Hilarious, heart-warming movies await French filmfest viewers

MANILA — As the country celebrates its Independence Day, so does the French Embassy in the Philippines’ 24th year here, and what better way to celebrate friendship between the two nations than film showing.

Acknowledged as an institution in the worldwide film industry, France shares to the Philippines its unique and admirable way of telling stories through movies.

The French Film Festival, which begins on June 12, offers Filipino audience an alternative form of cinema with a line-up of 15 contemporary French films that explore the depths of human relationships and the importance of family.

“It shows the French aesthetic that makes you laugh, cry, or connect even more with family,” French Ambassador to the Philippines Nicolas Galey said in an interview during the launch. He added that the line-up features award-winning movies from his country.

At the launch, partners and the press viewed the French film Sink or Swim which tells the story of a group of men in their 40s who are all dealing with masculinity issues and mid-life crisis.

They decided to pool together and compete for the World Championships on synchronized swimming along with also troubled coaches — together they made each other more irate, a bit of nuisance, yet come out stronger at the end.

It is a comical movie experience with hints of drama that aims to strike unresolved self-esteem issues. Overall, the audience will surely come out light-hearted.

French Ambassador Galey, in his speech, also revealed that as they approach their silver anniversary in 2020, the French Film Festival continues to expand its audience nationwide by organizing screenings in Metro Manila, Cebu City, Davao City, and, for the first time ever, in Bacolod City.

This year, French director Nils Tavernier graces the red carpet in Manila to formally open the 24th French Film Festival with the screening of his latest film, “L’Incroyable histoire du Facteur Cheval” (“The Ideal Palace”).

Set in southern France in 1879, the film recounts the true story of an ordinary mailman who devotes 33 years of his life to build a castle for his daughter. This “Ideal Palace” located in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region was named a historical monument by the French government in 1969.

Other films in the selection include contemporary French films released between 2014 and 2018, many of which focus on the relationship between parents and their children, such as “De Toutes nos forces” (“The Finishers”), “Jusqu’à la garde” (“Custody”), “Dans la brume” (“Just a Breath Away”), and “La Villa” (“The House by the Sea”).

In line with France’s commitment to the defense of women’s rights all over the world, the French Embassy and SPARK! The Philippines will jointly organize a special screening of “Bande de filles” (“Girlhood”) followed by a forum on June 14 to explore and encourage dialogue on issues faced by young girls in France and in the Philippines.

“For nearly a quarter of a century, the French Film Festival has been attracting audiences to discover and rediscover films that offer a particular French aesthetic — those that tell stories that make you laugh, cry, or reflect on the human condition in our society,” Galey said.