To be honest, if you live in a big city in the US, it’s not that difficult to find top French movies in your town theatres. Not the multiplexes, of course, but if you’re more curious, if you look for arthouses, for independent exhibitors, you will find French movies in American theatres. Especially this summer, there is a real wave of French movies that will land on American screens during the warmer months.

It started at the end of June with Gilles Lellouche’s comedy Sink or Swim. Already a huge success in France, Sink or Swim tells the story of a bunch of depressed forty-year-olds who got much better by creating the very first French men's synchronized swimming team. The film  premiered in Cannes in 2018. Festival Goers loved it, French audiences loved it too, and I can’t see why the American audience wouldn’t, as well.

Gilles Lellouche isn’t the only French director having fun this summer. Among the French summer films, we also have some action. Thanks to a specialist of high-octane movies with pretty ladykillers in them: Luc Besson. His new one, Anna, was released in on June 21st in the U.S. OK, it’s not the best of his author, but in terms of car chases, gunfights, and crazy stunts, you’ll get more than you bargained for.

And if you want some French animation, try Dilili, Michel Ocelot's new film. Kirikou or Azur and Asmar’s creator, the king of French animation, offers us a trip back in time for a feminist tale located in the Paris of the 1900’s. It's poetic, instructive, and humanistic. It's Ocelot!

But our favorite is a surprising funny love thriller; mostly indescribable. It’s A Faithful Man, directed and interpreted by Louis Garrel with Lily-Rose Depp and Laeticia Casta. We gave Laeticia a difficult task: describing A Faithful Man. Here is her answer: “It’s a romantic comedy that will end up like a thriller. It’s also a love rectangle. It’s very modern in it’s narration. And the women of the film know about their desire. They are powerful. Modern, feminist, funny…”

Yes, Laeticia, the film is all that, but it’s also supremely smart, and always surprising. It could be seen as an emotional thriller with murders. Or as a slapstick comedy…or as a romantic comedy. Louis Garrel put several genres in his 1h15 minute movie, just to be as entertaining as possible, without avoiding being deep. Just a delightful treat for us movie lovers.

So yes, you can find a lot of top French movies in American theatres. And if that’s not enough don’t forget TV5MONDE – Cinema On Demand.

That should more than do for your cravings for French films. For the other cultural events with the French accent of the summer, don’t miss our next blog post!

To learn more about top French movies  during the summer, great French directors like Gilles Lellouche,  and other happenings that define Francophone culture in America, read our blog, and tune in to our episodes of Rendez-vous d’Amérique on TV5MONDE USA. Click here for more information.

Exploring a diversity of culture entwined with the insatiable energy of New York’s theatres, the bright lights of Las Vegas Blvd, the inspirational beauty of Louisiana’s bayous, and beyond - Rendez-vous d'Amérique invites you on a journey to discover Francophone culture in America. Your host on this cultural experience is Didier Allouch - reporter, cinephile, and a familiar face at movie premieres. Click here to learn how you can subscribe to TV5MONDE USA and never miss an episode!