Sunday afternoon at the French Cinema

 

Picture by pedrosimoes7

Picture the scene, a dull grey November Sunday afternoon. It's cold and damp out there and about as inviting a prospect as revising for a physics test you don't understand. The weather and all its cohorts have turned the outside world into lumpy grey semolina, so you have to look elsewhere for joy and sparkly bits. You pile your fluffiest cushions and pillows all around you and grab your softest blanket (oh most treasured and loved possession), you make a steaming hot cup of something (insert here what you will: hot chocolate, hot toddy, red wine smelling of bruised blackberries, one of those devilish champagne, whisky and framboise cocktails), gather something to nibble on and settle in for an afternoon of the best French cinema can offer up for your delectation and delight.

Why French cinema? No, no, no, not for that reason, they are not THAT sort of French cinema (come on, this is the Comfort Blanket after all). It is my choice because it takes you a million miles away from the semolina outside. The best of French cinema combines the style and class that only the French can truly pull off, with many flamboyant Gallic twists of surrealism and leftfield-ness. It feels like you have taken part in something sophisticated instead of just whiled away a few idle hours watching dvds.

My first choice to be offered up for your delectation and delight is "Diva". This is the story of a young French postman who lives in Paris in a funky apartment (not posh, not classy, not expensive) and who adores opera. He makes a bootleg tape recording of his favourite opera singer singing the aria from Catalina's La Wally (yes it really is called that). If you have never heard it do not be put off by either the name or the fact that it is opera - it is sublime. Long story short and to avoid giving away too much of the plot, there are exciting chases across Paris, a crooked policeman, some underworld thugs, more funky apartments, some offbeat French philosophy, a Vietnamese girl with a liking for shoplifting  and a Zen artist who cooks with a scuba diving mask on his face (helps guard against 'les ognions' I suppose). It is acknowledged to be a cult classic and incredibly stylish (for its time, its a little dated now, but I'm sure you can make allowance for that).

The second choice is "The Belleville Rendevous", a charming and wierd cartoon that couldn't be further from 'Monsieur Dees-knee' and his little black mice. There is the tiny but determined grandmother, the large thighed grandson, Champion, who she is training to be a top cyclist, and a dog called Bruno. In the mountain stage of the Tour de France Champion is kidnapped so of course Granny and Bruno have to give chase to rescue him. Cue some brilliant and inventive adventures including a pedalo trip across the ocean - Granny naturally being the one pedalling with Bruno keeping lookout. This is funny, surreal, offbeat and endearing in liberal French doses and I think you will be missing something if you don't see this at least once in your life.

My final choice is a vey short film I remember seeing as a child. It is "The Red Balloon". There is very little speech in this film but in its brief 34 minutes you take a tour around the Paris of the 50's with Pascal and the red balloon that has befriended him. It is a lovely story and a great way to see how Paris looked 50 years ago. I shall say no more as there is no more to say. Watch and be entranced. 

All three films will, in their own way, take you elsewhere and allow you to escape for a while and to recharge your emotional batteries for that uncertain world out there.