The best of French TV

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

UN VILLAGE FRANÇAIS:

DON’T MISS THE FIFTH SEASON!

Thursday 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th February at 5.35pm

The German occupation during the Second World War through the eyes of a group of villagers from the small French village of Villeneuve in the Jura.

Directed by: Philippe Triboit, 2009

Cast: Robin Renucci (Daniel), Thierry Godard (Raymond), Nicolas Gob (Jean), Audrey Fleurot (Hortense), Fabrizio Rongione

(Marcel), Nade Dieu (Marie), Patrick Descamps (De Kervern)

Genre: Historical drama

Sunday 23th February at 8pm

MONSIEUR HIRE

Official Selection of the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. Monsieur Hire is ageless. He has lived for several years in a room in a nondescript building. He never spends anything, but he is not poor. He doesn’t have any friends, and people do not like him. Alice lives in the same building, just across from Monsieur Hire’s room. She works as a waitress in the neighbourhood. But what she doesn’t know is that for months, Hire has been watching her closely from his window. Hire knows everything about Alice. He has seen something he never should have seen, but he is keeping quiet, falling in love slowly and deeply with Alice in secret and turning his life upside down…

Director: Patrice Leconte, 1988, Based on the novel by G. Simenon: “Les fiançailles de M. Hire”

Cast: Michel Blanc (Monsieur Hire), Sandrine Bonnaire (Alice), Luc Thuillier (Emile)

Thursday 27th February at 8pm

SOUS LE FIGUIER

Caught up in an existential crisis, Nathalie, Christophe and Joëlle, rent a house beside the River Moselle to spend their summer holidays with 95-year-old Selma. Joelle is seriously ill and yet she gives them the desire to enjoy life again…

Directed by: Anne-Marie Étienne (France/Luxembourg/Belgium, 2011)

Cast: Gisèle Casadesus (Selma), Anne Consigny (Nathalie), Jonathan Zaccaï(Christophe), Marie Kremer (Joëlle), Claire Blanquet (Agathe), Chloé Imbert (Aurélie)

Genre: Comedy drama

© 1989 CINÉ A / France 3 Films Productions / Hachette Première & Cie

© Riccardo Paz Palma/2012 MACT Productions/Tarantula

Saturdays 1st and 8th February at 8 pm

FÊTE DE LA CHANSON FRANÇAISE

« La Fête de la chanson française » celebrates its 10th birthday ! From the Palais des sports in Paris, Stéphane Bern, Sophie Davant, Michel Drucker, Virginie Guilhaume, Daniela Lumbroso, Laurent Ruquier, and Alessandra Sublet will celebrate 100 yearsof French songs with some of the biggest stars in France.

Invités : Patrick Bruel, Nolwenn Leroy, Stromae, Christophe Maé, Matt Pokora, FlorentPagny, Serge Lama, Zaz, Vincent Niclo, Nicolas Peyrac, Élodie Frégé, Emmanuel

Moire, Garou, Pascal Obispo, Tal…

© Julien Knaub/FTV

Sunday 16th February at 8pm

AUJOURD’HUI (TEY)

Awards: Special Jury Award in Carthage 2012 and several nominations (FIFF

Namur 2012, Berlinale 2012) !

In Dakar today Satché has to die. He has been chosen for death by his community.Today Satché chooses to live as he has never liven before.

Directed by: Alain Gomis (France/Sénégal, 2011)

Cast: Saul Williams (Satché), Djolof Mbengue (Sélé), Anisia Uzeyman (Rama), Aïssa Maïga (Nella), Thierno Ndiaye Doss (l’oncle)

Genre: drame

© Étienne Chognard / CCSP

© Mabeye Deme / jour2fête

FILM PICKS OF THE MONTH

© Les Productions Belles Rives – Midships Associés

Thursday 13th February at 8pm

INCOGNITO

Lucas has become a superstar by stealing songs from Thomas, a friend he believed to be gone forever. But Thomas suddenly reappears. To hide his wealth and fame, Lucas makes the mistake of asking Francis, a failed actor, to take his place.

Directed by: Eric Lavaine, 2008

With: Bénabar (Lucas), Franck Dubosc (Francis), Jocelyn Quivrin (Thomas), Anne Marivin (Marion), Isabelle Nanty (Alexandra), Virginie Hocq (Gérladine)

Genre: comedy

Sunday 9th February at 8pm

HIVER 54 L’ABBÉ PIERRE

Awards: 1990 César award for best supporting actor (Robert Hirsch)

It’s 1954. The winter is especially hard. Abbot Pierre submits a proposal to the Senate to create ‘emergency settlements’ for the homeless. It is refused. At the same time, a baby freezes to death. Abbot Pierre then launches a poignant radio appeal for donations…

Directed by: Denis Amar (France, 1989)

Cast: Lambert Wilson (l’abbé Pierre), Claudia Cardinale (Hélène Larmier), Robert Hirsch(Raoul), Bernie Bonvoisin (Castaing), Antoine Vitez (the Interior Minister)

Genre: historical