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FILM

French films with English subtitles to watch in February 2024

Lost in Frenchlation - the cinema club that screens French films with English subtitles - has six films on offer in February 2024, including a creepy-crawly horror and a classic French romance.

French films with English subtitles to watch in February 2024
(Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)

Lost in Frenchlation has plenty in store for English-speakers looking to enjoy French cinema this February in Paris.

There are six films on the docket, as well as a romantic movie-themed walking tour for Valentine’s month and a meet-and-greet with a director.

You can also subscribe to their weekly newsletter with more updates here.

Here’s what’s coming up;

Vermines (Vermin)

Directed by Sébastien Vaniček, this scary spider film runs for an hour and 45 minutes. It tells the story of a young adult, Kaleb, who is passionate about exotic animals and decides to bring home a poisonous spider. You might be expecting a Spiderman-esque story here – but instead, the deadly spider escapes, leaving Kaleb and his neighbours locked down as the spider makes its way through the apartment building.

Where and when – The movie will be screened on Friday, February 2nd at 8pm. Beforehand, you can join the ‘Women of Paris’ walking tour at 5pm, as well as pre-drinks from 7pm. 

The screening will take place at the Club de l’Etoile, 14 Rue Troyon, 75017 Paris. 

Tickets – Priced between €8-€10, you can get them here. To join the tour, you can purchase tickets here. They are €15.

Vivants (On the Pulse)

Directed by Alix Delaporte, this drama follows a new camerawoman starting off her career in a busy newsroom. It gives audiences a glimpse into the world of prime-time news in France, including all of the complicated, stressful and sometimes funny moments as the main character learns the ropes. 

Where and when – The screening will take place on Sunday, February 11th at 8pm at the Luminor theatre (20 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris).

You can arrive early for pre-drinks from 7pm, and stick around afterwards for a Q&A with the director and main actress.

Tickets – Ranging between €8-€10. You can purchase them here

Un Homme et une Femme (A Man and a Woman)

Directed by Claude Lelouch, this sentimental romance from 1966 tells the story of two people – both who recently lost their romantic partners – as they struggle with loss and the experience of finding love once again. It won the Cannes best-picture award at the time, as well as the Oscar for best foreign language film. 

Where and when – The screening will take place on Friday, February 16th at 8pm at L’Entrepôt (7 Rue Francis de Pressensé, 75014 Paris). Beforehand, you can join Lost in Frenchlation for a romantic movie-themed walking tour at 5pm, as well as pre-drinks from 7pm.

Tickets – Ranging from €7-€8.50 for the film – you can purchase them here. For the walking tour, tickets will be €15 and you can also buy them ahead of time online.

Making of 

Directed by Cédric Kahn, this film chronicles the behind-the-scenes reality of the film industry, as seasoned director Simon tries with limited help to make his film about workers fighting to save their factory. Mirroring the subject of his film, conflict arises in Simon’s own team, giving audiences a taste of the stress involved in film-making. 

Where and when – The screening will take place on Friday, February 23rd at L’Entrepôt (7 Rue Francis de Pressensé, 75014 Paris).

You can arrive early from 7pm for drinks and ice-cream.

Tickets – Ranging from €7-€8.50, you can buy them here.

MakingOf_TLR-INTER_H264_HD-185_24p_LtRt_EN_20231120M141 from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Iris et les hommes (It’s Raining Men)

Directed by Caroline Vignal, this film tells the story of Iris, a woman living a seemingly normal life with her husband, two daughters and thriving dental practice. Everything changes when Iris realises at a doctor’s appointment that it has been a long time since her last sexual encounter, and she decides to sign up for a dating app.

Where and when – The screening will start at 8pm at L’Arlequin, 76 Rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris.

You can arrive early for pre-drinks from 7pm, as well as a stand-up comedy show from the English-speaking comedian Sarah Donnelly. 

Tickets – Ranging from €13 – €15, purchase them here

IrisEtLesHommes_FA-Date_VOSTen_Mix-Internet-ST_ProRes422HQ_HD_Rec709G24_EV_24ips_20231207_FA-Playtime from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Bonnard, Pierre and Marthe

Directed by Martin Provost, explore the love story between French artist Pierre Bonnard and his muse, wife, and model Marthe.

Where and when – The screening will take place on Thursday, February 29th, at 8pm at Le Balzac (1 Rue Balzac, 75008 Paris). 

Arrive early for pre-drinks at 7pm, and stick around afterwards for a Q&A session with the director.

Tickets – You can purchase them online. They range from €8-€10.

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CULTURE

Backstage artisans keep Moulin Rouge kicking

Even with the famous sails of its windmill gone, the Moulin Rouge never lets up: twice a night, 365 nights a year, in a whirlwind of feathers, rhinestones and sequins.

Backstage artisans keep Moulin Rouge kicking

The sails of the 135-year-old cabaret in the Montmartre district of Paris collapsed last month — the cause remains unknown.

But with some 1,700 spectators still coming every evening, the show must go on. And while the 60-strong troupe of “Doriss Girls” — named after legendary choreographer Doris Haung — get all the attention, creating and maintaining their costumes is another huge and highly skilled job.

The show has daunting annual requirements: nearly 1,000 tailor-made outfits each requiring up to 250 hours of assembly, 800 pairs of shoes, and not forgetting the three kilometres of ostrich-feather boas.

READ MORE: 5 things to know about Paris’ iconic Moulin Rouge

The clacking of sewing machines backstage is a near-constant soundtrack before and after — and sometimes during — shows.

“We are on every evening. The costumes wear out… But the show must always be the same, at the highest quality,” the cabaret’s general director, Jean-Victor Clerico, 38, told AFP.

In the same family for four generations, the Moulin Rouge started buying up small artisan workshops in the 2000s — partly experts in featherwork and embroidery — that were struggling to survive in modern-day Paris.

“These artisans are a living heritage that risked disappearing, and they are essential for the show,” said Clerico.

“It was the duty of the Moulin to perpetuate their existence and allow the transmission of their knowledge to younger generations,” he added.

Mine Verges, 88, a costume designer since the 1960s, was one of the first to come under the Moulin’s umbrella.

Her workshop supplies and maintains the troupe, as well as many other clients.

“The most complicated costumes are those of the cabaret. Everything must be much more solid than normal clothing, and when there are feathers, it must above all be pleasant for the dancers,” she told AFP.

“Le Moulin was the first cabaret with whom I worked and it will be the last,” she said, adding that she was pleased her savoir-faire will be passed down.

Featherwork

Supplier to haute couture houses such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton, Maison Fevrier was set up in 1929 and is the last featherwork workshop in the heart of Paris.

Its “plumasserie” (fine feather work) has been officially recognised as a “living heritage” by the French government.

It became part of the Moulin family in 2009 and handles some three tonnes of ostrich, pheasant and rooster feathers for the cabaret each year.

Embroidery is handled by Atelier Valentin using the ancestral technique of Luneville crochet and chain stitch.

“The marvellous has always fascinated me. There is no limit to what you can embroider: sequins, pearls, rhinestones, repurposed metal pieces… The only imperative for a stage costume is to be strong,” said its director, Caroline Valentin, whose other clients including the Paris Opera, Disney, Givenchy and the Academie Francaise.

Shoes are another integral part of the show, especially for the energetic high-kicking antics of the Can-Can that conclude every evening.

Clairvoy, a cobblers founded in 1945, has been part of the Moulin’s operation since 2007.

Nicolas Maistriaux, 45, and his team make the troupe’s shoes, taking up to 60 hours to assemble each pair, not counting their maintenance and renewal when the dancers’ heels wear them out.

Kylie Minogue also called on Maison Clairvoy for her recent tour.

“Our jobs are rewarding beyond anything,” said Valentin. “We have the absolutely immense chance to create beauty… That’s what artistic craftsmanship is all about.”

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