Unlikely Love: Longing and Desire in New French Film

French Film Festival, 2014Titled “Unlikely Love: Longing and Desire in New French Film,” William College French Film Festival presents films that examine the roles of love and affection, attraction and seduction, gender and sexuality in contemporary France. From chivalric romance to romantic comedy, French culture is celebrated for its obsession with the love story, and both the pleasures and dangers of erotic passion and romantic desire. Recent events in France in 2012-2103, however, have created new challenges for the way we think of love and sexuality in France: from the sexual harassment allegations against the economist and politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn, to the public debates on the recent legalization of gay marriage, to new laws on prostitution and sexploitation. These 3 films take part in these recent debates by offering new stories of unlikely love: from homoerotic love at the court of Marie-Antoinette, to relationships that cross lines of race, class, and physical handicap, to the moving lessons of long-term love and loss. In the wake of Valentine’s Day, we hope that this festival on longing and desire in new French film will encourage discussion and debate on love and romance in twenty-first century France.

Associate Professor of French Brian Martin (co-organizer of this series) will give introductions to the films. All films are in French with English subtitles, and are free and open to the public. Images Cinema is located at 50 Spring Street in Williamstown, MA. For more information, synopses, and trailers for each of these films click on the titles:

William College French Film Festival 2014:

Unlikely Love: Longing and Desire in New French Film

Over 3 consecutive Mondays at 7PM, from February 17 to March 3 (2014), the Williams Department of Romance Languages will screen 3 recent films from France at Images Cinema:

February 17 @7PM: Benoît Jacquot’s Farewell My Queen (2012)
February 24 @7PM: Jacques Audiard’s Rust and Bone (2012)
March 3 @7PM: Michael Haneke’s Love 
(2012)

Farewell My Queen

Rust and Bone

Love