Film-Forward

French

Custody

Films have explored domestic violence before, but it’s likely that Xavier Legrand’s debut feature is among the most powerful.

Back to Burgundy

A high-spirited film that makes being twenty-something in France look like the best gig in the world.

The Workshop

The film touches on many contemporary social discontents while building tension between a touchy pupil and his tight-lipped teacher.

A Bag of Marbles

Two Jewish boys’ adventures have life-and-death consequences in Occupied France.

Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2018

Films in the series reflect a troubled mood, running the gamut from rage filled to woebegone.

Double Lover

The impeccable cinematography in François Ozon’s new mind game belongs in 2018, but its soul harks back to the psycho-gonzo oeuvre of Hitchcock, Bergman, and Gaslight.

West of the Jordan River

All director Amos Gitai is saying is, give peace a chance.

The Insult

Two men’s ill-tempered argument over a broken drainpipe leads to a hurled curse, a savage punch, a vendetta, and a courtroom showdown.

Django

The biopic of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt is given a stifling, low-energy treatment.