Country: France

Direction Daniel Costelle · Isabelle Clarke

Cast Mathieu Kassovitz

Synopsis Apocalypse: The Second World War (TV Miniseries) (2009) is a six-episode French documentary that delves into the Second World War. This series is uniquely composed entirely of authentic war footage captured by war correspondents, soldiers, resistance fighters, and civilians. The...

Direction Teo Hernández

Cast Jakobois · Gaël Badaud · Michel Nedjar · Pascal Martin

Synopsis Lacrima Christi (1980) is the concluding chapter of the tetralogy "Le Corps de la Passion" (The Body of the Passion, 1977-1980). This documentary draws its creative energy from Christian mythology, using it as a catalyst for a transformative exploration of...

Direction Jean-Pierre Cuny

Direction Pascal Plisson · Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Direction Daniel Costelle · Isabelle Clarke

Cast Mathieu Kassovitz

Synopsis Apocalypse: The First World War (TV Miniseries) (2014) is a comprehensive documentary series that delves into the complexities of World War I through a meticulous examination of over 500 hours of archival footage. Spanning five 52-minute episodes, the series offers...

Direction Jacques Becker

Cast Philippe Leroy · Marc Michel · Michel Constantin · Jean Kéraudy

Synopsis The Hole (The Night Watch) (1960) is set in 1947 France, where a young man named Gaspard Claude is wrongfully convicted of attempting to murder his wife. Sentenced to the infamous Santé Prison in Paris, Gaspard finds himself sharing a...

Direction Claude Lanzmann

Cast Simon Srebnik · Michael Podchlebnik · Motke Zaïdl · Hanna Zaïdl

Synopsis Shoah (1985) is a monumental 9 1/2 hour documentary directed by Claude Lanzmann that presents an unflinching exploration of the Holocaust, notably without incorporating any archival footage. Lanzmann conducts in-depth interviews with survivors, eyewitnesses, and former Nazis, some of whom...

Direction Carl Theodor Dreyer

Cast Maria Falconetti · Eugene Silvain · Maurice Schutz · Michel Simon

Synopsis The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) is set in the year 1431, where a young French woman, Joan of Arc, faces a trial for purported treason. Once celebrated as a national hero, she is now a pawn in a...

Direction Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Synopsis Human (2015) is a profound documentary that showcases the culmination of Yann Arthus-Bertrand's three-year journey, during which he gathered authentic, emotionally charged narratives from over 2,000 individuals across 60 nations. The film delves into the universal emotions that bind us...

Direction Pierre-André Boutang · Michel Pamart

Cast Gilles Deleuze · Claire Parnet

Direction Émilie Tronche

Cast Émilie Tronche

Synopsis Samuel (2024) delves into the poignant journey of youth, centering around Samuel and his companions. The series masterfully combines moments of deep reflection, lighthearted humor, and a nostalgic soundtrack to create a rich tapestry of teenage experiences.

Direction Jean-Charles Fitoussi

Cast Frédéric Bonpart · Hélène Boons · Leos Carax · Adeline D'Hermy

Synopsis I Did Not Die (2008) follows the journey of Alix, a unique individual crafted through scientific advancements by Dr. William Stein. Unlike typical births, Alix enters the world at the age of twenty-seven, already an adult. Her quest begins as...

Direction Robert Bresson

Cast François Leterrier · Roland Monod · Charles Le Clainche · Maurice Beerblock

Synopsis A Man Escaped (1956) unfolds in April 1943, amidst the turmoil of World War II. The story revolves around Fontaine, a 27-year-old member of the French Resistance who finds himself in the clutches of the Gestapo. Captured for interrogation, Fontaine...

Direction Marcel Carné

Cast Jean-Louis Barrault · Pierre Brasseur · Pierre Renoir · Arletty

Synopsis Children of Paradise (1945) unfolds the tale of an enigmatic woman (Arletty) who captivates the hearts of four distinct men, each inspired by real-life historical figures: a performer, a criminal, a nobleman, and most touchingly, a mime (Jean-Louis Barrault). The...

Direction H.G. Clouzot

Cast Yves Montand · Charles Vanel · Véra Clouzot · Peter van Eyck

Synopsis The Wages of Fear (1953) follows the harrowing journey of four men in a desolate South American oil settlement who accept a perilous assignment to transport trucks filled with nitroglycerin across a hazardous mountain path. As they navigate their volatile...

Direction Chris Marker

Synopsis A Grin Without a Cat (1977) is a thought-provoking French essay film that delves into the worldwide political unrest of the 1960s and 1970s. The documentary meticulously examines the emergence of the New Left in France and the evolution of...

Direction Alain Resnais

Synopsis Night and Fog (1955) is a profoundly moving and visually striking documentary that stands as one of the earliest cinematic explorations of the Holocaust's atrocities. Directed by Alain Resnais, this film has had a lasting impact on how the Holocaust...

Direction Wim Wenders · Juliano Ribeiro Salgado

Cast Sebastião Salgado

Synopsis The Salt of the Earth (2014) chronicles the remarkable journey of renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado over the past four decades. Traversing continents, Salgado has documented the evolving face of humanity, capturing pivotal moments such as international conflicts, famines, and mass...

Direction Jean-Claude Rousseau

Direction Peter Watkins

Synopsis La Commune (Paris 1871) (2000) immerses viewers in the tumultuous year of 1871, juxtaposing the official narrative from Versailles Television with the grassroots perspective of a fictional Commune television channel. The documentary unfolds on a theatrical set where over 200...