Vive la French Film Festival at Shangri-La!
MANILA, Philippines - Armed once again with a new wave of unforgettable cinematic experiences, Shangri-La Plaza presents the 2011 French Film Festival from June 9 to 19, at Shang Cineplex Cinema 4.
This year’s repertoire promises a fascinating selection of contemporary French films, as well as a retrospective of actress Sandrine Bonnaire and a film shot in the Philippines that has been featured in prestigious festivals in France.
Opening film Le Marquis, shot in Cebu in 2010, tells the tale of salesman-turned-prisoner Thomas Gardesse, who calls himself “The Marquis” to gain his inmates’ respect. Soon, he is hunted down to mastermind a robbery in Manila.
In L’autre (The Other One), Anne-Marie’s peaceful break-up with Alex takes an insanely jealous turn when she finds out about the new woman in his life. In the film La Tête de Maman (Mother’s Smile) Lulu thinks that her mother’s former lover is the reason for her sadness, and struggles to get him and her mother’s smile back.
Journey with protagonist Anne in Un poison violent (Love Like Poison) as she is caught between her love for the faithless Pierre and her coming confirmation. Dernier des fous (The Last Among the Crazy Ones) focuses on 11-year-old Martin’s lonely vacation, during which he witnesses his family’s disintegration.
A different kind of riot unfolds at Les enfants de Timpelbach (Trouble at Timpeltill) when children who pass the time playing pranks and deflecting authority are left without parents. Dans les Cordes (Inside the Ring) takes sibling rivalry into the boxing ring, as sisters Angie and Sandra fight it out to be named the French boxing champion.
7 ans (7 years) is a heartbreaking take on love’s circus of guilt, pleasure and obligation, chronicling a tragic love tale between prisoner Vincent and his wife Maitè who begins an affair with a guard in Vincent’s prison.
Two Luc Besson films grace the fest. Adèle: Rise of the Mummy is an adaptation of a popular French comic book from the 1970s set in pre-World War II in France. And Arthur (Freddie Highmore) is reunited with his beloved Princess Selenia in the latest adventure adapted from Besson’s bestselling children’s books, Arthur 2: The Revenge of Maltazard, mixing live-action and magnificent state-of-the-art animation.
Witness 15-year-old Suzanne’s aimless search for love in À Nos Amours (To Our Loves). In a desperate quest for acceptance, she randomly offers herself to several men, and eventually ends up questioning her uncertain future. Sans Toit Ni Loi (Vagabond) is the mystery of a girl named Mona (who is found frozen to death in a ditch). Not knowing what to make of her, those who have encountered her attempt to recapture her story — that of a wanderer who couldn’t be held back.
Mentally and physically handicapped Sophie and Jeanne try to live a normal life in La Cérémonie (A Judgment in Stone). But their decent intentions soon turn into a macabre dance of good and evil. Mademoiselle is a gripping story of a woman called Claire, who makes a connection with an actor. After getting to know him in just 24 hours, Claire is faced with the momentous possibility of enjoying the happiness love brings, which can change her life forever.
Follow the life of a person with autism, Sabine Bonnaire in Elle S’appelle Sabine (Her Name is Sabine) a documentary by her sister Sandrine. Touching on the death of Sabine’s innermost hopes and dreams, the film takes a dramatic turn as she struggles to regain a taste for life despite her condition. In Joueuse (Queen to Play), Hélène, who leads a quiet, steady life with her husband and daughter, seeks her freedom and identity as a woman by finding refuge in mastering the rules of chess.
The festival concludes with an exclusive screening of Cannes Palme D’Or winner The Tree of Life, directed by Terence Malick, distributed by Pioneer Films.
With such a packed line-up of French film must-sees, the film fest firmly upholds the Shang’s commitment to provide endless pleasures for loyal patrons and mall goers.
The French Film Festival is part of FrancoPhil, the 2011 French cultural season in the Philippines. FrancoPhil is organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and the Alliance française de Manille, together with Institut Francais, the Shangri-La Plaza and Shang Cineplex, UP Film Institute, with the support of Total, Air France KLM, L’Oréal Philippines, VEOLIA Water, Axantis Productions, Inc, Marithé François Girbaud, Daniel Hechter, Le Cellier, Bizu, and Pioneer Films, as well as official media partners Manila Bulletin, Sense & Style, Net 25, TALKtv, DZRJ and Spot.ph.
For inquiries, contact 633-7851 loc. 113 or log on to www.shangrila-plaza.com.
