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FILM

VIDEO: Discovering Paris through seven movies

They say walking through Paris is often being like on a film set given the amount of movies set there. Here filmmaker Nina Cangdon guides us through seven film locations in the City of Light. How many do you recognize?

VIDEO: Discovering Paris through seven movies
How many of these film location can you you recognise? Photo: Film Tripping/Nina Cangdon

Who doesn’t remember a film set in Paris?

Let’s face it: There is no better city in the world than the French capital when it comes to inspiring film directors from all over the world.

Coinciding with the annual French Film Festival in the UK, filmmakers, Paco Zamora and Fran Viña, introduce us to #FilmTripping, a joint project with the travel company, Expedia.

Behind this video there is an intention to showcases Paris as the city where anything is possible.

The video “FilmTripping”, invites film lovers and travellers to discover the City of Light through old cinema and new. The idea was to choose seven of the best films set in Paris and show the locations where some of the scenes have taken place, from the perspective of someone who explores Paris for the first time.

The seven locations as well as the establishing shots were filmed in two days and the cast of actors were from France, Italy and Spain.

The video “FilmTripping”, invites film lovers and travellers to discover the City of Light through old cinema and new. The idea was to choose 7 of the best films set in Paris and show the locations where some of the scenes have taken place, from the perspective of someone who explores Paris for the first time.

These are the Parisian locations and films suggested by FilmTripping, so don’t hesitate to click play to see how many do you recognise.

Shakespeare and Co: The most famous bookshop in Paris. Here two old lovers meet nine years after their first encounter (Before Sunset, 2004)

Pont-Neuf: The oldest of the new bridges in Paris sets love drama, Les Amants du Pont Neuf (1991)

Île de la Cité: This natural island floating in the river Seine was chosen by Woody Allen as the scenario to shoot a good number of scenes from Midnight in Paris (2011)

Canal Saint-Martin:Casually cool and bohemian, the Canal Saint-Martin is Amelie’s favourite corner in Paris to throw stones to the water (Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain, 2001)

Passage Plantin (Belleville): La Belleville attracts locals and tourists because of its spirit of independent commune. The narrow street, le Passage Plantin, was also immortalised on screen in The Bourne Identity (2001.

Pigalle: The most famous cabaret in the world is based in this busy avenue. Do you remember the movie Moulin Rouge! (2001)?

Trocadéro: Travellers can get from here the best Paris views. Trocadéro was also the setting for one of the segments in Paris Je T´aime (2006).

SEE ALSO: New interactive map plots Paris film locations

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FILM

French films with English subtitles to watch in November

As days get shorter and temperatures drop, November is a great month to enjoy a warm and comforting moment at the cinema. Here’s a round up of the French movies with English subtitles to see in Paris this month.

Cinema in France
Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

The cinema group Lost in Frenchlation runs regular screenings of French films in the capital, with English subtitles to help non-native speakers follow the action. The club kicks off every screening with drinks at the cinema’s bar one hour before the movie, so it’s also a fun way to meet people if you’re new to Paris.

These are the events they have coming up in November.

Friday, November 5th

Boîte Noire – What happened on board the Dubai-Paris flight before it crashed in the Alps? In this thriller Matthieu, a young and talented black box analyst played by Pierre Niney (star of Yves Saint-Laurent among other movies) is determined to solve the reason behind this deadly crash, no matter the costs. 

The screening will take place at the Club de l’étoile cinema at 8pm. But you can arrive early for drinks at the bar from 7pm. 

Tickets are €10 full price, €8 for students and all other concessions, and can be reserved here.

Sunday, November 14th

Tralala – In the mood for music? This new delightful French musical brings you into the life of Tralala (played by Mathieu Amalric), a 48 years old, homeless and worn-out street singer, who one day gets mistaken for someone else. Tralala sees an opportunity to get a better life by taking on a new personality. He now has a brother, nephews, ex-girlfriends, and maybe even a daughter. But where is the lie? Where is the truth? And who is he, deep down?

The night will start with drinks from 6pm followed by the screening at 7pm at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema. There is also a two-hour cinema-themed walk where you’ll be taken on a “musicals movie tour” in the heart of Paris, which begins at 4pm.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here. Tickets for the walking tour cost €20 and must be reserved online here.

Thursday, November 18th

Illusions Perdues – Based on the great novel series by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, this historical drama captures the writer Lucien’s life and dilemmas who dreams about a great career of writing and moves to the city to get a job at a newspaper. As a young poet entering the field of journalism, he is constantly challenged by his desire to write dramatic and eye-catching stories for the press. But are they all true?

The evening will kick off with drinks at L’Entrepôt cinema bar at 7pm, followed by the movie screening at 8pm. Tickets are available online here, and cost €8.50 full price; €7 for students and all other concessions.

Sunday, November 21st

Eiffel – Having just finished working on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel (played by Romain Duris) is tasked with creating a spectacular monument for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. It’s ultimately his love story with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey) that will inspire him to come up with the idea for the Eiffel Tower.

After a first screening last month, Lost in Frenchlation is organising a new one at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema, with pre-screening drinks at the cinema bar. 

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here

Thursday, November 25th

Les Héroïques – Michel is a former junkie and overgrown child who only dreams of motorbikes and of hanging out with his 17-year-old son Léo and his friends. But at 50 years old, he now has to handle the baby he just had with his ex, and try not to make the same mistakes he has done in the past. 

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Maxime Roy who will discuss his very first feature. 

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Full details of Lost in Frenchlation’s events can be found on their website or Facebook page. In France, a health pass is required in order to go to the cinema.

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