Yes! The reason this is a good movie for learning French is the two main characters speak in different registers. The rich guy speaks highly educated French, and the helper speaks street French. Fascinating!
This was the first I picked out of the list and what a MASTERPIECE! I loved, specially since it's based on a real story. And yet I'm like A1 level, I could pick up some words and phrases here and there, it's also awesome to learn.
Thank you very much.
oh yeah for sure! i forgot to mention that i did watch it with a french friend who helped me a bit with that. otherwise my b1 level would NOT have sufficed
OSS117, dîner de cons, les bronzés font du ski, Astérix en Égypte, Bienvenu chez les Chtis ou bien Amélie si t’aimes la comédie (mais javoue le niveau de français exigé est un peu plus haut pour pouvoir comprendre les blagues, je te conseille de les regarder avec un Français si possible)
I figure you mean French language and not necessarily from France, so here are my suggestions:
La Chute de Sparte: It’s a Québécois teen movie that my high school took us to see in theatres when it came out. I loved it and am planning on rewatching it sometime with my brother. It’s based on a book, though I have not read it.
Aurélie Laflamme: Another Québécois teen movie. This one is also based on a book. The Aurélie Laflamme books are/were popular with tween girls. I remember enjoying the first few books and the movie (which I also watched through my high school lol).
La Guerre des Tuques: Another Québécois choice (can you tell i’m Canadian yet?) about a group of kids who have a snow war with big snow forts. Make sure to watch the original live action and not the crappy cgi remake. I personally much prefer the second movie though.
La Forteresse Suspendue: The sequel to “La Guerre des Tuques” which if I remember correctly follows the children of the characters from the first movie as they also engage in a pretend child war/feud, however this one is set in the forest in the summer, with two rival summer camps. One side has a huge hidden suspended tree fortress, which is what the movie is named after.
Any of the classic Astérix et Obélix movies
Louis Cyr: Follows the story of Canadian strongman Louis Cyr. Also watched this one in school. Found it a little dark or unpleasant for my tastes at the time, but looking back it is a genuinely great movie, I just didn’t like certain parts of the story because I found them upsetting. Considering it’s based on a real person, I feel like that’s not exactly the movie’s fault lol.
I watched Alice or The Last Escapade last weekend and really enjoyed it. It’s a little strange. Very atmospheric. It came out in 1977 and stars Sylvia Kristel.
Jean de Florette is among my favorite movies ever (its sequel Manon of the Spring is pretty good too), a story of land, water and greed set in 1920's France.
Or if you're looking for more artsy movies : A Man Escaped by Robert Bresson.
En Fanfare (2024) a funny sad feel film set in post industrial Northern France, similar to Brassed Off . Two brothers whose lives have followed very different paths meet and bond over music.
Weekend (1967) Jean-Luc Godard.
Jean de Florette
Not classic or anything but I loved Vermines, Maldoror, Les graines du figuier sauvage, Aimer perdre and Ghost trail for recent movies (not exclusively french movies for most though)
Intouchables
Yes! The reason this is a good movie for learning French is the two main characters speak in different registers. The rich guy speaks highly educated French, and the helper speaks street French. Fascinating!
This was the first I picked out of the list and what a MASTERPIECE! I loved, specially since it's based on a real story. And yet I'm like A1 level, I could pick up some words and phrases here and there, it's also awesome to learn.
Thank you very much.
Godard, Truffaut, Agnes Varda, Chris Marker, Bresson, and Claire Denis are all awesome
I'd add Renoir, Vigo and Grémillon
Edit : Oh and Rohmer can be great if you are learning French
La Haine, La cité de la peur, Platane (serie)
second la haine. one of my all time favorites (of any language)
i love La Haine but if you’re not familiar with a lot of French slang it’ll be hard to understand
oh yeah for sure! i forgot to mention that i did watch it with a french friend who helped me a bit with that. otherwise my b1 level would NOT have sufficed
Portrait of a lady on fire
Jean de Florette and it's sequel Manon des Sources. Oldies but very much goodies
Came here to say this.
And the French is very understandable. No Parisian slurring and mumbling. No slang.
I watched E.T. in French it was hilarious. Euuuhhh Tayyyyy telephone chez moi
He says E T téléphone maison tho (or maison téléphone)
I saw it quite a long time ago. It's possible there are different iterations with different translation (or my memory is flawed)
OSS117, dîner de cons, les bronzés font du ski, Astérix en Égypte, Bienvenu chez les Chtis ou bien Amélie si t’aimes la comédie (mais javoue le niveau de français exigé est un peu plus haut pour pouvoir comprendre les blagues, je te conseille de les regarder avec un Français si possible)
Love Dîner de Cons, the idiot was really trying so hard to help, a lot more heart than the US remake
Jacques Villeret really shines in his rôle. The con was definitely the best character in the show in my opinion.
Le Diner De Cons est tellement bien.
Great list but you forgot Asterix et Obelix : Mission Cleopatre !
That’s what i meant by Astérix en Égypte
Vampire Humaniste Cherche Suicidaire Consentant
The Fall of the American Empire
Le Sens de l'Humour
Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, also known as “Amélie”. No idea how this hasn’t been mentioned yet.
Surprised i had to scroll this far!
Anatomie d’un chute as well!
Wasabi with Jean Reno has a special place in my heart
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) for the most whimsical and beautiful film you'll ever see.
Martyrs (2008) for... the opposite of that.
Martyrs is honestly so good. Also, in my opinion, probably the most recognizable french film in the US (if you're a horror fan).
Les intouchables really good movie!
La Femme Nikita.
"Les tontons flingeurs" (humour/film noir à la française)
Le diner de cons
Les visiteurs
La haine
More...
La Piscine, Belle Du Jour, and the must have is the Cet obscur objet du desir. Oh let’s not forget the classic” Jules et Jim”😊
Big fan of Truffaut and Godard😊
Jean de florette!
Any movie with actor Jean-Pierre Darroussin.
Any movie with actor Gérard Depardieu.
Betty Blue.
Incendies
i was gonna say this!!
Cokeman sur netflix. Lol
I figure you mean French language and not necessarily from France, so here are my suggestions:
La Chute de Sparte: It’s a Québécois teen movie that my high school took us to see in theatres when it came out. I loved it and am planning on rewatching it sometime with my brother. It’s based on a book, though I have not read it.
Aurélie Laflamme: Another Québécois teen movie. This one is also based on a book. The Aurélie Laflamme books are/were popular with tween girls. I remember enjoying the first few books and the movie (which I also watched through my high school lol).
La Guerre des Tuques: Another Québécois choice (can you tell i’m Canadian yet?) about a group of kids who have a snow war with big snow forts. Make sure to watch the original live action and not the crappy cgi remake. I personally much prefer the second movie though.
La Forteresse Suspendue: The sequel to “La Guerre des Tuques” which if I remember correctly follows the children of the characters from the first movie as they also engage in a pretend child war/feud, however this one is set in the forest in the summer, with two rival summer camps. One side has a huge hidden suspended tree fortress, which is what the movie is named after.
Any of the classic Astérix et Obélix movies
Louis Cyr: Follows the story of Canadian strongman Louis Cyr. Also watched this one in school. Found it a little dark or unpleasant for my tastes at the time, but looking back it is a genuinely great movie, I just didn’t like certain parts of the story because I found them upsetting. Considering it’s based on a real person, I feel like that’s not exactly the movie’s fault lol.
Anything by Francis Veber. Look for his favorite character, François Pignon. My favorite is Le Diner de Con. All are comedies.
I watched Alice or The Last Escapade last weekend and really enjoyed it. It’s a little strange. Very atmospheric. It came out in 1977 and stars Sylvia Kristel.
Le Pere Noel est Une Ordure, 3615 Code Père Noël
Dark comedys because tis the season
For something modern and awesome, L’amour Ouf
L'aile ou la Cuisse avec Louis de Funes.
La fille du puisatier, the original 1940 version.
Some classic comedic French films like Le Diner de Cons or La Grande Vadrouille.
I loved “La Haine” personally but it’s also considered a masterpiece by cinephiles and people smarter than me.
There’s also a show called “Fiasco” on Netflix, it’s a mockumentary and absolutely hilarious from beginning to end
Boy am I glad you asked
Jean de Florette is among my favorite movies ever (its sequel Manon of the Spring is pretty good too), a story of land, water and greed set in 1920's France.
Or if you're looking for more artsy movies : A Man Escaped by Robert Bresson.
keep an eye on tv 5 monde plus you'll get a ton of options !!!
divines, schézarade
En Fanfare (2024) a funny sad feel film set in post industrial Northern France, similar to Brassed Off . Two brothers whose lives have followed very different paths meet and bond over music. Weekend (1967) Jean-Luc Godard. Jean de Florette
The Fifth Element. Yes, it's a french film.
More seriously, La Folie des Grandeurs, with Louis de Funès. And pretty much any movie with Louis de Funès, actually.
Amélie
Not classic or anything but I loved Vermines, Maldoror, Les graines du figuier sauvage, Aimer perdre and Ghost trail for recent movies (not exclusively french movies for most though)
Le Cercle Rouge
Taxi
La cérémonie