Philippe Liégeois Movies
- 2008
A woman looking for peace, quiet and family bonding is thrown into the middle of a police investigation in this comedy-drama from director Didier Le Pecheur. Claire (Judith Godreche) is a successful television actress whose busy schedule is getting the better of her, and when she discovers her boyfriend (Nicolas Gob) has been sleeping with another woman, she decides to take a few days off and visit her father in the small town where she grew up. Claire's mother died when she was young, and her father Albert (Daniel Prevost) raised her with the help of his close friend Gedeon (Patrick Chesnais), but when she arrives Albert and Gedeon are locked in a bitter argument, and Gedeon is threatening to never speak to Albert again. Not long after Claire settles in, the proprietor of the local camera shop dies under mysterious circumstances; the local police suspect foul play, and detective Joubert (Alexandre Astier) is brought in to investigate, with a hapless local cop (Raphael Lenglet) assigned to help. While going through the late shopkeeper's effects, Joubert discovers some old snapshots of Claire's mother, and before long the actress and her father are drawn into the investigation as events of thirty years before have a sudden relevance to Albert's falling out with Gedeon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2008
Two women are caught in a rivalry over the love of a child in this period drama, loosely adapted from a short story by Gustave Flaubert. Felicite (Sandrine Bonnaire) is a passionate woman eager to find love, and when her ardor scares off her boyfriend Theodore (Pascal Elbe), she takes a job as a domestic, working for wealthy Madame Aubain (Marina Fois). Aubain is a frail and troubled woman raising two children, Paul (Antoine Olivera) and Clemence (Melissa Dima); Felicite develops a close bond with the children, who in turn show her the sort of unconditional affection she's always longed for. Aubain, however, becomes deeply jealous of Felicite's warm relationship with the youngsters, and insists on criticizing her in their presence. Aubain, who is romantically involved with the children's music teacher (Thibault Vincon), finally decides to cut off the friendship between Felicite and teenaged Clemence (Marthe Guerin) by sending her daughter away to a private boarding school. Clemence's absence is a heavy blow to Felicite, and while she tries to fill the hole in her life by looking after her nephew, she never fully recovers from the loss. Un Coeur Simple (aka A Simple Heart) was the first feature film from director Marion Lane, who previously distinguished herself as an actress. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandrine Bonnaire, Marina Fois, (more)
Set in 1810, director Micha Wald's tense revenge drama follows a vengeful Cossack (Adrien Jolivet) as he sets out on an epic journey to bring his brother's killer to justice. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrien Jolivet, Grégoire Colin, (more)
- 2007
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Acclaimed French filmmaker Eric Rohmer adapts author Honoré d'Urfé's classic 17th century novel to craft this morally complex tale of romance concerning a young couple about to be betrothed, but driven apart by a tragic misunderstanding. Celadon (Andy Gillet) and Astrea (Stéphanie Crayencour) are deeply in love. Each has vowed that they want to spend the rest of their lives together, but their future union is suddenly thrown into question when one day on the riverbank Astrea sees Celadon kissing another woman. Subsequently banning Celadon from her sight forever, the inconsolable Astrea is horrified to discover that Celadon has attempted to take his own life by leaping into the river after learning of the decree; fortunately, he was saved at the last minute by an upper-crust young woman (Véronique Reymond) who wants to possess him. Desperate to win Astrea back, Celadon accepts the advice of a druid priest and his niece, who convince him to dress in drag, pose as a woman, and strike up a friendship with Astrea. Before long, the two are kissing, holding hands, and napping together -- with Astrea little recognizing her new "best friend"'s real gender or identity. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Gillet, Stéphanie Crayencour, (more)
- 2007
This bright and vibrant animated film follows the teenage Egyptian princess Akhesa, who is preparing to be married to King Tut. Dealing with a scheming group of malicious pantheistic priests, the princess finds herself in for a wild adventure that's both thrilling and hilarious. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Coralie Vanderlinden, David Scarpuzza, (more)
A winning game show contestant falls prey to an opportunistic actress who seeks to deceive him by seduction, and take him for all he's worth. Jalil has just won big on "Mr. Average," Germany's most popular game show. When a beautiful woman named Claire walks into his life shortly thereafter, Jalil falls hopelessly in love. But what Jalil doesn't know could break his heart: Claire is an actress playing a role, and Jalil is her ticket to the big time. But the deeper Claire sinks into her role, the more difficult it becomes to maintain her performance. The greater the lie grows, the more confused Claire becomes about her true feelings and convictions. Will Claire discover her conscience in time to realize that true love is actually within reach, or is it too late to tell Jalil the truth and finally make amends for her cruel act of deception? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Caroline Dhavernas, Khalid Maadour, (more)
Eric Rohmer, the globally-celebrated auteur behind Claire's Knee and Ma nuit chez Maud, helms Triple Agent, a riveting political drama set in 1930s France. The story is based on the historical account of Fyodor erge Renko, a Russian expatriate general filling the triple role of practicing espionage for the Marxists, Soviets, and Communists, and concurrently deceiving his wife Arsinoé (Katerina Didaskalou). Fyodor's life ultimately becomes entwined in the throes of deception and his life begins to unravel. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katerina Didaskalou, Serge Renko, (more)
- 2003
Pascal Bonitzer's heavily plotted comedy Petites Coupures (Small Cuts) opens with journalist Bruno (Daniel Auteuil) and his wife, Gaelle (Emmanuelle Devos), having it out over his affair with Nathalie (Ludivine Sagnier). After an invitation from Bruno's uncle Gerard (Jean Yanne), Bruno and Nathalie travel to the town where Gerard is mayor. Bruno learns that his aunt is having an affair. Gerard is aware of his wife's infidelity and asks Bruno to take a letter to the man who has cuckolded him, a doctor named Verekher (Hanns Zischler). On his way to the doctor's home he meets Marie (Dinara Droukarova), and once there he encounters the mysterious Beatrice (Kristin Scott Thomas). Small Cuts was screened at the Berlin Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott Thomas, (more)
- 2001
Two strangers share a strange and terrible bond in this stylish horror tale that juggles sex and graphic bloodshed. Shane Brown (Vincent Gallo) is a strange man with a forbidding nature who has just married lovely but nervous June (Tricia Vessey), and they've decided to go to Paris for their honeymoon. In the City of Lights, a beautiful but dangerous woman named Core (Beatrice Dalle) has been leaving a trail of dead bodies in her wake when she's captured by Leo Semeneau (Alex Descas), a mysterious scientist who spirits her away to his estate. As Core is placed under guard, Semeneau leaves to return to the city for an unnamed assignment; we soon learn that one of Shane's reasons for coming to Paris was to find him and retrieve some important information. In time, we also discover that Shane and Core have something rather unusual in common -- both are murderous cannibals who regularly feast on the flesh of their victims, and Semeneau's information may hold the key to the secret behind their deadly appetite. Trouble Every Day generated a certain amount of controversy in its screenings at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where a number of patrons walked out in disgust at the film's intense blend of sensuality and cannibalism. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Gallo, Tricia Vessey, (more)
- 1999
While most authors deal with writer's block at one time or another, Darius (Albert Dupontel) seems to have a worst case than most -- and has found a far more extreme solution. A playwright of note, Darius developed a drinking problem after his first major hit, and has taken time out from writing his follow-up to go to a clinic and dry out. After his release, Darius finds his producer has hired a leading lady for his next show, booked the theater and advertised the starting date -- all without Darius writing so much as a word of this new play. Darius desperately tries to come up with ideas, but nothing comes to mind, with an inflexible deadline staring him in the face. One day, Darius kills a neighbor's cat by accident; terribly depressed, he swallows some sedatives and falls asleep at his computer -- only to awake with the beginning of his play glowing on the screen. Darius is now convinced he must kill in order to create, and starts murdering an ever-expanding variety of creatures in order to satisfy his now bloodthirsty muse. Albert Dupontel wrote and directed Le Createur, as well as playing Darius; the film also features a cameo from former Monty Python member Terry Jones, as God. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Dupontel, Claude Perron, (more)
- 1999
Rien sur Robert is a smart comedy about a man haunted by his experiences. Didier Temple (Fabrice Luchini) is a journalist who writes an article about a Bosnian film he had never seen, calling it "pure fascist propaganda." (The director, Pascal Bonitzer, was once the editor of the celebrated film magazine Cahiers du Cinema. However, this episode is not based on his own experiences, but on an incident some years ago regarding Underground by Emir Kusturica, which was declared a fascist movie by the French daily, Le Monde.) Following an argument with his girlfriend, Juliette (Sandrine Kiberlain), Didier's life falls apart. He is convinced he is being followed by a dark haired man. He thinks everyone is looking at him, just waiting to insult him. He fights with his family. Juliette is fed up and leaves him for another man, a TV director she meets in a park. At a dinner party, Didier is introduced to his shadow, Jerome Sauveur (Laurent Lucas), who could be his double except that he's more handsome and writes better. Didier also encounters a strange young girl, Aurelie (Valentina Cervi), but Juliette soon comes back. All these ghosts of his life keep haunting him, and he finally winds up at the foot of Mont Blanc in rather unpleasant circumstances. Rien sur Robert was screened as part of the Panorama section of the 49th Berlin International Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fabrice Luchini, Sandrine Kiberlain, (more)
- 1998
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Jeanne Labrune wrote and directed this French psychological drama that begins on a train when impoverished carpet salesman Samuel (Daniel Duval) eyes a sleeping woman, Muriel (Nathalie Baye), and peppers her with personal questions when she awakens. A successful screenwriter and novelist, Muriel has just been dropped by her older lover, so it's not long before Samuel becomes a presence in her polished Paris apartment, an arena for some intense sexual activities. Only problem -- as Muriel realizes the demented Samuel has drawn her into an abusive relationship, she is simultaneously attracted to him and frightened of him. The soundtrack features an excerpt from Philip Glass' opera Einstein on the Beach. Shown in competition at the 1998 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathalie Baye, Daniel Duval, (more)
- 1996
Jet black and unrelentingly nihilistic with only a touch of sentiment, this comedy tells the story of a mildly retarded 30-year-old who leaves the orphanage where he was raised to learn the truth about his parents. In his mind, they died somewhat romantically, perhaps at the hands of the Mafia or maybe they were kidnapped.... The truth is, Bernie's impoverished parents left him to die in a project dumpster when he was only two weeks old. Eventually, after meeting assorted savory and unsavory characters, Bernie learns the truth and finds his parents. The reunion is horribly unpleasant and during a struggle, someone is raped and loses vital appendages. Later Bernie gets involved with a heroin addict trying to escape her tyrannical, jobless and crippled father. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Dupontel, Claude Perron, (more)
- 1994
In this French coming-of-age drama a 15-year old boy breaks free from his fixation with his older half-sister and learns to trust himself and become independent. The story is set in a rural French town. When his wild half-sister Vivien finally returns home after an eight year absence, young Marc is ecstatic. He is awed by her free-wheeling, independent life. He quietly follows her every move, living vicariously through her. She becomes his teacher, but as Marc observes her more closely he begins to see that his sister has no real sense of self-worth. Her promiscuity is only a mask to hide her lack of self-respect. Marc begins to withdraw and follow his own path. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathalie Richard, Pascal Cervo, (more)
