Plus ça change as the Alliance Française French Film Festival (AFFFF) returns in March for its 33rd hurrah. This year there are more than 42 films to look out for, including some Australian (and world) premieres.
Highlights from this year's festival include:
Mali Twist
This cinematic time capsule depicts an under explored side of Mali's history through a love story. If nothing else, see Mali Twist for its cinematography, which is inspired by the photography of Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibe.
Farewell Mr Haffmann
Set in Nazi occupied Paris in 1941, Farewell Mr Haffman follows a Jewish jeweller as he seeks refuge for himself and his family from his French Catholic employee.
Peaceful
One of the most powerful films on the AFFFF is Peaceful, a heartbreakingly beautiful story about a man coming to terms with his terminal cancer diagnosis. Directed by Emmanuelle Bercot, Peaceful also stars Dr Gabriel Sara, a real-life oncologist who also draws from his experiences supporting patients in this role.
Maigret
Would it even be a French film festival without a Gérard Depardieu film? Maigret brings to life Georges Simenon’s best-selling crime novels starring Depardieu as Jules Maigret, the fictional Parisian detective.
Petite Maman
Céline Sciamma directs in this modern-day fairytale that explores mother-daughter relationships and how to deal with grief.
The festival returns to seven Melbourne cinemas (Palace Balwyn, Palace Cinema Como, the Kino, Palace Westgarth, Palace Brighton Bay, Astor Theatre and Pentridge Cinema) from March 3 to April 6 (with encore screenings from April 7 to 10).
