Many people don’t bother with foreign-language films because they assume they will be boring. It’s true that French films rarely feature the spectacular special effects of Hollywood films and they have much smaller budgets but the stories and the acting more than make up for this. Plus you never know until you try and watch one, so here are 8 fabulous French films that everyone should see!
Snapshot Survey
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:
Successfully subscribed!
Thank you for subscribing! Check your inbox for personalized content.
1. Les Choristes (the Chorus)
Les Choristes is set in post-war France at a boarding school for naughty boys, although many of them are just orphans of war with nowhere else to go. A new music teacher forms a school choir to give the boys something constructive to do and he discovers some real talent along the way. It’s such a fabulous French film because it’s moving yet funny and the music is unforgettable: you’ll be humming the tunes for days afterwards!
Oh, if you're diving into French cinema, you can't miss classics like 'Amélie', 'Les Choristes', or 'La Haine'. Each has its own charm and storytelling magic that just draws you in!
Definitely! 'Les Choristes' is a heartwarming option that's set in a boarding school. Also, animations like 'The Red Balloon' are timeless and beautiful.
French films have this special flair for capturing romance and intimacy. They often focus on deep emotions and beautiful, sometimes quirky storytelling. Films like 'Amélie' really show that off!
If you love intense drama, 'La Haine' is a powerful choice. It's a gripping look at social issues in France and has a gritty, raw edge.
Yes! 'Les Choristes' is a beautiful film set in a boarding school for troubled boys. It's touching and the music is simply moving.
2. Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie Poulain (Amélie)
This isn’t the most successful French film outside of France for no reason. It follows a lonely young woman who discovers the thrill and joy of helping others. If you need to learn to enjoy the little things in life, or just want to smile, watch Amélie, it’s fabulous!
Oh, if you're diving into French cinema, you can't miss classics like 'Amélie', 'Les Choristes', or 'La Haine'. Each has its own charm and storytelling magic that just draws you in!
Definitely! 'Les Choristes' is a heartwarming option that's set in a boarding school. Also, animations like 'The Red Balloon' are timeless and beautiful.
French films have this special flair for capturing romance and intimacy. They often focus on deep emotions and beautiful, sometimes quirky storytelling. Films like 'Amélie' really show that off!
If you love intense drama, 'La Haine' is a powerful choice. It's a gripping look at social issues in France and has a gritty, raw edge.
Yes! 'Les Choristes' is a beautiful film set in a boarding school for troubled boys. It's touching and the music is simply moving.
3. Au Revoir Les Enfants (Goodbye, Children)
Au Revoir Les Enfants is set in a French Catholic boarding school during the Holocaust. It’s autobiographical, being the story of director Louis Malle’s childhood and it features a caring principal who secretly takes in three Jewish boys to protect them from the Nazis. It’s a story of friendship, loyalty and childhood innocence: three things that always make for a fabulous French film!
Oh, if you're diving into French cinema, you can't miss classics like 'Amélie', 'Les Choristes', or 'La Haine'. Each has its own charm and storytelling magic that just draws you in!
Definitely! 'Les Choristes' is a heartwarming option that's set in a boarding school. Also, animations like 'The Red Balloon' are timeless and beautiful.
French films have this special flair for capturing romance and intimacy. They often focus on deep emotions and beautiful, sometimes quirky storytelling. Films like 'Amélie' really show that off!
If you love intense drama, 'La Haine' is a powerful choice. It's a gripping look at social issues in France and has a gritty, raw edge.
Yes! 'Les Choristes' is a beautiful film set in a boarding school for troubled boys. It's touching and the music is simply moving.
4. La Haine (Hate)
This fabulous French film follows three young men (one is a black boxer, one is a Jew and one is an Arab) who have grown up in a French suburban ghetto and it deals with issues of racial tension, particularly between the public and the police.
Oh, if you're diving into French cinema, you can't miss classics like 'Amélie', 'Les Choristes', or 'La Haine'. Each has its own charm and storytelling magic that just draws you in!
Definitely! 'Les Choristes' is a heartwarming option that's set in a boarding school. Also, animations like 'The Red Balloon' are timeless and beautiful.
French films have this special flair for capturing romance and intimacy. They often focus on deep emotions and beautiful, sometimes quirky storytelling. Films like 'Amélie' really show that off!
If you love intense drama, 'La Haine' is a powerful choice. It's a gripping look at social issues in France and has a gritty, raw edge.
Yes! 'Les Choristes' is a beautiful film set in a boarding school for troubled boys. It's touching and the music is simply moving.
Embrace the power of cinematic storytelling by enjoying films with simple yet captivating names. Explore this curated list of fascinating one word movie titles, designed especially for women who value compelling narratives and thought-provoking themes. These titles offer a fresh perspective on femininity and the nuances of womanhood, allowing you to embark on memorable viewing experiences from the comfort of your home.
5. Jules Et Jim (Jules and Jim)
François Truffaut was like the French equivalent of Spielberg and this is possibly his best film. It shows a love triangle (involving two friends and the object of their affections) before, during and after the First World War, and is deeply moving.
Oh, if you're diving into French cinema, you can't miss classics like 'Amélie', 'Les Choristes', or 'La Haine'. Each has its own charm and storytelling magic that just draws you in!
Definitely! 'Les Choristes' is a heartwarming option that's set in a boarding school. Also, animations like 'The Red Balloon' are timeless and beautiful.
French films have this special flair for capturing romance and intimacy. They often focus on deep emotions and beautiful, sometimes quirky storytelling. Films like 'Amélie' really show that off!
If you love intense drama, 'La Haine' is a powerful choice. It's a gripping look at social issues in France and has a gritty, raw edge.
Yes! 'Les Choristes' is a beautiful film set in a boarding school for troubled boys. It's touching and the music is simply moving.
Gallery Spotlight
Save and share the images that inspire you. Tag @allwomenstalk to get featured.
Save
6. La Reine Margot (Queen Margot)
You may want to brush up on your French history a little before tackling this film, but do tackle it as it is one of the most fabulous French films. It tracks the events of the French Wars of Religion in the 16th Century where the French Catholics fought to the death with the Huguenots (Protestants). A bloody film full of mass-murder, but the acting is superb.
Oh, if you're diving into French cinema, you can't miss classics like 'Amélie', 'Les Choristes', or 'La Haine'. Each has its own charm and storytelling magic that just draws you in!
Definitely! 'Les Choristes' is a heartwarming option that's set in a boarding school. Also, animations like 'The Red Balloon' are timeless and beautiful.
French films have this special flair for capturing romance and intimacy. They often focus on deep emotions and beautiful, sometimes quirky storytelling. Films like 'Amélie' really show that off!
If you love intense drama, 'La Haine' is a powerful choice. It's a gripping look at social issues in France and has a gritty, raw edge.
Yes! 'Les Choristes' is a beautiful film set in a boarding school for troubled boys. It's touching and the music is simply moving.
7. La Vie En Rose (Life in Pink)
La Vie en Rose is the life story of Edith Piaf who was arguably France’s best and most popular singer ever. Marion Cotillard won the Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Piaf and the rest of the cast are also fantastic. Just be prepared for lots of ups and downs and have some tissues ready!
Oh, if you're diving into French cinema, you can't miss classics like 'Amélie', 'Les Choristes', or 'La Haine'. Each has its own charm and storytelling magic that just draws you in!
Definitely! 'Les Choristes' is a heartwarming option that's set in a boarding school. Also, animations like 'The Red Balloon' are timeless and beautiful.
French films have this special flair for capturing romance and intimacy. They often focus on deep emotions and beautiful, sometimes quirky storytelling. Films like 'Amélie' really show that off!
If you love intense drama, 'La Haine' is a powerful choice. It's a gripping look at social issues in France and has a gritty, raw edge.
Yes! 'Les Choristes' is a beautiful film set in a boarding school for troubled boys. It's touching and the music is simply moving.
8. Un Long Dimanche De Fiançailles (a Very Long Engagement)
The film follows Mathilde and Manech whose childhood romance blossoms into love, before Manech goes away to fight in World War I. When Manech is declared Missing in Action, Mathilde cannot believe that he is dead and begins a relentless search to discover what has happened to him. It’s a fabulous French film because it has everything: a brilliantly-constructed plot, great acting, and battlefield scenes that rival those of Saving Private Ryan.
The list of fabulous French films is endless, but those are some of my favorites. I realize that knowing French gives me an advantage but I watch other films with subtitles too. There are some absolutely terrific foreign language films out there. What would be on your list?
Top Photo Credit: *Kelso*
Snapshot Survey
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:
Successfully subscribed!
Thank you for subscribing! Check your inbox for personalized content.
Comments
:
Add allwomenstalk.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.EST 2005
Evolve. Empower. Elevate.
- Creators on the platform
- 3,000+
- Total social reach
- 12M+
- Features published
- 100K+
New Earn badges & level up while you read
Create your profile. Earn badges. Level up your reading.
Join Allwomenstalk to track your streaks, collect badges, and earn XP for the things you already do—reading, sharing, and taking quizzes.
- 🔥Daily streaks with gentle boosts for 3, 7, and 30 days.
- 🏅Collect badges like Reader I–III, Socialite, and Quiz Ace.
- ⚡️Earn XP for reads, deep reads, likes, comments, and shares.
It’s free. Takes 30 seconds. Already have an account? Sign in.
