A journey through French Cinema AT MARCO POLO PLAZA

France was the birthplace of cinema. Though it was the American Thomas Edison who introduced the concept of the “motion picture” in the late 19th century, it was French pioneers Auguste and Louis Lumiere who invented the art of cinematography and it was filmmaker George Melies who invented many of the techniques now common in the cinematic language. French Films are renowned for deliberate pacing, strong emphasis on character and a deviance from the conclusive endings of their Hollywood counterparts.

The Marco Polo Plaza and Les Amis De La France proudly bring to Cebu “Itineraire Cinematographique: A Journey through the History of French Cinema.” Fourteen films will be shown over the course of two weeks, a different film every night, each representing a different era, yet all of them representing the best of the art form.

The festival opens with Le Grand Illusion by Jean Renoir (1937), followed the next evening by Henri Georges Clouzot’s Quai des orfèvres, (1947), Les Vacances De Monsieur Hulot by Jacque Tati (1953) then Jacques Becker’s Touchez pas Au Grisbi (1954).

The French New Wave of the 1960s is represented by Jean-Luc Goddard’s A Bout De Souffle and Jules et Jim by François Truffaut, while contemporary French Cinema is represented by Luc Besson’s Le Grand Bleu, La Cité De La Peur by Alain Barberian, Himalaya, l’enfance d’un chef by Eric Valli, the animated film Les Trippletes de Belleville, De Battre Mon Cœur s’est Arrêté by Jacque Audiard, L’enfant by Frères Dardenne, La Parfum De la Dame En Noir by Bruno Podalydès and Taxi 4 by Gérard Krawczyck.

The films will be shown at the al fresco setting of Marco Polo Plaza’s El Viento Restaurant and Pool Bar from November 22 to December 5.   It’s free viewing for all dinner guests from 7 PM to 9 PM. For Dinner Reservations: 253 1111 local 8245.

Itineraire Cinematographique is part of Voyage En France, Marco Polo Plaza’s promotion of French Culture and Cuisine, together with “Parcour Culinaire” a two-week food festival at the Café Marco featuring guest chef Marc Aubry from Je Suis Gourmand, “Promenade Parisienne” an exhibit of the sights of Paris, and “Soiree Beaujolais Cebu 2008” a wine festival celebrating the uncorking of Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 on November 29.