| French Cinema Every Tuesday |
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CinémaTuesdays: The Surreal Delicacy of René ClairEvery Tuesday though July 31, 2007Admission: $9; $7 students; Free for FIAF members Florence Gould Hall 55 East 59th Street 212-355-6160 fiaf.org  René Clair is universally regarded as one of the most significant figures in French cinema history. René Clair is universally regarded as one of the most significant figures in French cinema history. His 1924 film "Paris Asleep," a comic satire with a science-fiction theme, was years ahead of its time in terms of photographic technique and performances. Clair's wit, imagination and drive helped French cinema to maintain its pre-eminent position in the 1920s and '30s. FIAF is a private not-for-profit organization, created in 1898 by American Francophiles to promote and enhance knowledge of French and Francophone culture. Since its creation over a century ago, FlAF has become one of the largest and most respected centers of French-American activities in the United States, widely known as the home of New York's foremost French language school (and is accredited by the State University of New York), the leading all-French library in the country, and New York's only performing arts center dedicated to French and Francophone culture. FIAF's mission is to encourage interaction and better understanding between French-speaking and American communities by creating programs in the arts and education that provide appealing, accessible, and innovative experiences. Below is the list of films scheduled to play:       Freedom for Us (A nous la liberté) directed by René Clair, 1931 starring Henri Marchand, Raymond Cordy In French with English subtitles This satirical comedy about the industrial world follows an ex-convict's climb up the social ladder and his reunion with a former cellmate who helped him escape. The film's use of sound effects and interludes was very much ahead of its time, and its examination of the lives of factory workers is rendered with such heart and humor that its influence on Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" is unmistakable. June 26, 2007 @ 12:30 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm The Million (Le Million) directed by René Clair, 1931 starring Vanda Gréville, Annabella, René Lefèvre. In French with English subtitles A debt-ridden Parisian painter searches for the winning lottery ticket he left in the jacket his fiancée gave to a man in need, setting off a frantic dash around the city. Perhaps more than any other Clair film, Le Million is an unabashed love letter to Paris. Abetted by a grand musical finale and innovative sound design, its madcap pacing certainly inspired the Marx Brothers. It is an influential film that is considered among many to be René Clair's triumph. July 3, 2007 @ 12:30 pm, 4 pm & 7:30 pm It Happened Tomorrow (C'est arrivé demain) directed by René Clair, 1944 starring Dick Powell, Linda Darnell In English One of Clair's more successful films after migrating to Hollywood during World War II. A mysterious old man gives an ambitious reporter the ability to predict the next day's news. Problems abound when the reporter realizes he might want to stop the future from happening. A charming mix of romance, comedy, and fantasy are on display in this film, which was nominated for two Oscars. July 10, 2007 @ 12:30 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm Break The News (Fausses Nouvelles) directed by René Clair, 1937 starring Maurice Chevalier, Jack Buchanan In English Two actors hatch a plan in order to become famous: one will murder the other, and the ensuing trial should, in theory, garner them a great deal of publicity. The problem is, no one seems to notice that one of them is missing. The unusually dark story for its time makes Break the News stand out in the Clair canon. July 17, 2007 at 12:30 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm Beauties of the Night (Les Belles de nuit) directed by René Clair, 1952 starring Gérard Philipe, Gina Lollobrigida In French with English subtitles Claude is a teacher by day and a struggling composer by night. In his dreams, he imagines other eras where he is appreciated and the lover of beautiful women. Clair takes advantage of the whimsical story and stages some of his most memorable dream sequences and fantasies. A joyful, irresistible film. Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1952 Venice Film Festival. July 24, 2007 at 12:30 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm The Grand Maneuver (Les Grandes Manoeuvres) directed by René Clair, 1955 starring Michèle Morgan, Gérard Philipe In French with English subtitles. Set during World War I, a soldier convinces his fellow soldiers that he can seduce the next woman who walks into the bar--who just happens to be the gorgeous Morgan. But soon he finds himself falling in love, which wasn't part of his plan. A late Clair film, and none the worse for it--as always, his deft blend of satire, comedy, and romance is impeccable. July 31, 2007 @ 12:30 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm The Gates of Paris (Les Portes des Lilas) directed by René Clair, 1957 starring Pierre Brasseur, Georges Brassens In French with English subtitles A nice drunkard and his friend, an itinerant troubadour, both fall for a pretty young girl who gets entangled with a gangster. George Brassens serves as the film's Greek chorus, singing ballads throughout. A darker, more intimate work that remains affecting decades later. Oscar-nominated for best foreign language film. |
