My personal faves: Les Parapluies de Cherbourg; Tatie Danielle; The Closet (le Placard); La Cage Aux Folles; and A Man and a Woman.

This may sound odd, but Lord of The Rings.

The only film I know where the subtitles and script match word for word.

Select the French language option, as well as French subtitles. Very useful!

Doesn't give you any shots of Paris, but I must confess that I am a serial watcher of La Cage aux Folles! I own it and I still find myself at times in tears laughing at the dialogue. I set it to French subtitles so that I can read and hear it at the same time.

Another vote here for M. Ibrahim. Charming movie.

Another of my favorites: Les Choristes. Wonderful!

and another: Bad Spelling: LES FAUTES D'ORTHOGRAPHE

letour

letour, that starred Michel Serrault. What an actor! Watch him in the bitter sweet, "Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud."
playing opposite the beautiful Emmanuelle Beart.

This is very helpful...merci!

While not about current France, a great movie in French with English subtitles is currently playing on FLIX...it's called Au Revoir les enfants (Good Bye Children)...

It is a wonderful coming of age movie about World War II occupied France and some of the attitudes of French people then...I bring it up because I have just seen it for the first time (although it was made 20 years ago) but as noted it is currently playing on FLIX with the next showing tomorrow, Friday 30/03/07 at 1300 Eastern time.

I saw "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" a few months ago and really liked it. It is sung entirely (if I recall correctly) in French.

The Dinner Game is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Good luck trying to follow the lightning quick dialogue in French.

Nikki if you liked the Diner game you will love "Le goût des autres" a satire about social class in France. Simply hilarious, you have to stop the dvd to laugh out loud.

Listening to the french with the french subtitles on is a great idea! Never thought of that! My high school french struggles trying to listen only - I'm going to try that!

Being French I do the same but in English with English subtitles, it is so easier to understand!
I'm glad to see so many French movies going overseas.

ttt for myself I put English subtitles on with English language so my husband will stop saying "What did they say?"

Les Destinees is a French movie rarely mentioned but worth renting. The story is about the Limoges pottery family.

Cigale,
Thanks for the tip. I'll look for it. Just saw the rather controversial Exterminating Angels at the MFA last week. I liked it, but it's not a mainstream film!

letour

In addition to Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) the Demy-Deneuve followup Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (The Young Girls of Rochefort) is wonderful too. And it's got Gene Kelly in it! One of his last films, and he's speaking French!

You are probably thinking of movies to rent, but if you live in a city with a theater that runs foreign films, Avenue Montaigne is currently out. We just saw it -- it's set in Paris and is a charming film. It may be on view at a theater in your town.

The Chorus (Le Choriste)
Starring Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Jean-Baptiste Maunier
Written and Directed by Christophe Barratier (Miramax)
(not to be confused with Les Choristes)
This is a lovely French film with English subtitles. It is currently doing the rounds on movie channels on TV.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this thread. We have rented and enjoyed many of the suggestions.

I'm not sure my French has improved as much as I'd have liked, but they must have helped a little, and so far, it's been great fun.

Less than two weeks till we go...and we're still at it.

Thanks again, all.
SS

LaTour, Bunual is marvelous-see all his films!

Favoite Bunuel films:
Belle de Jour,
Diary of a Chambermaid,
Virdiana,
Discreet charm of the Bourgeoise,
Obscure Object of Desire,
Simon of the desert.