French movies, books, music?

Question

I'm going to be taking French next year in college and I would like to learn more about the culture. My moms side of the family is French and I've already gotten into the French cooking and such.

I really like that Amelie movie, it was very special. Camus isn't a bad writer either.

Any recommendations?

Answer 1

My french teacher has shown us both Les Choristes and Taxi (the French one obviously!)

Both were pretty good - the first touching- especially with the little boy - and the second funny.

=D

Answer 2

Films I like are:

La vie est un longue fleuve tranquil

Les choristes

Jeux d'enfants

Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas

Ne le dis à personne

La maison

La doublure

If you liked Amelie you might also like

Odette Toulemonde

Hors de prix

Ensemble, c'est tout

Prete-moi ta main

Answer 3

The book, 'A Year in Provence' by Peter Mayle gives some good insight into the French people who live in Provence. (He's a British writer who moved to France with his wife to live)

Carla Bruni's first CD is really really good.

Edith Piaf is the classic French singer.

The movies Jean de Florette and its sequel Manon des Sources are pretty awesome French movies.



Some travel books are worthwhile skimming - the intro pages usually give a really good, concise, insight into the culture and history of France - eg. Lonely Planet book

Answer 4

There is something else, which could be interresting for you....In the southwest of france where I have been living for a long time, there is a lot of british people who have chosen this area to live, because this is a little paradice. And there are at least 2 local newspapers in english for the use of english speaking people (eg. Aquitaine News). This is interresting for you because beyond the language (printed in english) this is a door open on french cultute, and there is a lot to learn.....

The adress must be (I guess....)

www.aquitaine new.fr   and also   www.france news.fr

In my opinion, this is a complementary solution....

Bonne chance avec ton projet!

(On the other hand, do not hezitate to contact me if you need extra information!!)

Answer 5

Movies:  Bleu, Blanc et Rouge.  (Blue, White and Red) = a series of 3 movies that are all independant stories, but they have themes that tie each other together and it is best to see them in order.

Manon of the sping

Jules et Jim

La Femme Nikita

Les regles du jeux

Papillon

Books:  Flaubert, Romain Gary and read paris match.

Music:  Yves Montand, Edith Piaf, Maurice Chevalier, Josephine Baker, Tino Rossi, Charles Trenet, Frehel.

Go to I-tunes and down load French podcasts.  You can get either lessons or radio programs.  They are free!

Answer 6

French Movies....my favorite hobby!

For starters;

La Vie en rose is a great movie. I've also enjoyed;

Elevator to the Gallows

He Loves me, He loves me not (especially if you liked Audrey Tatou in Amelie)

Taxi - The 1998 French version, not that Queen Latifah mess

La Femme Nikita

Pretty Things

There are a lot of others, but if you start with those, you can really decide who you like and kind of link from there. I don't want to list too many others, because they are kind of vague and hard to tell if most would like. Those above are some good general ones.

I strongly suggest getting a Netflix subscription. They have a TON of French films to choose from and are not that expensive.

Book wise, I thought this was a really interesting and funny book. http://www.amazon.com/Talk-Snail-Command...  This is by a Brit living in France, and some of the differences between the English and French cultures.

Music wise, I've really enjoyed Carla Bruni's CD's. I have to admit, I'd like to know about some other one's myself.

Answer 7

Ok, here we go for french movies (sorry, I don't know their titles in english so I give you french ones)

  - L'auberge espagnole ; Les poupées russes, which are in french and english languages, and all the work of the director Cedric Klapish (he directed recently a movie called "Paris")

  - All Maurice Pialat movies, he was a very famous director and belongs to the history of french cinema

  - Jean-Pierre Jeunet is a very popular director, you already know his famous "amelie from montmartre" (i think that was the english title ?) ; you should also watch "La cité des enfants perdus", or "Delicatessen" for example. You shouldn't watch his "Alien 4"... ;o)

  - Recent french movies are not that good you know, they all talk about the same thing : people who, at thirty, are afraid of love and engagement etc...

Second part, books :

A new generation of authors rised recently, i recommend you Amélie Nothomb (ok, she comes from Belgium...), Frederic Beigbedder (especially "99 francs"), but also Virginie Despentes (maybe a little bit violent and weird but that's good stuff !) and Bernard Werber (he writes "scientific thrillers", some strange books too but it's good, there is action, adventure, it's funny and you learn all kind of things. This is very good). For the "classics", i recommend you Camus, of course, but i'm more keen on Victor Hugo's poetry, Charles Baudelaire, Rimbaud...for the poetry stuff. Milan Kundera is a fabulous author, he is not french but writes in french now. You shouldn't read Balzac things, it's such boring...

  - And third, french music. You probably already know all the classics, Piaf, Jacques Brel (another belgian...), Georges Brassens... So, i'm personaly keen on Noir Désir, a french rock band, or H.F. Thiéfaine, less known ; Renaud used to be a good singer before he became an alcooholic, so you could listen to his old EPs ; Damien Saez made some good songs on his white album ; Anaïs is a young woman who sing some amazing songs, alone with her guitar and a sampler, she's so funny... Léo Ferré is a classic one, but don't listen at his songs when you're depressed...And, to end the list, Jacques Higelin, Emilie Simon, Cali, Mano Solo, Mano Negra (french and spanish band)... You should not listen to Celine Dion's c**p, or Lara Fabian, Hélène Segara, and all this kind of "music" that we call in France "variété".

Answer 8

Raymond Queneau is a brilliant, brilliant author. I've only read his books in translation (my French isn't too good) and they were really good but they're meant to be spectacular in the original French so if you're fluent, sounds like something of his is a must.

Camus is another very good writer, you can't really go wrong with him. Some Jean Paul Sartre may complement his stuff well.

Aside from that, sounds like you're on your way. France is a beautiful country and I adore French culture, good luck with college!