Cinéma spectaculaire

As in previous years, the 13th annual French Film Festival of the Czech Republic will serve as a preview of French imports destined to enter circulation here during the coming year. For English-speaking viewers, the screenings in Prague and seven other cities throughout the country will likely be their only chance to take in the films with accompanying English subtitles.

Festival press attaché Tereza Jiravová makes special mention of the retrospective category of the festival's program, both for its quality and its accessibility for expats. "I would recommend the retrospective of Amos Gitai's films," she tells The Prague Post. "The retrospective includes four features films (Alila, Esther, Kippour and Désangagement) and one documentary (News From Home/News From House)." Jiravová also singles out Xavier Beauvois' Of Gods and Men, which took the top prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival and has been selected to represent France at the Academy Awards. There will be an evening of short films to choose from, as well as four other categories, including the main competition, a selection of French films co-produced with other nationalities, and a Czech Critics' Choice category that will present 10 previously unreleased films.

After the festival's close, the following five films will enter Czech cinemas. Alas, they will largely do so sans English subtitles, so don't miss this opportunity to take in anything that catches your fancy.

Black Heaven (L'autre monde) Gilles Marchand, director. Louise Bourgoin and Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet star. A troubling and bizarre tale of the consequences of young love, sexual obsession and self-destructive behavior, Black Heaven recounts the fallout that follows the meeting of a previously placid and happy teenage boy and an alluring woman possessed of a troubling agenda. Světozor, Nov. 26 at 9

Mammoth (Mammuth) Benoit Delépine and Gustave Kervern, directors. Gérard Depardieu stars. Essentially a road movie, Mammoth has been described as tailor-made for French cinematic icon Gérard Depardieu. The film follows the fortunes of a recent retiree in search of self-examination and due compensation via a road tour on an ancient motorcycle. Director Kervern will introduce the film at the Dec. 1 screening. Světozor, Dec. 1 at 7

Potiche Francois Ozon, director. Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Karin Viard and Judith Godreche star. This latest offering from Ozon premiered at the Venice and Toronto International film festivals. Starring the laudable Deneuve and Depardieu, Potiche is a typical French comedy concerned with the pitfalls of midlife romance and interpersonal drama. Lucerna, Nov. 25 at 7:30; Světozor, Nov. 26 at 6:30

The Beautiful Person (La Belle personne) Christophe Honoré, director. Louis Garrel, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet and Léa Seydoux star. The tragic tale of a love triangle that unfolds between a young exchange student, a similarly aged boy and an older Italian teacher is reputed to feature breakout performances from Garrel and Seydoux. The film will enter wider circulation in early December. Světozor, Nov. 27 at 6:30

The Way Beyond (L'Enfance d'icare), Alexandre Iordachescu, director. Guillaume Depardieu stars. The final screen performance by Guillaume Depardieu (Gérard Depardieu's son, who died after contracting pneumonia while filming in Romania), concerns the efforts of a young man who wants to turn back the clock and undo the accident that led to disability and destroyed his life. After meeting a professor who is enthusiastic about a new gene therapy, our protagonist takes a chance and proceeds with treatment. Complications ensue, however, and it soon becomes clear that the patient's only hope for survival involves the professor's daughter. Světozor, Nov. 27 at 9; Slovanský dům, Dec. 1 at 7:30

James Walling can be reached at
jwalling@praguepost.com