Luc Lavandier Movies
- 1997
A young woman in her 20s spends a day visiting Paris. When she misses the last bus home, she finds herself stranded on the outskirts of Paris. While wandering about, she encounters a youth who suggests she hang out at a local club. He then gives her a little of the drug Ecstasy to help pep her up. She goes into the busy establishment and finds it filled with African and Arab immigrants. Eventually, the girl encounters a troubled drug addict. A former boxer suffering from impotence, he becomes attracted to the woman and a relationship begins. This displeases the boxer's girlfriend, a dancer at the club. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Élodie Bouchez, Béatrice Dalle, (more)
- 1992
Long before America was mired in an unwinnable conflict in Vietnam, the French had spent decades in an attempt to hold onto their Indochinese colonies, which included Vietnam. By the early 1950s, several generations of dedicated, independence-minded Vietnamese had fought the French to a standstill. This long conflict culminated in a battle along the Laotian border near the town of Dien Bien Phu in March, 1954, which the French narrowly lost. That loss led to a negotiated settlement and the partition of Vietnam. Broken promises and French stubbornness resulted in continued conflict in South Vietnam and the eventual involvement of the Americans. In this film, the wider human face of that 1954 conflict is seen through the eyes of an American reporter, played by Donald Pleasence, as he travels through Vietnam researching the story. In particular, it follows the fate of one group of soldiers, members of the French Foreign Legion, whom the reporter meets at a bar in Hanoi. It is a remarkable testament to political changes in the world that this French movie was filmed in Vietnam with the cooperation of the Vietnamese government. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Pleasence, Patrick Catalifo, (more)
- 1990
Sweet Revenge is a made-for-television comedy about a female lawyer (Carrie Fisher) who is ordered to pay alimony to her ex-husband. She hires an actress (Rosanna Arquette) to marry him, in hopes that she will be able to stop paying alimony. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosanna Arquette, Carrie Fisher, (more)
- 1990
Despite being busy with his profession of soldiery, Brantome (Richard Bohringer) manages to find much more time for amorous dalliances with the ladies of the 16th-century French court than for battles. Unfortunately for him, his true love, Victoire (Isabella Rossellini), is beyond his reach most of the time. He more than compensates for this in the arms of others. Reviewers found little merit in this uninspired drama, except for the gorgeous period settings and costumes. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Bohringer, Isabella Rossellini, (more)
- 1987
Writer-director Jean-Charles Tacchella, who had a huge international hit with Cousin, Cousine in 1975, helmed this drama 12 years later. In post-WWII France, three friends are intent on starting a film club for different reasons. Nino (Thierry Fremont), a rich playboy, thinks that it would be amusing to become a director. He hooks up with Donald (Simon de la Brosse), a young man from the countryside who is a serious student of film and hopes to become more urbane by getting involved in cinema. They join forces with Barbara (Ann-Gisele Glass), a young woman who knows how to get into a film warehouse. Their plan is to steal old prints from the warehouse and start their own enterprise. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thierry Frémont, Simon de la Brosse, (more)
- 1987
Simon Blount (Bernard Giraudeau) is a weary cop who takes solace in the bottle after his wife leaves him for another man. His spirit is lifted when he meets Violet (Fanny Bastien), the wispy, mysterious female he considers somewhat of an angel. Simon is unaware she has systematically murdered the police, attorneys, and officials who were linked to the death of her prostitute mother. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernard Giraudeau, Fanny Bastien, (more)
