Loss and hope in the aftermath of Paris terrorist attack 

By Samuel Barson 

On 13th November 2015, Paris was hit by a series of coordinated terrorist attacks, completely devastating the peaceful city. In Amanda, writer-director Mikhaël Hers has invented a similar attack on the city and people of Paris, a tragic event to disrupt the lives of the film’s protagonists.

Killed in the attacks is Sandrine, who leaves behind her 7-year-old daughter, the titular Amanda. Sandrine’s brother David finds himself responsible for his little niece, and the film’s story is the journey of these two characters and the bond they create in the aftermath of such an horrendous event for their family.

As David, Vincent Lacoste is terrific. His ability to ascertain the emotions born from his character’s turbulent situation is striking: he balances stoicism for the sake of protecting his niece and expresses the explosive sadness that overcomes him in quiet moments. He also has the chance to explore a more charismatic side to his character in scenes with his love interest Léna, who was also injured during the terrorist attacks.

Isaure Multrier fittingly pulls the audience’s heartstrings in the titular role, with the majority of this film’s loss and devastation being seen through the eyes of this innocent, pure and sweet young girl.

Complimenting the cast’s powerful performances is Anton Sanko’s music composition. As the characters go through their respective roller coasters of grief, Sanko’s composition beautifully joins them and the audience on their ride.

Cinematographer Sébastien Buchmann plays a pivotal role in presenting audiences with a sense of hope and positivity that is desperately needed in a heavy narrative such as this one. He captures the beauty of Paris, despite the horrors that have occurred within and leaves us with a welcome feeling that this gorgeous city could never truly be destroyed, and neither could its people.

Despite some momentary weaknesses in the script, the exquisite performances and touching theme of loss make Amanda a very worthwhile contribution to this year’s Alliance Française French Film Festival.

Amanda screens 5 March – 10 April at Palace Cinemas across Australia as part of the 30th Alliance Française French Film Festival. Tickets can be purchased online. 

54 must-see films screen in Australia

By Lois Maskiell

The largest ever line-up of an Alliance Française French Film Festival will screen across selected Australian cinemas to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the event in Australia. More than 50 films, which captured the critics’ attention at the international film festivals in Cannes, Berlin and Venice, feature on the programme with the vast majority previously undistributed until now.

“This edition will be literally plugged to the history of cinema through genres with the western, the science fiction and the horror film, even the Bollywood film makes an appearance,” artistic director Philippe Platel tells Theatre Press.

Platel, also the Cultural Attaché at the French Embassy in Australia, curates the festival for the fourth consecutive year in collaboration with Alliance Française and Unifrance Films.

Comedy fans can prepare to be spoilt for choice: the festival launches with the explosively witty The Trouble with You (En liberté) and features a selection of achingly funny films. Directed by Pierre Salvadori The Trouble with You is “a poetic take on comedy at the intersection of many genres,” Platel says. “It’s a comedy, romcom, thriller and cop film with tarantinoesque effects.”

Sink or Swim (Le grand bain) by Gilles Lellouche is “the big success for this year with 4 million spectators in total in France,” he says.

Box-office hit Dumped (Larguées) pivots on a simple plot: two daughters take their recently single mother to an island resort where she recovers on a diet of cocktails and an unexpected love affair. “It’s sweet and salty, it’s a margarita for your brain,” Platel says.

For the serious cinephile, the key film on the programme is pioneer auteur Jean-Luc Godard’s The Image Book (Le livre d’image). Godard, 88, has never ceased to polarise critics with his strikingly contemporary work. “He is so innovative, he reinvents cinema every time,” Platel says. Now it’s your turn to cast the verdict.

Claire Denis’ highly anticipated science fiction High Life starring Juliette Binoche will also appeal to the film buff, as will Virgil Vernier’s Sophia Antipolis and Jacques Audiard’s western Sisters Brothers (Les Frères Sisters), featuring John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix and Jake Gyllenhaal.

For a spectacularly visual experience, Alain Resnais’ 1961 Last Year at Marienbad (L’Année dernière à Marienbad) is not to be overlooked with costumes by fashion icon Coco Chanel. “It’s an amazing film and it’s a very central piece in the line-up because the restoration is incredible,” Platel says.

Actress Vanessa Paradis leads in Yann Gonzalez’s spin on the slasher movie, Knife+Heart (Un couteau dans le coeur), which has already attained cult status since its Cannes premiere. “Paradis plays the role of a lesbian producer of gay porn films in the ’80s, facing a serial killer killing all of her cast,” he says. “It’s very fashionable with a trendy soundtrack by M83.”

Backing this variety of films are prominent industry patrons including Australia’s foremost film critic David Stratton and leading Australian producer Rosemary Blight. “Since 80% of our audience is Australian, we’re definitely an Australian cultural event,” Platel says. “It made sense that we have this entourage of Australian patrons from the industry.”

The festival’s enduring popularity affirms Australians’ affection for France’s unique cinema, and what better way to celebrate this birthday edition of the festival than with a range of films in which to escape and explore.

“There is a very strong appetite for French culture in Australia,” Platel says. “I’m amazed by this very sincere Francophilia found everywhere.”

The 30th birthday edition of the Alliance Française French Film Festival screens 5 March – 18 April 2019 across selected cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide, Avoca Beach, Paramatta and Byron Bay.

To purchase tickets and view the complete program see the official website.