All images courtesy of Alliance Française Classic Film Festival 2016 website
Due to the success of last year's inaugural Alliance Française Classic Film Festival in Sydney, it's now become a national festival. This year's theme is 'Les Blondes' and celebrates 5 iconic actresses of French Films from 1952 to 1975. Rediscover Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot, Jean Seberg, Simone Signoret and Romy Schneider in these masterpieces of vintage French cinema that highlights a talent, actor or director who has made an impression through their contribution to the history of France's film industry.
Screening in Sydney 26-28 Aug & 2-4 Sep; Brisbane 2-4 Sep; Canberra 2-4 Sep; Perth 13-16 Oct; and Melbourne 4-6 Nov 2016, head to the
website to check out the
schedule and the
venue in your particular state.
Click here for ticketing information. Please note that due to the legal requirements (and not necessarily due to the content of the films) of holding the festival, all festival films are restricted to persons 18 years of age and over, unless specified.
Check the
website for your opening night event details and to take advantage of multiple film pass special prices and other discounts. Advance tickets are already available for purchase online. Booking fees apply.
Five cities, five films and six cinemas, this year's lineup showcases five strong and independent female actresses in films that broke the norms of the cinema industry at the time.
Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau star in the 1965 film Viva Maria, a comedy adventure that goes the distance for 2 hours. Using their intelligence, courage and sensual charm for justice, the dancer and the daughter of a life-long anarchist join forces and jump on the revolutionary bandwagon.
Nonsensical and a sign of its times though it may be, the film cannot help but be undeniably sexy, given the two main stars of the show. For me, Brigitte Bardot is the epitome of sexiness in her time, and to date, I dare say there's not been anyone like her.
Lovers Like Us, a 1975 comedy, adventure, stars Catherine Deneuve and Yves Montand, and is the opening night film in four of the cities. Deneuve was last year's Alliance Française Classic Film Fest's focus for the premiere season. This year she's in a whirlwind of adventure and love; a woman in search of her freedom who comes across a man who has left the rat race to live out his days on an island paradise. This meeting could very well drive them further away from the realisation of their dreams of freedom.
Cesar and Rosalie, a 1972 film starring Romy Schneider and Yves Montand is a drama about a classic ménage a trois. Beautiful, multilingual and free spirited, Rosalie lives with her child from her former husband and is in love with Cesar. When an old flame mysteriously reappears, her world becomes chaotic as both men seek her affection. This is a love triangle that'll have you thinking about the slippery slopes of love, freedom and friendship.
The 1960 film Breathless, starring Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo is a perfect example of what it is to be young and in love. This black and white masterpiece captures young love in a style without equal, in its time. Pregnant and susceptible, young American Patricia is at the crossroads of choosing to fulfil her dreams to be a journalist in Paris, versus going on the run with a fearless young man who holds her affection.
The most vintage film on the list, the 1952 Casque d'Or, starring Simone Signoret, is a story of an impossible love with a gangster lover. Marie's troubles begin when she's introduced to a handsome stranger at a dancehall. Instantly in love, this sensuous black and white film of the heady lovers whose passion triggers an underworld rivalry, is ready to be rediscovered.
