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Subgenre Sampler

 
One Fine MorningOne Fine Morning (Un Beau Matin) (2022) Aro Favourite
Dir. Mia Hansen-Love
Feat. Léa Seydoux, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud
Lea Seydoux is French movie star royalty but she keeps it real in this sublime film from Mia Hansen–Løve (Bergman Island), one of Europe’s…
Worst Person in the World, TheWorst Person in the World, The (2021) Aro Favourite
Dir. Joachim Trier
Feat. Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum
Gloriously provocative and richly perceptive comedy drama from talented Norwegian director Joachim Trier (THELMA), which follows an unpredictable,…
An Unexpected LoveAn Unexpected Love (El amor menos pensado) (2019)
Dir. Juan Vera
Feat. Ricardo Darín, Mercedes Morán
Argentinian romantic comedy exploring the lives of a couple who, after 25 years of marriage, decide to explore being single, with hilarious and…
Berlin, I Love YouBerlin, I Love You (2019)
Dir. Peter Chelsom, Fernando Eimbcke, Claus Clausen
Feat. Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke
Anthology film continuing the "Cities of Love" franchise (PARIS, JE T'AIME, NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU) set in the German capital where ten sugary stories…
In the Name Of The LandIn the Name Of The Land (2019)
Dir. Edouard Bergeon
Feat. Guillaume Canet, Veerle Baetens, Anthony Bajon
Following the life of a stoic farmer across four decades, this bittersweet and deeply moving drama marks the directorial debut of French…
Portrait of a Lady on FirePortrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) Recommended
Dir. Céline Sciamma
Feat. Noémie Merlant, Adele Haenel
Céline Sciamma (GIRLHOOD) directs this devastatingly good, exquisitely executed lesbian period drama. Set in France in the 18th century, where a…
Room 212Room 212 (Chambre 212, On a Magical Night) (2019)
Dir. Christophe Honore
Feat. Chiara Mastroianni, Vincent Lacoste, Camille Cottin
Playful French rom–com from acclaimed writer–director Christophe Honore (MA MERE, DAN PARIS). Set over the course of one night, where…
Weathering with YouWeathering with You (2019)
Dir. Makoto Shinkai
Touching Japanese animated romance doubling as an eco–fable, about a high school boy who befriends a girl who can manipulate the weather. From…
A Faithful ManA Faithful Man (L'homme fidèle) (2018)
Dir. Louis Garrel
Feat. Louis Garrel, Laetitia Casta, Lily-Rose Depp
Romantic farce with a whimsical, French new–wave sensibility directed by and starring Louis Garrel. A dashing journalist finds his life…
BorderBorder (Gräns) (2018) Recommended
Dir. Ali Abbasi
Feat. Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff, Jörgen Thorsson
Remarkable Swedish black comedy about a customs officer with an extraordinary sense of smell who sniffs out a suspicious–looking traveller with…
Cold WarCold War (2018) Recommended
Dir. Pawel Pawlikowski
Feat. Joanna Kulig, Tomasz Kot
The director of 'Ida' (2013) follows up with a deeply romantic, immaculately composed tale of a Polish concert pianist and a charismatic singer who…
In The AislesIn The Aisles (In den Gängen) (2018) Recommended
Dir. Thomas Stuber
Feat. Franz Rogowski, Sandra Huller
A German wholesale supermarket is the setting for this gentle romantic drama following a reclusive blue–collar shelf stacker (Andreas Leupold,…
PhotographPhotograph (2018)
Dir. Ritesh Batra
Feat. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra
A charming romance from the director of THE LUNCHBOX set in Mumbai, where a struggling street photographer convinces a shy stranger to pose as his…
Sorry AngelSorry Angel (2018)
Dir. Christophe Honore
Feat. Pierre Deladonchamps, Vincent Lacoste, Denis Podalydes
Articulate and powerful love story set in Paris in the 90's, where a worldly writer falls for a younger, carefree university student.
AuroreAurore (I Got Life!) (2017)
Dir. Blandine Lenoir
Feat. Agnes Jaoui, Thibault de Montalembert, Pascale Arbillot
Actress and co–writer Jaoui is the heart and soul of this witty if overly–familiar rom–com as the eponymous 50–year–old…
FireworksFireworks (Fireworks: Should We See It from the Side or The Bottom?) (2017)
Dir. Nobuyuki Takeuchi
Beautifully romantic Japanese anime set during a school summer vacation, based on Shunji Iwai’s 1993 TV series, “Fireworks”. Refreshingly…
Mr. Stein Goes OnlineMr. Stein Goes Online (Un profil pour deux) (2017)
Dir. Stéphane Robelin
Feat. Pierre Richard
Old–fashioned French farce where a reclusive widower enters the world of online dating, using the profile photo of his young computer tutor to…
A Silent VoiceA Silent Voice (Koe no katachi) (2016)
Dir. Naoko Yamada
Feat. Miyu Irino
Unique Japanese anime following a deaf girl called Shoko, who is bullied at school by a boy who grows up to be tormented by his past behavior, and…
Rosalie BlumRosalie Blum (2016) Recommended
Dir. Julien Rappeneau
Feat. Noemie Lvovsky, Alice Isaaz, Kyan Khojandi
An intriguing and relatable French rom–com that tells the same story of romantic serendipity from three different points of view. Based on a…
Up For LoveUp For Love (Un homme à la hauteur) (2016)
Dir. Laurent Tirard
Feat. Jean Dujardin, Virginie Efira
Warm hearted French rom–com about a lawyer who unexpectedly falls for a man with short stature (Jean Dujardin, star of THE ARTIST and the OSS…
Your NameYour Name (Kimi no na wa) (2016) Recommended
Dir. Makoto Shinkai
Another exquisite animated drama from Makoto Shinkai, an increasingly beloved and notable voice in the world of Japanese anime. The story is based on…
In the Shadow of WomenIn the Shadow of Women (L'ombre des femmes) (2015)
Dir. Philippe Garrel
Feat. Clotilde Courau, Stanislas Merhar, Lena Paugam
Romantic drama from Philippe Garrel, a prolific French auteur whose work is rarely available outside of France and often deal with the subject of…
La Belle SaisonLa Belle Saison (Summertime) (2015)
Dir. Catherine Corsini
Feat. Cecile De France, Izia Higelin, Noemie Lvovsky
Two women strike up a passionate affair against a backdrop of the feminist movement in early–1970's France, but struggle to reconcile of…
A Chance EncounterA Chance Encounter (Quantum Love) (2014)
Dir. Lisa Azuelos
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Francois Cluzet, Lisa Azuelos
High–concept romantic comedy which blends fantasy with reality as a a married man's encounter with another woman develops into a mutual…
Hidden AwayHidden Away (A escondidas) (2014)
Dir. Mikel Rueda
Feat. German Alcarazu, Adil Koukouh, Joseba Ugalde
Spanish romantic drama filmed in neighbourhoods throughout Bilbao, exploring themes of sexual awakening, racism and deportation through the story of…
I Am Happiness on EarthI Am Happiness on Earth (2014)
Dir. Julien Hernandez
Feat. Hugo Catalan, Gabino Rodriguez, Andrea Portal
Gay–themed Mexican film about the infatuation a commitment–phobic film director has for a talented dancer. Director Julian Hernandez…
Broken Circle Breakdown, TheBroken Circle Breakdown, The (2013) Recommended
Dir. Felix Van Groeningen
Feat. Veerle Baetens, Johan Heldenbergh, Nell Cattrysse
Dynamic and sexy musical romance set in the Flemish region of Belgium over seven years of poignant love and loss, and featuring a magnificent…
Chinese PuzzleChinese Puzzle (2013)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cecile De France
Cédric Klapisch's cosmopolitan trilogy wraps up with this breezy reunion of the characters first introduced in THE SPANISH APARTMENT, now…
Garden of Words, TheGarden of Words, The (2013) Recommended
Dir. Makoto Shinkai
Feat. Miyu Irino, Kana Hanazawa
Another gorgeous animated romance from the director of 5 CENTIMETRES PER SECOND, centred on the poignant relationship between a sensitive teenager…
Just a SighJust a Sigh (2013)
Dir. Jérôme Bonnell
Feat. Emmanuelle Devos, Gabriel Byrne
Emmanuelle Devos and Gabriel Byrne experience a brief encounter as an actress and a professor who trade glances on a Paris–bound train. A…
Mood IndigoMood Indigo (2013) Recommended
Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris star in this wild interpretation of Boris Vian’s cult novel 'Froth on the Daydream' from dir. Michel Gondry.
Say Yes!Say Yes! (2013)
Dir. Leste Chen
Feat. Godfrey Gao, Hailu Qin, Bo Huang
A Mainland spin on popular Japanese television series “101st Proposal”, about an eternally unsuccessful blind dater who finally meets the girl of…
Another Woman's LifeAnother Woman's Life (2012)
Dir. Sylvie Testud
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Mathieu Kassovitz, Aure Atika
Juliette Binoche is typically radiant in this otherwise slight variation on the time–leap genre. She plays a well–to–do woman who…
Fly Me to the MoonFly Me to the Moon (Un plan parfait) (2012)
Dir. Pascal Chaumeil
Feat. Diane Kruger, Dany Boon, Alice Pol
The French churn out another dispensable yet dishy rom–com, this time centred on a woman (Diane Kruger, she of the supermodel looks) who…
Happiness Never Comes AloneHappiness Never Comes Alone (2012)
Dir. James Huth
Feat. Gad Elmaleh, Sophie Marceau
French romantic fodder, with Gad Elmaleh as a commitment–phobic playboy who, against his constitution, falls head over heels for a divorced…
Paris-ManhattanParis-Manhattan (2012)
Dir. Sophie Lellouche
Feat. Alice Taglioni, Patrick Bruel
A Woody Allen–obsessed pharmacist employs the philosophies of her nebbish movie hero in life and in love. Typically, inconsequentially French,…
PopulairePopulaire (2012)
Dir. Régis Roinsard
Feat. Romain Duris, Deborah Francois, Bérénice Bejo
Full of colour and quick–witted style, this French period comedy plays up the vintage appeal of the 1950s through rose tinted glasses. Deborah…
Red EagleRed Eagle (2012)
Dir. Jose Ramon Ayerra Diaz
Feat. David Janer
Based on a popular Spanish TV show about a dashing teacher, who by night is a sort of Ninja–Zorro, fighting injustice and saving King and…
RenoirRenoir (2012)
Dir. Gilles Bourdos
Feat. Michel Bouquet, Christa Theret, Vincent Rottiers
Sumptuous, sun–kissed art biopic based on the last years of impressionist painter Auguste Renoir (Bouquet) during World War I, and the…
Silent YouthSilent Youth (2012)
Dir. Diemo Kemmesies
Feat. Martin Bruchmann, Josef Mattes, Linda Schule
Low key German indie drama offering a story of gay first love, replete with palpable sexual tension and interesting, honest performances. Like so…
Teddy BearTeddy Bear (10 Timer til Paradis) (2012) Recommended
Dir. Mads Matthiesen
Feat. Kim Kold
Real life body–builder Kim Kold stars as a shy and awkward 38 year–old Danish bodybuilder who still lives with his mum, but decides to…
Art of Love, TheArt of Love, The (2011)
Dir. Emmanuel Mouret
Feat. Emmanuel Mouret, Pascale Arbillot, Ariane Ascaride
The French try their hand at the ensemble romantic comedy with this episodic insight into the dramas, dilemmas, and delights of love between a cast…
Café de FloreCafé de Flore (2011)
Dir. Jean-Marc Vallée
Feat. Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent
Two parallel stories of love and hope transcend their time difference in this fantastical juggling act from French–Canadian filmmaker…
DelicacyDelicacy (2011)
Dir. David Foenkinos, Stéphane Foenkinos
Feat. Audrey Tautou, François Damiens
Audrey Tautou breezes through yet another whimsical French souffle, here playing a widowed gamine beauty who rediscovers love in the form of a…
Goodbye, First LoveGoodbye, First Love (2011)
Dir. Mia Hansen-Love
Feat. Lola Créton, Sebastian Urzendowsky
The director of FATHER OF MY CHILDREN turns her nuanced lens on the passionate but slow–maturing romance between a couple who break up in their…
HarvestHarvest (Stadt Land Fluss) (2011)
Dir. Benjamin Cantu
Feat. Lukas Steltner, Kai Michael Müller
Muted romance set against a documentary esque background, that tracks the tentative relationship between two young apprentices training on a farm…
Kiss MeKiss Me (Kyss mig, aka With Every Heartbeat) (2011) Recommended
Dir. Alexandra-Therese Keining
Feat. Ruth Vega Fernandez, Liv Mjönes, Krister Henriksson
Heartfelt romantic drama about a woman who is engaged to be married when she finds herself falling for her soon–to–be stepmother's…
MedianerasMedianeras (Sidewalls) (2011)
Dir. Gustavo Taretto
Feat. Javier Drolas, Pilar López de Ayala
Two mournful souls destined for each other conspire to never cross paths despite living directly across from one another in this inventive modern…
My Piece of the PieMy Piece of the Pie (2011)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Karin Viard, Gilles Lellouche
A Capra–esque satire shot in the mode of a French romantic comedy, replete with clunky political statements and glossy Euro visuals. Karin…
33 (Three) (2010)
Dir. Tom Tykwer
Feat. Sophie Rois, Sebastian Schipper, Devid Striesow
Dir. Tom Tykwer energises this simple love story of a forty–something couple who fall for the same man with the frenetic visual and narrative…
Age of Reason, TheAge of Reason, The (With Love... from the Age of Reason) (2010)
Dir. Yann Samuell
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Marton Csokas, Michel Duchaussoy
A frazzled career woman at breaking point reconnects with her childhood in this soul–searching romantic comedy. More melodramatic, and less…
Angele and TonyAngele and Tony (2010) Recommended
Dir. Alix Delaporte
Feat. Clotilde Hesme, Gregory Gadebois, Evelyne Didi
This quality, character–driven courtship between a prostitute with a past and a plainspoken fisherman successfully plays down obvious emotion…
Beautiful LiesBeautiful Lies (2010)
Dir. Pierre Salvadori
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Nathalie Baye, Sami Bouajila
Sweet and scenic Audrey Tautou confection, about a mother and daughter competing for the same secret admirer.
HeartbreakerHeartbreaker (L'arnacoeur) (2010) Recommended
Dir. Pascal Chaumeil
Feat. Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis
Romain Duris exploits his handsome charms as a professional heartbreaker hired to ruin relationships – that is, until he strikes upon a woman…
Kiss Me AgainKiss Me Again (Baciami ancora) (2010)
Dir. Gabriel Muccino
Feat. Stefano Accorsi, Vittoria Puccini, Pierfrancesco Favino
The lives of young Italians struggling with issues of marriage, parenthood, and relationships are revisited in this pleasant sequel to THE LAST KISS.…
KitesKites (2010)
Dir. Anurag Basu
Feat. Hrithik Roshan, Bárbara Mori
Overheated even by Bollywood standards, this outlandish Las Vegas–set border romp pits a lovelorn hunk (Roshan) against police, bounty hunters,…
Loose CannonsLoose Cannons (2010)
Dir. Ferzan Ozpetek
Feat. Riccardo Scamarcio
An cheerfully overstuffed family comedy of a gay young man who attempts to come out to his ultra traditionalist parents in the south of Italy.
Marriage and Other DisastersMarriage and Other Disasters (Weddings and Other Disasters) (2010)
Dir. Nina Di Majo
Feat. Fabio Volo, Margherita Buy, Luciana Littizzetto
Likeable rom–com with romantically disillusioned woman finds herself organising her sister's wedding. Cue romantic mismatching and shenanigans.
My Name is KhanMy Name is Khan (2010)
Dir. Karan Johar
Feat. Shahrukh Khan, Kajol , Christopher B. Duncan
Well–meaning plea for racial tolerance with an Aspergers–afflicted Muslim detained in the U.S. as a terrorist and undertaking a journey…
Norwegian WoodNorwegian Wood (2010)
Dir. Tran Anh Hung
Feat. Rinko Kikuchi, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Kiko Mizuhara
Yearning, visually rapturous adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s widely read novel, about a devoted college student in the 60s whose relationships are…
Perfect Date, ThePerfect Date, The (L'amour, c'est mieux à deux) (2010)
Dir. Dominique Farrugia, Arnaud Lemort
Feat. Clovis Cornillac, Virginie Efira, Manu Payet
A derivative French rom–com nonetheless delivered in good spirits, this focuses on the ingrained patterns of two male friends whose wildly…
RaavanRaavan (2010)
Dir. Mani Ratnam
Feat. Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan
Bullish, jungle–set spectacular, based on the Indian legend of 'The Ramayan', is both a vanity project for glamour couple Abhishek Bachchan and…
Romantics AnonymousRomantics Anonymous (2010) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Pierre Améris
Feat. Benoit Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carré
Two would–be lovers must overcome their timidness via a mutual passion for chocolate in this sweet–toothed romantic comedy.
Room in RomeRoom in Rome (Habitación en Roma) (2010)
Dir. Julio Medem
Feat. Elena Anaya, Natasha Yarovenko, Enrico Lo Verso
Erotic chronicle of a brief encounter between two women set almost entirely within the confines of a hotel room. More porno–profundity from…
Simple SimonSimple Simon (2010) Recommended
Dir. Andreas Öhman
Feat. Bill Skarsgård, Martin Wallström
Sensitive feel–good romantic–comedy of an Asperger's sufferer whose brother sets out to find him a new girlfriend. Eccentric Swedish…
Coco Chanel & Igor StravinskyCoco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (Coco & Igor) (2009)
Dir. Jan Kounen
Feat. Anna Mouglalis, Mads Mikkelsen
Fashion icon Coco Chanel and composer Igor Stravinsky share a passionate, illicit love affair in this lavish period romance, which more or less takes…
From Beginning to EndFrom Beginning to End (Do Começo ao Fim) (2009)
Dir. Aluizio Abranches
Feat. João Gabriel Vasconcellos, Rafael Cardoso, Júlia Lemmertz
Controversial Brazilian ode to incestuous half–brothers that's evocatively shot and titillatingly steamy but strangely coy on the consequences.
Giulia Doesn't Go Out at NightGiulia Doesn't Go Out at Night (2009)
Dir. Giuseppe Piccioni
Feat. Valerio Mastandrea, Valeria Golino, Sonia Bergamasco
Understated romantic drama with an enigmatic Golina as the titular character, a swimming instructor with a dark secret who embarks on a romance with…
LeavingLeaving (Partir) (2009) Recommended
Dir. Catherine Corsini
Feat. Kristin Scott Thomas, Sergi Lopez, Yvan Attal
Doctor's wife and mother–of–two Kristin Scott Thomas falls unrelentingly for a blue–collar ex–con in this steamy, captivating…
Many Kisses LaterMany Kisses Later (Ex) (2009)
Dir. Fausto Brizzi
Feat. Claudia Gerini, Flavio Insinna, Silvio Orlando
Breezy rom–com –a smash hit in Italy– follows six couples from Chistmas to Valetine's Day and their various entanglements.…
Sea Purple, TheSea Purple, The (2009)
Dir. Donatella Maiorca
Feat. Valeria Solarino, Isabella Ragonese, Ennio Fantastichini
Solid lesbian bodice–ripper centres on the eternal romance between two 19th century Sicilian women, destined to suffer for their forbidden…
Someone I LovedSomeone I Loved (2009)
Dir. Zabou Breitman
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Marie-Josee Croze, Florence Loiret Caille
Nuanced romantic drama with Auteuil reflecting on his great lost love while attempting to console his jilted daughter–in–law.
Bride FlightBride Flight (2008)
Dir. Ben Sombogaart
Feat. Karina Smulders, Waldemar Torenstra, Anna Drijver
New Zealand in the 1950's from a Dutch perspective makes this melodrama an intriguing, unique experience for Kiwi audiences, which also has the…
Butterfly LoversButterfly Lovers (2008)
Dir. Jingle Ma
Feat. Charlene Choi, Chun Wu, Ge Hu
Martial arts 'M Butterfly' charts the afflictions that befall two lovers destined to always be parted. Gaudy, gender–bending romance from Hong…
Cloud 9Cloud 9 (Wolke 9) (2008) Aro Favourite
Dir. Andreas Dresen
Feat. Ursula Werner, Horst Rehberg, Horst Westphal
A frank yet sensitive depiction of a passionate love affair between a man and a married woman in their autumn years. Using a methodology similar…
My Friends My LovesMy Friends My Loves (Mes amis, mes amours) (2008)
Dir. Lorraine Levy
Feat. Vincent Lindon, Pascal Elbé, Virginie Ledoyen
A buddy movie for middle–aged divorcees, this lightweight odd–coupling follows two Parisian single dads who decide to raise their…
Our Beloved Month of AugustOur Beloved Month of August (Aquele Querido Mês de Agosto) (2008) Recommended
Dir. Miguel Gomes
Feat. Sonia Bandeira, Fabio Oliveira
Beautifully idiosyncratic film blending documentary with drama, from distinctive Portuguese director Miguel Gomes (TABU). A summery and romantic…
Palermo ShootingPalermo Shooting (2008)
Dir. Wim Wenders
Feat. Campino , Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Dennis Hopper
A wild–living, world renowned German photographer travels to Sicily seeking a break from his past and encounters a beautiful woman and Dennis…
Paris Paris (2008)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Romain Duris, Mélanie Laurent
A sweet–natured, if rather slight romantic dramedy, weaving in and out of the lives of a diverse set of heart–worn and heart–won…
Red Baron, TheRed Baron, The (Der rote Baron) (2008)
Dir. Nikolai Müllerschön
Feat. Maxim Mehmet, Til Schweiger, Joseph Fiennes
Biographical melodrama focused around Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the celebrated showboating WW1 pilot. Thrilling airborne set–pieces make up…
Sorry If I Want to Marry YouSorry If I Want to Marry You (2008)
Dir. Federico Moccia
Feat. Raoul Bova, Michela Quattrociocche, Francesco Apolloni
Supremely frothy comedy about with a man's increasing insecurity about his relationship leads him to propose marriage setting off a comic chain of…
Speak To Me of LoveSpeak To Me of Love (Parlami d'amore ) (2008)
Dir. Silvio Muccino
Feat. Silvio Muccino, Carolina Crescentini, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón
Sasha is a boy in his twenties, deeply loving the beautiful Benedetta, who doesn't seem to recognize his existence. Nicole is a French woman in her…
Tears for SaleTears for Sale (Charleston and Vendetta) (2008) Recommended
Dir. Uros Stojanovic
Feat. Katarina Radivojevic, Sonja Kolacaric
The sombre title belies what is in fact a joyously bawdy Balkan fairytale that blends fantastical folklore, striking burlesque visuals and ample…
An Old MistressAn Old Mistress (Une vieille maîtresse/The Last Mistress) (2007) Recommended
Dir. Catherine Breillat
Feat. Asia Argento, Fu’ad Ait Aattou, Caroline Ducey
Fervent, visually opulent costume drama finds feminist firebrand Catherine Breillat tempering her sexually explicit tendencies to present a…
AngelAngel (2007)
Dir. Francois Ozon
Feat. Charlotte Rampling, Sam Neill, Lucy Russell
Pretty costume drama follows the fortunes of an aspiring lady writer in Edwardian England. Based on the novel by Elizabeth Taylor (MRS PALFREY AT…
CaramelCaramel (Sukkar banat) (2007) Recommended
Dir. Nadine Labaki
Feat. Nadine Labaki
Charming Lebanese soap opera with a social conscience, the latest in an emerging wave of dissenting Middle Eastern dramas divulges the stifled lives…
Get Together Dinner, TheGet Together Dinner, The (La Ceno per Farli Conoscere) (2007)
Dir. Pupi Avati
Feat. Vanessa Incontrada, Diego Abatanthono, Violante Placido
Diverting comedy about three stepsisters playing cupid for their father, a jaded TV star whose career has seen better days. As lacerating as it is…
GuruGuru (2007) Recommended
Dir. Mani Ratnam
Feat. Aishwarya Rai, Mithun Chakraborty, Abhishek Bachchan
Rewarding rags–to–riches drama relates the story of an entrepreneurial young boy from a village in Gujarat who became the biggest…
Hunting and Gathering Hunting and Gathering (2007) Recommended
Dir. Claude Berri
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Guillaume Canet, Laurent Stocker
A waif–thin artist/cleaner (Tautou) gains a new lease on life after a chance encounter with a dignified stutterer in this heartwarming lost…
KaidanKaidan (2007)
Dir. Hideo Nakata
Feat. Kumiko Aso
Period J–horror from the director of THE RING relays the ghostly tale of a samurai’s son attempting to escape an ancient curse laid on his…
Manual of Love 2Manual of Love 2 (Capitoli successivi) (2007)
Dir. Giovanni Veronesi
Feat. Carlo Verdone, Monica Bellucci, Riccardo Scamarcio
Monica Bellucci climbs abroad in this wry sequel. Director Giovanni Veronesi delves once again into the mysterious recesses of the human heart and…
MetroMetro (2007)
Dir. Anurag Basu
Feat. Shilpa Shetty, Irfan Khan
Talk–of–the–town Shilpa Shetty (of Big Brother and Richard Gere controversy) plays a dissatisfied housewife in this collective of…
MoliereMoliere (2007) Recommended
Dir. Laurent Tirard
Feat. Romain Duris, Fabrice Luchini, Laura Morante
Jaunty period rom–com in the spirit of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE speculates on the creative catalysts for the comic masterpieces of famed French…
Om Shanti OmOm Shanti Om (2007)
Dir. Farah Khan
Feat. Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone
From the dir. of MAIN HOON NA, this super–lush, mega–lavish Bollywood spectacular tells the story of a love that overcomes death (through…
Romance Of Astrea and Ceadon, TheRomance Of Astrea and Ceadon, The (2007)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Stéphanie Crayencour, Andy Gillet, Cécile Cassel
Eric Rohmer, master of the seasonal romantic tryst, steps out with this playful adaptation of a 17th century French novel, in which a handsome…
SaawariyaSaawariya (Beloved) (2007)
Dir. Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Feat. Ranbir Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor
Notable for being the first mainstream Hindi movie to be funded by a U.S. studio, this stylistically decadent romance of unrequited love and desire…
Shall We Kiss?Shall We Kiss? (Un baiser s'il vous plaît) (2007)
Dir. Emmanuel Mouret
Feat. Virginie Ledoyen, Emmanuel Mouret, Julie Gayet
Delicate French comedy focused on two strangers who share a romantic evening but stop short of a kiss on her opinion that there is no such thing 'as…
Tonight, I'll Sleep At YoursTonight, I'll Sleep At Yours (Ce Soir, Je Dors Chez Toi) (2007)
Dir. Olivier Baroux
Feat. Jean-Paul Rouve, Mélanie Doutey, Kad Merad
Feather–light French comedy scripted around a stubborn commitment–phobe who goes to desperate extremes to retain both his freedom and…
Twice Upon a TimeTwice Upon a Time (Désaccord parfait) (2007)
Dir. Antoine de Caunes
Feat. Jean Rochefort, Charlotte Rampling, Isabelle Nanty
Agreeable Pan–Euro comedy recounting what happens when a former showbiz couple – a director and his actress muse – reunite thirty years…
Two Days in ParisTwo Days in Paris (2 Days in Paris) (2007) Recommended
Dir. Julie Delpy
Feat. Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg
Delightful, self–starring directorial debut from Julie Delpy about an angsty Franco–American couple who drop in to visit her very…
CoeursCoeurs (Private Fears in Public Places) (2006)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Sabine Azema, Laura Morante, Pierre Arditi
Romantic French drama with a vulnerable edge explores the modern dilemmas of loneliness and adoration through the lives of six alienated Parisians…
Don't Worry, I'm FineDon't Worry, I'm Fine (Je Vais Bien, Ne T'en Fais Pas) (2006)
Dir. Philippe Lioret
Feat. Mélanie Laurent
Understated French drama centres on a distraught young woman's search for her twin brother after being told he has run away from the family…
EdenEden (2006)
Dir. Michael Hofmann
Feat. Josef Ostendorf, Charlotte Roche
Charming romance revolves around an eccentric chef, and a random encounter with a mother trapped in a monotonous relationship. Fans of…
Golden Door, TheGolden Door, The (Nuovomondo) (2006)
Dir. Emanuele Crialese
Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vincenzo Amato
Award–winning Italian drama from the dir. of RESPIRO follows the fortunes of a family of dirt–poor Sicilian peasants, from their homeland…
Hey Good Looking!Hey Good Looking! (Comme t'y es belle!) (2006)
Dir. Lisa Azuelos
Feat. Aure Atika
Frank French chick flick centred around a SEX AND THE CITYish cast of four gal pals who share with each other the trials of finding (and keeping) the…
I Do: Or How to Get Married and Stay SingleI Do: Or How to Get Married and Stay Single (Prete-moi ta main) (2006) Recommended
Dir. Eric Lartigau
Feat. Alain Chabat, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Under pressure from his nearest and dearest to wed, committed bachelor Alain Chabat solicits the gorgeous Charlotte Gainsbourg to become his faux…
I Served the King of EnglandI Served the King of England (2006) Recommended
Dir. Jiri Menzel
Feat. Julia Jentsch, Oldrich Kaiser, Ivan Barnev
Whimsical yet biting Czech farce centres on the exploits of an endearingly opportunistic waiter, whose thrifty wiles propel him into all manner of…
Lady ChatterleyLady Chatterley (2006) Recommended
Dir. Pascale Ferran
Feat. Hippolyte Girardot, Marina Hands, Jean-Louise Coulloc'h
Sensuous, heartrendingly tender French/Belgian adaptation of an alternate version of D.H. Lawrence's once notorious novel 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'…
Paris, Je T'aimeParis, Je T'aime (Paris, I Love You) (2006) Recommended
Dir. Olivier Assayas, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet
Feat. Fanny Ardant, Juliette Binoche, Steve Buscemi
A prestige line–up of actors and filmmakers converge in this grand anthology of love letters to the city of romance. With each vignette…
PricelessPriceless (2006) Recommended
Dir. Pierre Salvadori
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh
Ultra–glamorous French romantic comedy, in which one can gorge on (or gawp at) Riviera culture at its most opulent – the clothes, the…
Science of Sleep, TheScience of Sleep, The (2006) Recommended
Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Gael Garcia Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emma de Caunes
A delightfully self–conscious, self–indulged fantasy for cine–wizard Michel Gondry, the director's follow–up to ETERNAL…
Singer, TheSinger, The (Quand j'étais chanteur) (2006)
Dir. Xavier Giannoli
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Cecile De France, Mathieu Amalric
Gerard Depardieu works his rotund charm as a journeyman lounge singer, crooning his way through half–empty nightclubs while forging an unlikely…
Tiger and the Snow, TheTiger and the Snow, The (2006)
Dir. Roberto Benigni
Feat. Roberto Benigni, Jean Reno, Nicoletta Braschi
Italian jester Roberto Benigni unites comedy and tragedy within the throws of the Iraq war, playing a poet who follows his true love (real life…
Angel-AAngel-A (2005)
Dir. Luc Besson
Feat. Jamel Debbouze, Rie Rasmussen
This sleek, stylized departure for dir. Luc Besson dabbles in an unlikely romance between a statuesque blonde (Rassmusen), and a nebbish, diminutive…
Elsa and FredElsa and Fred (2005)
Dir. Marcos Carnevale
Feat. Manuel Alexandre, China Zorrilla
Exquisitely acted romance between a pair of senior citizens expresses enough tenderness and fragility to overcome its rather prosaic storyline.…
GabrielleGabrielle (2005)
Dir. Patrice Chereau
Feat. Isabelle Huppert, Pascal Greggory
Absorbing adaptation of a Joseph Conrad short story coolly dissects the disintegrating marriage of a bourgeois French couple. Gorgeously framed…
Koi Aap SaKoi Aap Sa (2005)
Dir. Partho Mitra
Feat. Aftab Shivdasani
Fruity Bollywood number with Aftab Shivdasani as a hunky football captain torn between his spunky girlfriend and coltish childhood sweetheart.
Manual of Love, TheManual of Love, The (Manuale d'amore) (2005) Recommended
Dir. Giovanni Veronesi
Feat. Jasmine Trinca, Sergio Rubini, Silvio Muccino
Four couples experience the agony and ecstasy of modern love in this appealing romance of intertwining relationships. An agreeable, attractive…
One Stays, One LeavesOne Stays, One Leaves (L' un reste, l'autre part) (2005)
Dir. Claude Berri
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Nathalie Baye
Witty French comedy with an undercurrent of angst in which two philandering middle–aged husbands do their utmost to juggle fresh–faced…
Princess RaccoonPrincess Raccoon (Operetta tanuki goten) (2005)
Dir. Seijun Suzuki
Feat. Zhang Ziyi, Joe Odagiri
Wacky musical rumpus stars Zhang Ziyi as a 'raccoon dog' who falls in love with a prince banished to her enchanted forest. A fanciful swansong for…
Russian DollsRussian Dolls (Les Poupées russes) (2005)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Romain Duris, Cecile De France
A sequel of substance to the pan–Euro comedy THE SPANISH APARTMENT, which will again strike an entertaining chord with the young globetrotting,…
Three TimesThree Times (2005) Recommended
Dir. Hou Hsiao-Hsien
Feat. Chen Chang, Shu Qi
Taiwanese great Hou Hsiao–Hsien rekindles the memory of three of his finest films, linking a trio of elegant, erstwhile love stories (across…
Valley of FlowersValley of Flowers (2005)
Dir. Pan Nalin
Feat. Milind Soman, Mylène Jampanoï, Naseeruddin Shah
Visually gorgeous, sprawling love story from the director of SAMSARA revises an epic Himalayan legend of a mischievous couple whose immortal love…
3-Iron3-Iron (Bin-jip) (2004)
Dir. Kim Ki-Duk
Feat. Seung-yeon Lee, Hee Song Jae
Odd, elliptical love story from the dir. SPRING, SUMMER concerns the blossoming romance between a domestic abuse victim and her savior, a…
Bride and PrejudiceBride and Prejudice (2004)
Dir. Gurinder Chadha
Feat. Martin Henderson, Naveen Andrews, Aishwarya Rai
Bollywood meets Hollywood in this rather original Jane Austen adaptation, with ex–pat Kiwi Henderson playing a blueblood American who falls…
BridesBrides (Nyfes) (2004)
Dir. Pantelis Voulgaris
Feat. Damian Lewis, Victoria Haralabidou, Steven Berkoff
Through the passages of unrequited love, this bittersweet tale set on board a ship en route to the United States evokes a universal story of…
FidaFida (2004)
Dir. Ken Ghosh
Feat. Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Fardeen Khan
Typically likeable Bollywood item that intercrosses two love stories with the tale of an online bank heist. Treading lightly through the genre…
Head-OnHead-On (Gegen die Wand) (2004) Recommended
Dir. Fatih Akin
Feat. Birol Unel, Sibel Kekilli
Set in scungy working–class Hamburg, this constructs an unusual love story around two Turkish immigrants – a drunken janitor (Unel) and a…
Italian Romance, AnItalian Romance, An (L'amore Ritrovato) (2004)
Dir. Carlo Mazzacurati
Feat. Stefano Accorsi, Maya Sansa, Marco Messeri
Languid Italian melodrama set in 1936, where a pair of young ex–lovers rediscover one another and have a passionate fling, despite an…
Life I Want, The Life I Want, The (Vita che vorrei, La) (2004)
Dir. Giuseppe Piccioni
Feat. Luigi Lo Cascio, Sandra Ceccarelli
Intriguing Italian romantic drama about two avid actors cast as lovers who begin to cross over the boundaries of stage–life and reality with an…
RaincoatRaincoat (2004)
Dir. Rituparno Ghosh
Feat. Ajay Devgan, Aishwarya Rai
Dramatically–ambitious dir. Ghosh here creates an understated chamber piece from the usual Bollywood melodramatics, staging a rainy–day…
Shadows Of TimeShadows Of Time (Scatten der Zeit) (2004)
Dir. Florian Gallenberger
Feat. Prushant Narayanan, Tanishta Chaterjee
Sumptuous romantic melodrama of a high order, following the bittersweet relations between two abandoned children, who graduate from working in a…
Story of My Life, TheStory of My Life, The (Mensonges et trahisons et plus si affinités) (2004)
Dir. Laurent Tirard
Feat. Edouard Baer, Marie-Josee Croze, Clovis Cornillac
A ghostwriter’s charmed life is thrown into tailspin when he’s assigned the autobiography of a notoriously egotistical soccer star. Further…
Three Dancing SlavesThree Dancing Slaves (2004)
Dir. Gaël Morel
Feat. Nicolas Cazalé, Stephane Rideau, Thomas Dumerchez
French romantic drama set in a working class Annecy neighbourhood where three brothers are in and out of the criminal world after their mother dies,…
Twenty Thirty FortyTwenty Thirty Forty (20 30 40) (2004)
Dir. Sylvia Chang
Feat. Sylvia Chang, Rene Liu, Lee Sinji
The destinies of three women in contemporary urban Taiwan – aged 20, 30 and 40 – evolve in parallel as each feels their way through the…
UnconsciousUnconscious (Inconscientes) (2004)
Dir. Joaquin Oristrell
Boisterous 'Freudian farce' set amidst the extravagent architecture of Barcelona in 1913, where a disturbed psychiatrist suddenly adandons his…
Very Long Engagement, AVery Long Engagement, A (Long dimanche de fiançailles, Un) (2004) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Clovis Cornillac
Another crowd–pleasing favourite from the dir. of AMELIE, which uses the Great War as setting for the fairytale search by Audrey Tatou for her…
3 is a Crowd 3 is a Crowd (I'm Staying) (2003)
Dir. Diane Kurys
Feat. Sophie Marceau, Vincent Perez, Charles Berling
Farcical French romantic comedy about a wife, fed up with her stubborn husband's cycling obsession, who invites another man to move in. Unfortunately…
A Heart ElsewhereA Heart Elsewhere (Il Cuore Altrove) (2003)
Dir. Pupi Avati
Feat. Giancarlo Giannini, Neri Marcore, Vanessa Incontrada
Seemingly a soft–centred drama set in 1930s Italy, this curious tale of blind love carries its own insinuating mood of melancholy. Marcore…
ArmaanArmaan (2003)
Dir. Honey Irani
Feat. Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Gracey Singh
A hospital soap–opera, Bollywood–style, centering around a doctor and his neurosurgeon son who dream of turning a private hospital into a…
Bon VoyageBon Voyage (2003)
Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Feat. Isabelle Adjani, Gerard Depardieu, Virginie Ledoyen
A plushly–mounted, grander–than–life romantic farce from director of "Cyrano De Bergerac". It's June 1940, when a group of…
Chalte ChalteChalte Chalte (2003)
Dir. Aziz Mirza
Feat. Shahrukh Khan
Glossy Bollywood comic–romance that runs a typical gamut of emotions about a chalk–and–cheese yet glamourous couple, who against…
Dot The IDot The I (El Punto sobre la I) (2003)
Dir. Matthew Parkhill
Feat. Gael Garcia Bernal, James D'Arcy, Natalia Verbeke
A skillfully moody London romance, in which the relationship of an engaged couple is disturbed by a pre–wedding ritual in which Verbeke must…
Kal Ho Naa HoKal Ho Naa Ho (Tomorrow May Never Come) (2003) Recommended
Dir. Nikhil Advani
Feat. Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta
Sporting a string of hit songs and featuring a troika of India's most popular stars, this giddy swirl of romantic comedy, musical, family melodrama…
Kiss Me First Kiss Me First (Prima dammi un bacio) (2003)
Dir. Ambrogio Lo Giudice
Feat. Stefania Rocca, Marco Cocci
Endearing Italian comedy following the fate of two separated lovers whose lives cannot help but intersect. The events of WW2 inevitably drive these…
Love Me If You DareLove Me If You Dare (Jeux d'enfants) (2003)
Dir. Yann Samuell
Feat. Marion Cotillard, Guillaume Canet
Two French kids develop an intense relationship through escalating games of "dare" that bond and haunt them through a turbulent teenage and…
Story of Marie and Julien, TheStory of Marie and Julien, The (Histoire de Marie et Julien) (2003)
Dir. Jacques Rivette
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Jerzy Radziwilowicz
Meandering and hypnotic tale of the supernatural from French master Jacques Rivette, which begins in the apparently nondescript world of a Parisian…
Zhou Yu's TrainZhou Yu's Train (2003)
Dir. Sun Zhou
Feat. Tony Leung (Kar-fai), Gong Li, Honglei Sun
Gong Li shimmers as a gorgeous ceramic artisan in rural China, who is torn between two men – a reclusive poet (Leung) and an affable vetenarian…
And Now Ladies and GentlemenAnd Now Ladies and Gentlemen (2002)
Dir. Claude Lelouch
Feat. Jeremy Irons, Patricia Kaas, Thierry Lhermitte
A smooth exercise in self–satire from dir. Lelouch, with Jeremy Irons playing a shifty jewel–thief who hooks up with lounge–singer…
Bollywood HollywoodBollywood Hollywood (2002)
Dir. Deepa Mehta
Feat. Rahul Khanna, Lisa Ray
The dir. of the 'elements trilogy' (FIRE, EARTH, WATER) conceived this less artful, but rather clever insider's take on the Bollywood musical…
Housekeeper, TheHousekeeper, The (Une Femme de Menage) (2002) Recommended
Dir. Claude Berri
Feat. Jean-Pierre Bacri, Emilie Dequenne, Catherine Breillat
Charming "French souffle" about a forlorn divorcee who hires a housekeeper to clean up his slovenly act. However, it turns out she's never done a…
Inner SensesInner Senses (Yee do hung gaan) (2002)
Dir. Chi-Leung Law
Feat. Leslie Cheung, Karena Lam, Maggie Poon
A loner psychologist (Cheung) falls for a suicidal woman he is treating for her constant, gloomy visions of the dead, in this stylish Asian riff on…
Jet LagJet Lag (2002)
Dir. Daniele Thompson
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Jean Reno, Sergi Lopez
Euro–comedy with supermodel Binoche and insomniac Reno forced into each's others' company by an airline strike and soon, opposites begin to…
L'IdoleL'Idole (2002)
Dir. Samantha Lang
Feat. Leelee Sobieski, James Hong
Playing a troubled Australian actress, Sobieski arrives in Paris and befriends her elderly Chinese neighbour in this melancholy…
Marie-Jo and her Two LovesMarie-Jo and her Two Loves (2002)
Dir. Robert Guediguian
Feat. Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Gerard Meylan
A dreamy, perceptive romance gently steered under the Mediterranean sun by dir. Guédiguian, who again uses the vibrant setting of his native…
Mostly MarthaMostly Martha (Bella Martha) (2002) Recommended
Dir. Sandra Nettelbeck
Feat. Martina Gedeck, Sergio Castellitto
Light and satisfying dish, concerning the frissions in a Hamburg restaurant between a chef, her eight year old neice and a talented…
OasisOasis (2002) Recommended
Dir. Chang-Dong Lee
Feat. Kyung-gu Sol, So-ri Moon
Tough and emotionally powerful drama, highlighted by fearless performances, which charts the romance between a recent parolee and a cerebral…
Spanish Apartment, TheSpanish Apartment, The (L'Auberge Espagnole) (2002)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Judith Godreche
Summery comedy set in a Barcelona apartment, where six international exchange students variously mingle, cavort and fall messily in love. Although…
Summer ThingsSummer Things (Embrassez qui vous voudrez) (2002)
Dir. Michel Blanc
Feat. Charlotte Rampling, Jacques Dutronc, Carole Bouquet
Rom–com with an ensemble cast led by Charlotte Rampling as an unhappily married woman who is off to stay at a seaside resort, where she…
AmelieAmelie (2001) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz
A charming romantic comedy stamped with the purely cinematic style of dir. Jean–Pierre Juenet, who here remixes intricate set pieces, editing…
God is Great, I'm NotGod is Great, I'm Not (Dieu est grand, je suis toute petite) (2001)
Dir. Pascale Bailly
Feat. Audrey Tautou, Edouard Baer, Julie Depardieu
Slim Audrey Tautou vehicle has the AMELIE–ingénue unable to settle on a religion, eventually converting to Judaism in order to win over a…
In Praise of LoveIn Praise of Love (Eloge de L'amour) (2001)
Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
Feat. Bruno Putzulu, Cecile Camp, Jean Davy
Dir. Godard’s first major film in over a decade presents intellect and filmmaking in full–flight, while stubbornly refusing to provide a…
Italian For BeginnersItalian For Beginners (2001)
Dir. Lone Scherfig
Feat. Anders W Berthelsen
A likeable ensemble comedy in which six vulnerable characters orbit a drab Copenhagen suburb, each seeking some form of solace, romance or…
Last Kiss, TheLast Kiss, The (L'Ultimo Bacio) (2001) Recommended
Dir. Gabriel Muccino
Feat. Stefano Accorsi, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Stefania Sandrelli
Award–winning Italian melodrama investigates the anxieties of a young unmarried couple on the verge of parenthood. Stefano Accorsi is torn…
My Wife is an ActressMy Wife is an Actress (Ma Femme est une Actrice) (2001)
Dir. Yvan Attal
Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Yvan Attal, Terence Stamp
Obviously modelled on his own life, first time writer/director Yvan Attal tailors a project for his real–life wife, Charlotte Gainsbourg, who…
Bread and TulipsBread and Tulips (2000) Recommended
Dir. Silvio Soldini
Feat. Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz, Marina Massironi
When 40–something housewife Licia Maglietta is deserted by her family during vacation, she seizes on a chance to roll the romantic dice once…
In the Mood for LoveIn the Mood for Love (2000) Recommended
Dir. Wong Kar-Wai
Feat. Tony Leung (Chiu-wai), Maggie Cheung
As in DAYS OF BEING WILD, dir. Wong Kar–Wai portrays the languor of a 1960s Hong Kong in which two neighbours discover their respective spouses…
Me You ThemMe You Them (Eu Tu Eles) (2000) Recommended
Dir. Andrucha Waddington
Feat. Regina Case, Lima Duarte, Stenio Garcia
Set in the arid hinterlands of Brazil, this serio–comic study of rural polyandry has Regina Case (Brazil’s Oprah Winfrey) hitch up three…
East / WestEast / West (Est / Ouest) (1999) Recommended
Dir. Regis Wargnier
Feat. Sandrine Bonnaire, Oleg Menshikov, Sergei Bodrov Jr
A 'woman's picture' in the proudest sense of the term, this lush historical melodrama from the dir. of INDOCHINE again finds a French woman in a…
Girl on the Bridge, TheGirl on the Bridge, The (1999)
Dir. Patrice Leconte
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Vanessa Paradis
This glossy slice of modern 'poetic realism' has an attractive visual component but its arch–Romanticism won't be everyone's glass of Chablis.…
Gloomy SundayGloomy Sunday (Ein Lied Von Liebe Und Tod) (1999) Aro Favourite
Dir. Rolf Schubel
Feat. Joachim Krol, Erika Marozsan, Ben Becker
Captivating drama which pivots around the apocryphal origins of the classic melancholy song 'Gloomy Sunday' in pre–WW2 Budapest. An amiably…
Harmonium in my Memory, TheHarmonium in my Memory, The (1999)
Dir. Young-jae Lee
Feat. Do-yeon Chun, Min-hie Kim, Byung-hun Lee
Sweet, soft–spoken melodrama of jittery first love, recalling the innocent love triangle that forms between a handsome, fresh–faced…
Pornographic Affair, APornographic Affair, A (An Affair Of Love) (1999)
Dir. Frederic Fonteyne
Feat. Nathalie Baye, Sergi Lopez
A decidedly unpornographic meditation upon the mutability of human desires and emotions, with Nathalie Baye and Sergi Lopez as a nameless couple who…
Alice Et MartinAlice Et Martin (1998)
Dir. Andre Techine
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Carmen Maura, Mathieu Amalric
A maladjusted young drifter (Alexis Loret) has success as a Paris fashion model and a torrid love affair with his half–brother's…
An Autumn TaleAn Autumn Tale (1998) Recommended
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Marie Riviere, Beatrice Romand, Alain Libolt
Completing his suite of films based on the four seasons, dir. Rohmer provides another mellow, seemingly unplotted comedy, in which Rhone valley…
BesiegedBesieged (1998)
Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci
Feat. Thandiwe Newton, David Thewlis
Returning to a 'chamber–piece' setting reminiscent of LAST TANGO IN PARIS, dir. Bertolucci unfolds an enigmatic relationship in a Rome…
Life Is BeautifulLife Is Beautiful (La vita e bella) (1998)
Dir. Roberto Benigni
Feat. Roberto Benigni
Winner of both Best Foreign Film and Best Actor Oscars (a first for an actor speaking a foreign tongue) as well as the top prize at Cannes, Roberto…
Love Etc.Love Etc. (1998)
Dir. Marion Vernoux
Feat. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Charles Berling, Yvan Attal
Depicts an infernal love–triangle between three friends – taken from the novel ‘Talking It Over’ by Julian Barnes. Charming comedy…
Lovers of the Arctic CircleLovers of the Arctic Circle (1998)
Dir. Julio Medem
Feat. Najwa Nimri, Fele Martinez, Nancho Novo
Artful but humourless slice of 'magic realism' that follows the near–metaphysical long–term relationship between two childhood…
Those Who Love Me Can Take the TrainThose Who Love Me Can Take the Train (1998) Recommended
Dir. Patrice Chereau
Feat. Pascal Greggory, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Charles Berling
Friends and associates of a deceased painter make a procession, via train, to the artist’s burial in this superb French drama. A highly nuanced…
Gadjo DiloGadjo Dilo (1997)
Dir. Tony Gatlif
Feat. Romain Duris, Rona Harther, Izidor Serban
Re–casting a spotlight onto the poor and downtrodden yet spiritually rich gypsy culture, film–maker/musician Toni Gatlif grafts a…
Kitchen (1997)
Dir. Yim Ho
Feat. Jordan Chan, Yasuko Tomita
Treading the same grungy Hong Kong streets as the films of Wong Kar–Wai, this adaptation of a novel by Banana Yoshimoto concerns a love affair…
Marius et JeannetteMarius et Jeannette (1997) Recommended
Dir. Robert Guediguian
Feat. Ariane Ascaride, Gerard Meylan
A laidback yet buoyant slice–of–ordinary–life set on the low–rent side of Marseille, where two wounded fortysomethings strike…
WintersleepersWintersleepers (1997) Recommended
Dir. Tom Tykwer
Feat. Ulrich Matthes, Marie-lou Sellem, Floriane Daniel
The paths of five people on the German skifield of Berchtesgaden intersect following a car accident, resulting in a precise, chilly thriller from RUN…
A Summer's TaleA Summer's Tale (1996) Recommended
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Melvil Poupaud, Amanda Langlet
Once more exploring the fickleness of love, dir. Rohmer involves holidaying student Melvil Poupard in a love–quadrangle of romantic options. In…
Autumn SunAutumn Sun (Sol de otoño) (1996)
Dir. Eduardo Mignogna
Feat. Frederico Luppi, Norma Aleandro
Argentine drama following a Jewish woman who pretends to be in a relationship with a Jewish man from Uruguay (Frederico Luppi, CRONOS) to appease her…
FireFire (1996) Recommended
Dir. Deepa Mehta
Feat. Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das
Blazing melodrama defiantly targets Indian sexual hypocrisy and tradition, not to mention trangressing 'Bollywood' taboo, in portraying two women…
GuantanameraGuantanamera (1996)
Dir. Tomas Gutierrez Alea, Juan Carlos Tabio
Feat. Carlos Cruz, Mirta Ibarra, Jorge Perugorria
A quirky mix of low–speed road movie and romantic comedy following the unsteady progress of a funeral procession across the length of Cuba…
Nelly and Mr. AnaudNelly and Mr. Anaud (1996)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Michel Serrault
Emmanuelle Beart gets caught up in a May–to–December romance with Michel Serrault in another elegant and subtle drama from the director…
Temptress MoonTemptress Moon (1996)
Dir. Chen Kaige
Feat. Gong Li, Leslie Cheung
Chen Kaige elevates the sumptuous Chinese epoch of FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE with this visually rapturous, though far less coherent saga of epic…
TierraTierra (Earth) (1996)
Dir. Julio Medem
Feat. Carmelo Gómez, Emma Suarez, Karra Elejalde
Intimate portrait of Angel (Gomez), an exterminator who travels to a remote wine–making town to rid them of a plague of woodlice, and gradually…
When the Cat's AwayWhen the Cat's Away (1996)
Dir. Cedric Klapisch
Feat. Garance Clavel, Zinedine Soualem
A movie for cat lovers and young romantics alike, this Latino–tinged, funky, yet alluringly modest French film follows the dowdy–cute…
All Things FairAll Things Fair (1995)
Dir. Bo Widerberg
Feat. Johan Widerberg, Marika Lagercrantz
The late Bo Widerberg's swansong records a bittersweet memoir of his love affair with a teacher 22 years his senior. The casting of his young son in…
Beyond the CloudsBeyond the Clouds (Al di là delle nuvole) (1995)
Dir. Michelangelo Antonioni
Feat. Fanny Ardant, Chiara Caselli, Irene Jacob
Michelangelo Antonioni's final film weaves together four stories of discontented love in his characteristic cinematic style. Featuring a huge…
French Woman, AFrench Woman, A (Une Femme Francaise) (1995)
Dir. Regis Wargnier
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Daniel Auteuil
Emmanuelle Beart stars in this period tale of idyllic romance compromised by the reality of war. The director of INDOCHINE again embraces the…
Rendezvous in ParisRendezvous in Paris (1995)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Clara Bellar, Mathias Mégard, Antoine Basler
A delicately poised triptych framed around three lighthearted tales of philandering men and women. Minor, though quintessential Rohmer dalliance…
Belle EpoqueBelle Epoque (1994) Recommended
Dir. Fernando Trueba
Feat. Penelope Cruz, Jorge Sanz
Oscar–winning comedy set in thirties Spain will have you grinning from ear to ear as its young army deserter finds the ultimate sanctuary at…
Il PostinoIl Postino (Postman, The) (1994) Recommended
Dir. Michael Radford
Feat. Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret
The biggest international foreign language hit since LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE stars the late Massimo Troisi as a simple postie who learns the value…
Especially On a SundayEspecially On a Sunday (1993)
Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore, Giuseppe Bertolucci, Marco Tul
Feat. Jean-Hugues Anglade, Patricia Arquette, Nicoletta Braschi
Three stories of love and loss from the pen of Tonino Guerra brought to screen life by three directing talents. Sublime fare in the finest European…
Like Water for ChocolateLike Water for Chocolate (1993) Recommended
Dir. Alfonso Arau
Feat. Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos, Regina Torne
Certifiable foreign–language block–buster blends the irresisistible ingrediants of primal female desire with old–fashioned…
Conte D'hiverConte D'hiver (A Winter's Tale) (1992)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Charlotte Very, Frederic Van Den Driessche
A whirlwind romance ends abruptly for a young woman when she accidentally gives her lover a wrong address. Four years pass and she remains possessed…
La Vie De BohemeLa Vie De Boheme (1992) Recommended
Dir. Aki Kaurismaki
Feat. Matti Pellonpaa, Evelyne Didi, Andre Wilms
An achingly deadpan treatment of the book that served as the basis for Puccini's opera. Ironically romantic portrait of deadbeat, impoverished…
Station, The (1992)
Dir. Sergio Rubini
Feat. Sergio Rubini, Margherita Buy, Ennio Fantastichini
Beguiling film about a disillusioned society woman who becomes drawn to a humble station–master while waiting for the first available train.
A Heart in WinterA Heart in Winter (Un Coeur en Hiver) (1991)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Emmanuelle Beart, Andre Dussollier
Impeccable romantic tragedy examines a love triangle between a virtuoso violinist, her violin–making boyfriend and his emotionally crippled…
Amants Du Pont Neuf, LesAmants Du Pont Neuf, Les (1991) Recommended
Dir. Leos Carax
Feat. Juliette Binoche, Denis Lavant
Extravagant production breathes fire into this unusual epic love story of two young Paris street punks. Through the ebbs and the flows, Carax adjusts…
Days of Being WildDays of Being Wild (1991)
Dir. Wong Kar-Wai
Feat. Leslie Cheung
An excellent example of the other side of Hong Kong movie–making. Set in 1960, Leslie Cheung plays a disillusioned, spoiled youth who…
Hairdresser's Husband, TheHairdresser's Husband, The (1991)
Dir. Patrice Leconte
Feat. Jean Rochefort, Anna Galiena
Everything you may love or loathe about French movies is taken to an (intentional?) extreme in this whimsical venture into the one–track mind…
MediterraneoMediterraneo (1991)
Dir. Gabriele Salvatores
Feat. Claudio Bigagli, Diego Abatanthono, Giuseppe Cederna
Oscar–winning tale of eight Italian soldiers who find themselves stranded on a remote Greek isle during WW2. An affecting and surprising…
Cyrano De BergeracCyrano De Bergerac (1990) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez
Rostand's classic play filmed in its native tongue, with the man born to play the poet with the outsized hooter, Gerard Depardieu. Little expense has…
Romuald et JulietteRomuald et Juliette (1989) Aro Favourite
Dir. Coline Serreau
Feat. Daniel Auteuil, Firmine Richard, Pierre Vernier
French comedy at its very best contrasts the lives of a yoghurt company director and a black mother–of–five cleaning lady who through…
Dark EyesDark Eyes (1987)
Dir. Nikita Mikhalkov
Feat. Marcello Mastroianni
The Soviet director ventures to Italy for this exquisite Chekhovian romantic tragedy in which Marcello Mastroianni abandons rationale for the allure…
Betty BlueBetty Blue (1986) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix
Feat. Beatrice Dalle, Jean-Hugues Anglade
Beatrice Dalle stars as the ultra crazy and ultra sexy Betty in this lusty, over–the–top drama as only the French aspire to create.…
Man and A Woman: 20 Years Later, AMan and A Woman: 20 Years Later, A (1986)
Dir. Claude Lelouch
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Richard Berry
Worthy follow–up to Lelouch's seminal 60's romantic drama benefits from appealing performances by it's two leads.
Mauvais SangMauvais Sang (The Night Is Young) (1986)
Dir. Leos Carax
Feat. Michel Piccoli, Denis Lavant, Juliette Binoche
A street–punk joins a gang of hoods intent on stealing a top–secret serum, but complications prevail. Romantic thriller contains…
MeloMelo (1986)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Sabine Azema, Fanny Ardant, Pierre Arditi
New Wave dir. Resnais explores unusually restrained, linear territory in this bittersweet melodrama centered around a love triangle between longtime…
Shadows in ParadiseShadows in Paradise (Varjoja paratiisissa) (1986) Recommended
Dir. Aki Kaurismaki
Feat. Matti Pellonpaa, Kati Outinen, Sakari Kuosmanen
The first film in Kaurismäki's Proletariat Trilogy follows a lonely garbage collector who finds romance with a check–out clerk (Kaurismäki…
TampopoTampopo (1986) Recommended
Dir. Juzo Itami
Feat. Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto, Ken Watanabe
A crazy, satirical comedy in which heroine Tampopo and her cronies strive to create the perfect noodle. A wonderful movie full of hilarious madness…
PolicePolice (1985) Recommended
Dir. Maurice Pialat
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Sophie Marceau, Richard Anconina
Brilliantly idiosyncratic crime thriller co–written by French auteurs Maurice Pialat (who also directs) and Catherine Breillat (A MA SOEUR!),…
Full Moon in ParisFull Moon in Paris (1984)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Pascale Ogier, Fabrice Luchini, Christian Vadim
From Rohmer's 'Comedies and Proverbs' series, wit and subtlety is derived from the simplest of plots. This time a headstrong woman's plans backfire…
First Name: CarmenFirst Name: Carmen (Prenom Carmen) (1983)
Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
Feat. Maruschka Detmers, Jacques Bonnaffe
Late Godard standout is a markedly nostalgic throwback to his New Wavy years, combining an ad hoc terrorist, ill–fated romance, a…
Hong Kong 1941Hong Kong 1941 (Dang doi lai ming) (1983)
Dir. Po-Chi Leong
Feat. Chow Yun-Fat, Alex Man, Kien Shih
One of Chow Yun–Fat's early classics, this portrays the disturbing invasion of Hong Kong by the Japanese in 1941, which disrupts the dreams and…
Life Is A Bed Of RosesLife Is A Bed Of Roses (1983)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Ruggero Raimondi, Fanny Ardant, Geraldine Chaplin
Ambitious fantastical oddity from dir. Resnais was made as a tribute to era–defining French directors Melies, L'Herbier and Rohmer, weaving…
Moon in the GutterMoon in the Gutter (1983)
Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Nastassja Kinski, Victoria Abril
Dockworker Gerard Depardieu befriends Nastassja Kinski as he hunts for the killer of his sister. Pompous or excellent? Watch and decide for yourself.…
A Good MarriageA Good Marriage (Le Beau Marriage) (1982)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Beatrice Romand, Andre Dussollier, Féodor Atkine
An art history student is growing tired of being the mistress of a married painter, then meets a handsome and wealthy younger man whom she vows to…
DivaDiva (1982) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jean-Jacques Beineix
Feat. Frederic Andrei, Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, Richard Bohringer
Stylish romantic thriller in which an opera–intoxicated youth bootlegs a concert of an unrecorded opera star which leads to trouble with shady…
Aviator's Wife, TheAviator's Wife, The (La femme de l'aviateur) (1981)
Dir. Eric Rohmer
Feat. Philippe Marlaud, Marie Riviere
A young student is devastated when he finds that his girlfriend is cheating on him. In order to find out why she did it, he decides to spy on her and…
Woman Next Door, TheWoman Next Door, The (1981)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Gerard Depardieu, Fanny Ardant
Emotional chaos ensues for a happily married man when his old flame, now also married, becomes his immediate neighbour. Taut, intimate melodrama…
Last Metro, TheLast Metro, The (1980)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu
Elegant war story in occupied France, Catherine Deneuve struggles to keep her Jewish husband's theatre operating while concealing his whereabouts.
Man Who Loved Women, TheMan Who Loved Women, The (1977)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Charles Denner, Leslie Caron, Brigitte Fossey
Charles Denner plays a dedicated skirt–chaser, who falls in love with women so constantly he is brought to the point of…
Story Of Adele H.,TheStory Of Adele H.,The (1975)
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, Sylvia Marriott
A towering performance by Isabelle Adjani anchors this moody, but somewhat turgid romance. Based on the diaries of Victor Hugo's daughter that…
Love in the RainLove in the Rain (Un amour de pluie) (1974)
Dir. Jean-Claude Brialy
Feat. Romy Schneider, Nino Castelnuovo, Suzanne Flon
More pomp and circumstance from Romy Schneider, here playing a well–to–do French woman indulging in various love affairs while holidaying…
Fear Eats the SoulFear Eats the Soul (1973)
Dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Feat. Brigitte Mira, El Hedi ben Salem
A sort of remake of Douglas Sirk's older woman–younger man melodrama "All That Heaven Allows", with added plot weirds countered by typical…
Cesar & RosalieCesar & Rosalie (1972)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Yves Montand, Romy Schneider, Sami Frey
French romantic drama with Yves Montand and Sami Frey playing contrasting romantic rivals to divorced single mum Romy Schneider. Montand is a coarse…
We Won't Grow Old TogetherWe Won't Grow Old Together (Nous Ne Vieillirons Pas Ensemble) (1972) Recommended
Dir. Maurice Pialat
Feat. Marlène Jobert, Jean Yanne, Christine Fabréga
A uniquely disquieting film covering the dissolution of an affair between an aged filmmaker and a much younger secretary, based on French director…
Death in VeniceDeath in Venice (1971)
Dir. Luchino Visconti
Feat. Dirk Bogarde
Dirk Bogarde plays a gay composer whose unspoken obssesion with a young boy detains him in Venice during a cholera epidemic. This soft–focus,…
Max and the JunkmenMax and the Junkmen (Max Et Les Ferrailleurs) (1971)
Dir. Claude Sautet
Feat. Romy Schneider
French crime drama set in the noir shaded streets of Paris follows a frustrated detective getting tangled up in a love triangle after commissioning a…
Two English GirlsTwo English Girls (Anne and Muriel) (1971) Recommended
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Jean-Pierre Leaud, Kika Markham, Stacey Tendeter
A French writer encounters the delicate dilemma of falling in love with both English sisters at a Welsh coastal cottage. Tantalising romance is…
A Swedish Love StoryA Swedish Love Story (1970) Recommended
Dir. Roy Andersson
Feat. Ann-Sofie Kylin, Rolf Sohlman
The debut feature film from director Roy Andersson (YOU, THE LIVING) is an unforgettably beautiful coming–of–age tale inspired by the…
Katzelmacher Katzelmacher (1969)
Dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Feat. Hanna Schygulla
Daring Fassbinder drama focused on a group of Munich friends indulging in the banality of their ordered lives until the arrival of a Greek immigrant…
La ChamadeLa Chamade (Heartbeat) (1968)
Dir. Alain Cavalier
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Michel Piccoli
Catherine Deneuve flitters between youthful passion and the comfort of an older, wealthy lover in this elegant menage a trios, lessened only by an…
Young Girls of Rochefort, TheYoung Girls of Rochefort, The (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) (1967) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Francois Dorleac, Gene Kelly
The carrot of love is dangled in Jacques Demy's positively radiant follow–up to UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG: an unbridled, colour–saturated…
Man and a Woman, AMan and a Woman, A (1966) Recommended
Dir. Claude Lelouch
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Pierre Barouh
Classic love story is one of the most popular foreign films of all time. Intelligent, sensitive script is ignited with exotic locations and Francis…
Le BonheurLe Bonheur (Happiness) (1964) Aro Favourite
Dir. Agnes Varda
Feat. Jean-Claude Drouot, Claire Drouot, Marie-France Boyer
Agnes Varda's sly subversion of romantic norms courted controversy with its frank depiction of the infidelity of a happily married man and the…
Umbrellas of Cherbourg, TheUmbrellas of Cherbourg, The (1964) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo
Gorgeous French musical with Catherine Deneuve, in her acting debut, one of its many pleasures. A bittersweet romantic story is allied to a lush…
Jules and JimJules and Jim (Jules et Jim) (1961) Recommended
Dir. Francois Truffaut
Feat. Jeanne Moreau, Oskar Werner, Henri Serre
Jeanne Moreau stars in this famous New Wave melodrama caught up in the spirit of its swinging times. A twenty–year love triangle, lightening…
Les Bonnes FemmesLes Bonnes Femmes (1960)
Dir. Claude Chabrol
Feat. Bernadette Lafont, Clotilde Joano, Stephane Audran
An early comedy from French new wave director Claude Chabrol (LE BOUCHER), following four single Parisian women as they encounter the romantic…
LolaLola (1960)
Dir. Jacques Demy
Feat. Anouk Aimee, Marc Michel
Irresistible 'New Wave' confection breezily spins its romantic tale around the alluring presence of Anouk Aimee, here a cheery cabaret–dancer…
Black OrpheusBlack Orpheus (1959) Recommended
Dir. Marcel Camus
Feat. Breno Mello, Marpessa Dawn, Lourdes De Oliveira
Get caught up in the rhythms and colour of Rio De Janiero at Carnival time for an exotic, utterly unique spin on the Greek legend of doomed lovers…
Hiroshima Mon AmourHiroshima Mon Amour (1959)
Dir. Alain Resnais
Feat. Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada
Romance between a French actress and a Japanese architect rekindles their traumatic wartime experiences. The twin threads of despair and sensual love…
Samurai SagaSamurai Saga (Aru kengo no shogai) (1959)
Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Yoko Tsukasa
Feudal Japanese retelling of Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac', with the charismatic Toshiro Mifune as the shogun–poet with a…
Cranes are Flying, TheCranes are Flying, The (Letyat Zhuravli) (1957) Recommended
Dir. Mikhail Kalatozov
Feat. Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksei Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev
A Russian classic which conveys homefront anxieties during WW2 for a young bride whose original fiance has gone to the front. Pursued by his…
Sissi - The Fateful Years of an EmpressSissi - The Fateful Years of an Empress (1957)
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider
Concluding film in the Sissi trilogy ends on a somber note with Romy Schneider struggling with Viennese court life as she moves towards a tragic end.
Wide Blue Road, TheWide Blue Road, The (La grande strada azzurra) (1957)
Dir. Gillo Pontecorvo
Feat. Yves Montand, Alida Valli, Francisco Rabal
Italian neorealist melodrama drama which marks the feature debut of Gillo Pontecorvo (THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS). Set on a small rugged island off the…
Elena and Her MenElena and Her Men (Paris Does Strange Things) (1956)
Dir. Jean Renoir
Feat. Ingrid Bergman, Jean Marais, Mel Ferrer
Ingrid Bergman plays a Polish princess torn between marrying for love, or wealth, in this slinky, sweet–natured comic romance. Mel Ferrer, Jean…
Her Bridal NightHer Bridal Night (Mariée est trop belle, La) (1956)
Dir. Pierre Gaspard-Huit
Feat. Brigitte Bardot, Micheline Presle, Louis Jourdan
Light comedy dating from Brigette Bardot's early years in which she plays a country girl who gets 'discovered' by the Parisian fashion industry and…
Naughty GirlNaughty Girl (Cette Sacree Gamine) (1956)
Dir. Michel Boisrond
Feat. Brigitte Bardot, Francoise Fabian
A con–artist father leaves his devious minx of a daughter in the hands of a performer who discovers the girl is bent on disrupting his life the…
Sissi - The Young EmpressSissi - The Young Empress (1956)
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider
Royal life is not quite the bed of roses for Princess Sissi, now married to her beloved Franz but under the constant gaze of her meddling…
Grandes Manoeuvres, LesGrandes Manoeuvres, Les (1955)
Dir. Rene Clair
Feat. Michele Morgan, Gerard Philipe, Brigitte Bardot
Sophisticated French fare is a battle of the sexes between a notorious womanizer, and the divorcee he’s convinced he’ll be able to seduce and…
SissiSissi (1955) Recommended
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider
Regal saga finds 16–year–old princess Sissi fall in love with husband–to–be Franz Josef in the first of an ongoing series of…
Smiles of a Summer NightSmiles of a Summer Night (Sommarnattens Leende) (1955) Recommended
Dir. Ingmar Bergman
Feat. Ulla Jacobsson, Eva Dahlbeck, Harriet Andersson
An enjoyable, ultimately serious comedy of deception set among the Swedish gentry of the early 20th century who are engaged in a poetic dance of…
SensoSenso (1954) Recommended
Dir. Luchino Visconti
Feat. Alida Valli, Farley Granger, Christian Marquand
A period love story set in the tumultuous 1860's in Italy, when it was occupied by invading Austrians. Dir. Visconti turns his eye on a love…
Victoria in DoverVictoria in Dover (The Story of Vickie) (1954)
Dir. Ernst Marischka
Feat. Romy Schneider, Adrian Hoven
A prequel of sorts to the SISSI trilogy lovingly details the formative romance between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Romy Schneider features…
Gate of HellGate of Hell (Jigokumon) (1953)
Dir. Teinosuke Kinugasa
Feat. Machiko Kyo, Kazuo Hasegawa, Isao Yamagata
Tragic story of unrequited love set during the Heiji Rebellion in 1159, where a samurai warrior falls in love with a married…
Madame De...Madame De... (Earrings Of Madame De..., The) (1953) Recommended
Dir. Max Ophuls
Feat. Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica, Charles Boyer
Widely considered one of the dir.'s peak achievements, this gracefully and ironically traces a doomed menage–a–trois in 18th century…
Casque d'OrCasque d'Or (Golden Marie) (1952)
Dir. Jacques Becker
Feat. Simone Signoret, Serge Reggiani, Claude Dauphin
A gangster’s moll falls in love with a reformed criminal, igniting underworld violence, in this lush, overwhelming tragi–romance set in Paris…
La RondeLa Ronde (1950) Recommended
Dir. Max Ophuls
Feat. Anton Walbrook, Simone Signoret, Serge Reggiani
A witty chronicle of circular love–affairs and seductions in 19th century Vienna. Lavish sets and extravagent spiralling camerawork complement…
OrpheusOrpheus (Orphee) (1949) Recommended
Dir. Jean Cocteau
Feat. Jean Marais, Maria Casares, Marie Dea
Cocteau's surrealist retelling of the classical tragedy stars Jean Marais as Orphee, the writer who retrieves his wife Eurydice from the dead. A…
It Rains On Our LoveIt Rains On Our Love (1946)
Dir. Ingmar Bergman
Feat. Barbro Kollberg, Birger Malmsten
Bergman experiments with this awkward combination of romance and misery, in which a couple's happiness is dogged by their criminal and vagrant past.…
Eternel Retour, L' (1942)
Dir. Jean Delannoy
Feat. Jean Marais, Madeleine Sologney, Yvonne de Bray
(Love Eternal) A contemporary take on the legend of Tristan and Isolde, lovers united after death. Jean Cocteau's script is realised with the…
Jour Se Leve, LeJour Se Leve, Le (Daybreak) (1939) Recommended
Dir. Marcel Carne
Feat. Jean Gabin, Arletty
A renowned example of 'poetic realism', Jean Gabin gives another consummate performance as a doomed anti–hero. His tragic story is told in…
L'AtalanteL'Atalante (1934)
Dir. Jean Vigo
Feat. Michel Simon, Jean Daste
A recently restored master work from the French film archive combines lyrical romance with inspired touches of fantasy.
LiebeleiLiebelei (1933)
Dir. Max Ophuls
Feat. Arthur Schnitzler
An early work from the German maestro of the tracking shot, whose tale of doomed romance between a young soldier and fraulein (taken from a play by…
Le MillionLe Million (1931) Aro Favourite
Dir. Rene Clair
Feat. Annabella, Rene Lefevre, Louis Allibert
An early French musical, so delightful it was to inspire the likes of the Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin and even the American Musical as a…

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