films have been steadily growing, thanks to high visibility English language films like the Jet Li movie Kiss Of The Dragon, which was produced by Luc Besson, and the Jackie Chan action-comedy Rush Hour three, which were both shot generally in France.

Nonetheless for those of you who need to get started on French films, either for entertainment or as a tool to learn a foreign language, here are three French films you need to definitely watch.

Cyrano de Bergerac
This was one of the first French films I ever watched. I remember watching it in the early 90's on video tape, 2 years after it hit the big screen. Cyrano de Bergerac relies on a 1897 play of the same name by Edmond Rostand. It was directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau and has won quite a few awards.

The flick stars Gerard Depardieu and tells the tale about a man, Cyrano, who falls deeply in love with a woman, Roxane. Cyrano does not make known his like to the wonderful lady as he's too nervous of his rather massive nose.

Roxane shortly becomes infatuated with Cyrano's help, Christian. But Christian is shy and Cyrano finds a technique to show his love to Roxane vicariously thru Christian.

Cyrano de Bergerac is a fabulous French movie abut love and pining. It is terribly entertaining, although a touch foreseeable, and is a feast for the eyes.

Eight Femmes
Like Cyrano de Bergerac, Eight Femmes, or Eight Women, is also a multi prize-winning French movie. Nevertheless Eight Femmes is a musical and it touches on a more impressive range of subject matter from unrequited love to sexuality.

The story happens in the 1950s at a villa in the country. Just as everyone seems to be preparing for Christmas, the master of the house is found with a dagger in his back. Things get difficult when the phone line is discovered to possess been cut and the car has been sabotaged. Along the way, techniques begin to be made public as the 8 ladies in the house start accusing each other of the murder of the master of the house.

This film is a great watch and it also has a little twist near the end. I especially like the fight scene between Gaby and Pierrette. You'll have to observe the film to understand why.

La Reine Margot
If you're looking out for a bit of a French history lesson, La Reine Margot, or Queen Margot, will certainly oblige.

The story happens in 16th century France, right smack in heat of non secular wars between Catholics and Protestants. The film begins with Margot being married off to a protestant prince as a method to quell the religious warring camps. It is a loveless wedding and Margot falls for a nobleman as a consequence.

The flick looks at the peculiar relationships between the Queen and her children, the politics of that time and the Bartholomew's Day Slaughter.

This French film is rather graphic but entertaining, although it would help if you have knowledge of goings on of that period of time.

As far as entertaining foreign language movies go, I am sure you will enjoy these three French films.

To summarize,

  • There are loads of French films which are entertaining to watch
  • Hollywood is not the only place which churns out quality movies
  • Watching history based French films is a great way to learn the language also the colorful history of France

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