We all have to find our bliss anymore, don’t we. For me, it’s watching motion pictures to the sound of “la belle langue.” It’s the dulcet tone of francais in your ears — if only for a few hours.
A Week of French Language Cinema, an annual West Los Angeles event of francophonia + cinemaphilia, now in its sixteenth consecutive year, has a lot of sponsors: Consulate General of Belgium, the Quebec Government Office in Los Angeles, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Consulate Generals of Switzerland, Canada, France, and Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles.
But it also has a lot of fans. The Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, situated on that interesting stretch of Pico Boulevard near Twentieth Century Fox studios, will feature nightly screenings of critically acclaimed French-language films from March 19–23. Price tag? $10 a pop. LESS THAN A DOZEN EGGS!
The week-long event coincides annually with the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF)’s celebration of the French language and Francophone culture on March 20. The event is the perfect showcase to present the artistry of French-language voices the world over. A well-curated program is lovingly presented by our friends at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz, which attracts a very smart and cool and relaxed audience. And me. I’m there for the baguette sandwiches and red wine.
The films range a from documentary to fictional, and several programs include a short. All films with English subtitles.
Wed Mar 19 Les Pas Perdu [Belgium]
Thurs Mar 20 Sur la terre et comme au ciel [Quebec]
Fri Mar 21 Plus que jamais [Luxembourg]
Sat March 22 Dahomey [Senegal]
Sat Mar 22 Le Procès du Chien [Switzerland]
Sun Mar 23 Festin Boréal [Canada]
Sun Mar 23 Les Barbares [France]
Tickets for each screening are only $10, or $50 for a pass for the whole week (5 nights/8 movies) and include a free pre-screening buffet. The French screening on March 23 will include the free buffet during intermission.
A Week of French Language Cinema | Theatre Raymond Kabbaz | Mar 19-23