2024 French Film Festival selection announced for Whitianga

There's drama, thrillers, biopics, comedies and centre piece films all in the 2024 French Film Festival line up. Many of the films have featured at the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.

However you like your French cinema, whether that may be a 'comédie' or you 'désirer drama' we have you covered. Enjoy the festival and I hope to raise a glass with you at our opening soirées as we toast a "Grand Cru" this year of French cinema.

Fergus Grady - French Film Festival Director

Ticket sales and schedule in Whitianga

The French films will be scheduled into the normal cinema programme over the two week period Thursday 30 May to Wednesday 12 June. Tickets will be able to be purchased online via the Mercury Twin Cinema website or in the theatre. The team recommend booking your tickets prior to avoid disappointment.

We are so excited to be able to host this festival again and hope that we can encourage people to travel to Whitianga to be a part of it. Buy your tickets well in advance as our sessions sold out quickly last year.

Anne-Maree & Matt McDougall - Owners - Mercury Twin Cinemas

What films are on offer at the 2024 French Film Festival?

Below we have a brief overview of the films on offer and trailers to view (scroll to end of article), along with the schedule to down load.

The Three Musketeers:D'Artgnan

Alexandre Dumas’s thrilling and beloved classic novel The Three Musketeers has spawned multiple adaptations since its publication in 1844, but none have approached the scope and spectacle of this
wildly entertaining, blockbuster two-film production from director Martin Bourboulon, who  assembles an all-star cast for the first French cinematic treatment in over 30 years.

The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan unquestionably delivers as a smart and hugely involving big-screen experience for all ages. Audiences are assured of lining up for the thrilling conclusion, Milady within moments of the end credits.

Directed by: Martin Bourboulon

Starring: François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green

HISTORY, ACTION, ADVENTURE | 121 MINUTES | M

Rosalie

Set in 1870s France, Rosalie, portrayed by the radiant Nadia Tereszkiewicz, is an extraordinary young woman harboring a secret. 

Abel (Benoît Magimel), an indebted tavern owner unaware of her secret, marries Rosalie for her dowry. 

When Rosalie defiantly decides to embrace her unconventional appearance, the central question emerges: Can Abel truly love her and see beyond her physical differences, 
once he discovers the truth?

Directed by: Stéphanie Di Giusto

Starring: Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Benoît Magimel

DRAMA, HISTORY | 115 MINUTES | M

The Taste of Things

After its premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, The Taste of Things has had mouths watering worldwide. This delicious adaptation of Marcel Rouff’s classic 1924 novel The Life and Passion of Dodin-Bouffant, Gourmet, is the perfect blend of cooking and romance. The film won director Tran Anh Hung the Best Director prize at Cannes.

Set in 1885, Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche stars as Eugénie, a renowned cook whose talents are unmatched. Benoît Magimel plays Dodin, a brilliant epicure. With their
talents combined, the pair prepare a meal for a visiting prince, revolving around a “pot-au-feu” (an iconic French dish of slow cooked beef stew).

Directed by: Tran Anh Hung

Starring: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel

DRAMA, HISTORY, ROMANCE | 135 MINUTES | RATING TBC

The Presidents Wife

The legendary Catherine Deneuve plays the French icon Bernadette Chirac in this hilarious comedy based on actual events. It’s 1995, and Jacques Chirac has just been elected President of the French Republic. When Bernadette Chirac steps into the Elysée, she’s ready for the recognition she deserves, having tirelessly stood by her husband’s side on his journey to the presidency. Instead, she finds herself brushed off as old-fashioned, cold and sour-tempered. With the help of her chief of staff, Bernard Niquet, Bernadette begins a campaign to restore her reputation and assert her role as first lady.

Directed by: Léa Domenach

Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Michel Vuillermoz, Sara Giraudeau

COMEDY | 93 MINUTES | M

A Difficult Year

The wildly entertaining new comedy from irrepressible filmmaking duo Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache (The Intouchables, C’est la vie), A Difficult Year stars Pio Marmaï and Jonathan
Cohen as two compulsive spenders who get much more than they bargained for when they try and scam their way out of trouble.

Both in debt up to their necks, Albert (Marmaï) and Bruno (Cohen) have turned to a community worker (Mathieu Amalric) to try and help get a grip on their lives. However, at one of their
group sessions, they stumble into an adjoining meeting room hosting a gathering of young social activists, led by a vivacious organiser (the fabulous Noémie Merlant). Attracted more by the free beer and chips than the group’s struggle against consumerism and protection of the environment (whilst acknowledging the hugs are quite nice), Albert and Bruno join the movement
without any particular conviction, but soon sense an opportunity... if they don’t get arrested first.

Directed by: Éric Toledano, Olivier Nakache

Starring: Pio Marmaï, Jonathan Cohen, Noémie Merlant, Mathieu Amalric

COMEDY | 120 MINUTES | M

Iris and the Men

After the smash-hit international success of Antoinette in the Cévennes (the most popular film in the history of the French Film Festival), writer/director Caroline Vignal and the fabulous Laure Calamy reunite for an hilarious comedy about reignited desire in the modern age. “They’re not”. This is how Iris (Calamy) quietly answers her chiropractor when asked how things are going with her husband (Vincent Elbaz). The words slip from her mouth like an unformed realisation: how long has it been since they last made love?

Directed by: Caroline Vignal

Starring: Laure Calamy, Vincent Elbaz

COMEDY | 98 MINUTES | M

Lucky Winners

The chance of winning the lottery is one in 19 million - less likely than being struck by lightning, they say. But for the characters of Lucky Winners, this dream quickly turns into an explosive and hilarious nightmare. This rollercoaster of a black comedy explores themes of sudden fortune and its unexpected consequences.

Directed by: Romain Choay, Maxime Govare

Starring: Fabrice Eboué, Audrey Lamy, Anouk Grinberg, Pauline Clément

COMEDY | 103 MINUTES | RATING TBC

Take a Chance on Me

When down down on her luck Marie-Line appears before Judge Gilles d’Outremont, he sees something in her that nobody else does. He hires her to be his driver, and the result is a poignant, fun-filled and ultimately life-changing road trip.

Directed by: Jeanne-Pierre Améris

Starring: Louane Emera, Michel Blanc

COMEDY | 103 MINUTES | M

Mr. Blake At Your Service!

In a twist of fate, Blake becomes the butler of a once-distinguished manor house, owned by the elegant yet aloof Madame de Beauvilier (Ardant). The “Domaine de Beauvilier” has fallen on hard times, with both staff and residents longing for better days.

Directed by: Gilles Legardinier

Starring: John Malkovich, Fanny Ardant, Émilie Dequenne

COMEDY | 110 MINUTES | RATING TBC

The Crime is Mine

Madeleine (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) is a pretty, young, penniless and talentless actress in 1930s Paris. Accused of murdering a famous producer, she is helped by her best friend Pauline, a young unemployed lawyer.Acquitted on the grounds of self-defense, a new life of fame and success begins for Madeleine, until the truth comes out...

Directed by: François Ozon

Starring: Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Rebecca Marder, Isabelle Huppert, Fabrice Luchini

COMEDY, CRIME | 102 MINUTES | M

Jeanne du Barry

The lavish new drama from writer/director Maïwenn, Jeanne du Barry is freely inspired by the life of the rags-to-riches social climber, a working-class woman who became the mistress of King Louis XV, played with taciturn command by Johnny Depp in his first French-language speaking role.

Directed by: Maïwenn

Starring: Maïwenn, Johnny Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard

HISTORY, DRAMA | 117 MINUTES | M

Abbé Pierre: A Century of Devotion

Featuring a revelatory lead performance from Benjamin Lavernhe (Delicious, C’est la vie!), writer/director Frédéric Tellier’s sweeping and deeply affecting historical drama charts the extraordinary life of the titular priest and humanist (1912-2007) who advocated for those most in need whilst frequently placing himself in
peril and risk of ostracisation.

Directed by: Frédéric Tellier

Starring: Benjamin Lavernhe, Emmanuelle Bercot, Michel Vuillermoz

HISTORY, DRAMA | 138 MINUTES | M

Bonnard, Pierre and Marthe

1893. When aspiring artist Pierre Bonnard (Macaigne) - a protégé of Claude Monet - meets Marthe de Méligny (de France), he has no idea that this self- proclaimed aristocrat will become the cornerstone of his life and work; from this moment, she becomes more than just a muse, appearing in over a third of his  paintings.

Together, over five decades, the couple will explore creative fulfillment, love and jealousies that challenge the standards of the time, as the film interrogates the great mystery around their relationship.

Directed by: Martin Provost

Starring: Vincent Macaigne, Cécile de France, Stacy Martin

HISTORY, DRAMA | 123 MINUTES | RATING TBC

Divertimento

Classical symphonic music is everything for 17-year-old Zahia Ziouani and her twin sister, Fettouma. Nevertheless, living in underprivileged Parisian suburbs in 1995 with their Algerian background, they struggle arduously to approach their dreams of becoming an orchestra conductor and a cellist. Driven by  determination, passion, and courage, they create their own game changing orchestra, Divertimento.

Directed by: Marie -Castille Mention-Schaar

Starring: Oulaya Amamra, Lina El Arabi, Niels Arestrup

DRAMA, MUSIC | 114 MINUTES | PG

The Sitting Duck

Academy Award nominee Isabelle Huppert delivers an electrifying performance as the real-life whistle-blower Maureen Kearney, a trade unionist who fearlessly challenges the powerful nuclear industry - even at immense personal cost.

Kearney’s influence is both feared and admired, but her world is turned upside down when she exposes the unsettling details of a clandestine deal between
French and Chinese power companies. This revelation triggers a brutal assault, setting off a chain of events that reveal the failures of the justice system
and the pervasive corruption within government and corporate circles.

Directed by: Jean-Paul Salomé

Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Grégory Gadebois

DRAMA, THRILLER | 122 MINUTES | M

The Animal Kingdom

- 5x CÉSAR WINNER -
The Animal Kingdom is an inventive genre mash-up that combines the warmth of a family drama with the unique visuals of a Cronenbergian thriller. Romain Duris (Eiffel) and Paul Kircher play François and Émile, a father and son living in a dystopian future where people are mutating into animals. One of the victims of
this affliction is the pair’s wife/mother, Julia. François and Émile relocate to live near a new institution designed to house these human/animal hybrids - including Julia. Amid the growing mystery and paranoia, this family will discover what it means to be human.

DIRECTED BY: Thomas Cailley

STARRING: Romain Duris, Paul Kircher

ADVENTURE, DRAMA, HORROR | 128 MINUTES | M

The Three Musketeers: Milady

Following the events of D’Artagnan, a secret from the past shatters old alliances in The Three Musketeers: Milady, the spectacular second chapter to Martin Bourboulon’s lavish, all-star adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic adventure, the first French cinematic treatment in over 30 years. Strap in for the unforgettable conclusion.

DIRECTED BY: Martin Bourboulon

STARRING: François Civi,l Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Eva Green

HISTORY, ACTION, ADVENTURE | 114 MINUTES | M

A Silence

The remarkable Emmanuelle Devos and Daniel Auteuil - two of France’s finest and most awarded actors – are at the very top of their game in the gripping
and provocative new drama from acclaimed writer/director Joachim Lafosse, the story of a married couple and their adopted son who grapple with the fallout after a long-held family secret is exposed.

Directed by: Joachim Lafosse

Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Emmanuelle Devos, Matthieu Galoux

DRAMA | 100 MINUTES | RATING TBC

Suddenly

Suddenly is guaranteed to get your pulse racing! Ben (Gilles Lellouche) and Laura (Mélanie Thierry) have spent five years together. Their decision to embark on a global sailing adventure takes an unexpected turn when they detour to a remote island near the Antarctic coast. Caught in a storm, their boat disappears, leaving them isolated, alone, and in danger as winter approaches. Now, they must fight not only for survival but also to preserve their relationship.

Directed by: Thomas Bidegain

Starring: Gilles Lellouche, Mélanie Thierry

DRAMA, THRILLER | 111 MINUTES | M

The Edge of the Blade

Roschdy Zem (The Innocent) stars as the legendary swordsman Clément Lacaze, caught up in an illegal fencing bout between his nephew and a more experienced army colonel. Doria Tiller (The Origin of Evil) plays women’s rights activist Marie-Rose Astié, who is attempting to manipulate the conventions of duelling to bring attention to her own cause.

Directed by: Vincent Perez

Starring: Roschdy Zem, Doria Tiller, Guillaume Gallienne, Damien Bonnard

DRAMA | 101 MINUTES | M

Neneh Superstar

Set within the Paris Opera Ballet School, one of France’s most prestigious cultural institutions, this inspiring family-friendly film will resonate with anyone who has ever refused to compromise their dreams. 12-year-old ballet dancer Neneh discovers that her extraordinary natural talent may not be enough to win the approval of the school’s harsh and discriminatory headmistress. Not only is Neneh from a socially disadvantaged background, but she is also black, challenging the  longstanding dominance of white dancers in classical ballet. This glorious celebration of talent is a charming must-see for families and ballet enthusiasts of all ages.

Directed by: Ramzi Ben Sliman

Starring: Oumy Bruni Garrel, Maïwenn

DRAMA | 97 MINUTES | M

Marguerite's Theorem

Immerse yourself in a tale of obsession, genius, and self-discovery set within the world of elite academia in Marguerite’s Theorem. César-winner Ella Rumpf is Marguerite, a brilliant young mathematician who refuses to let her status as the lone woman in her class hinder her pursuit of excellence.
However, her world crumbles when a new student discovers a flaw in her thesis, and her supervisor dismisses her for being too emotional. Marguerite
must now navigate the real world, unearthing new insights, gaining a fresh lease on life, and even exploring the possibility of romance.

Directed by: Anna Novion

Starring: Ella Rumpf, Clotilde Courau, Julien Frison

DRAMA | 114 MINUTES | M

Sidonie in Japan

Isabelle Huppert delivers a beautifully nuanced performance as Sidonie Perceval, a widowed author who after a long period of inactivity reluctantly travels to Japan to promote a new translation of her debut novel. The majority of her time in Japan is spent with her publisher, Kenzo Mizoguchi, to whom she finds
herself increasingly drawn - despite still grieving for her husband. These feelings are further complicated when she is visited by her husband’s ghost. A mesmerising blend of melancholy, romance, self-discovery and humour, Sidonie in Japan will appeal to fans of such films as Lost in Translation and Truly Madly Deeply.

DIRECTED BY: Élise Girard

STARRING: Isabelle Huppert Tsuyoshi Ihara

Toni

Parenting a teenager is hard enough, but for Antonia ‘Toni’ Livesi, being the sole parent of five teenagers while earning a living as a bar singer is nearly impossible. Despite a brief taste of fame twenty years ago with a hit song, Toni’s life is very much an ordinary one, structured around kids and their squabbles, meals, laundry, housecleaning and work. As her two eldest children prepare to start university, she finds herself questioning her life and where she will go next. At 43, is there still time to try something new? Toni explores the dynamics of parenthood, family, and the delicate art of balancing work and life. 

DIRECTED BY: Nathan Ambrosioni

STARRING: Camille Cottin, Léa Lopez, Thomas Gioria