Couscous – 2007 – Abdel Kechiche

Much in the vein of Arau’s Like Water for Chocolate and Hallstrom’s Chocolat, but deeper, livelier, and much darker. One can’t help feeling that Tunisian-born Kechiche thinks that all is futile. This is an uncut diamond. A new cut and 30 minutes less wouldn’t hurt this a bit. Omid Nikfarjam

Roman de gare – 2007 – Claude Lelouch

If you liked the sometimes violent scripts of Chabrol and Truffaut,  strongly inspired by Hitchcock, or the endless dialogues of Rohmer about love – take a bus and go watch Roman de gare.  A is B, or C but no, maybe it’s D. Is E, killed by F or by G? Is this character even alive.  Lots of questions, and answers too. Mario Alemi.

Jules et Jim – 1962 – François Truffaut

After watching this bizarre love triangle I was surprised that Catherine, the female tempest, wasn’t given a title credit. Interesting also to note how much Amélie, the most successful French film of the last decade, mimicked the quirkiness and playfulness of this entertaining and intriguing gem. JJ

Time To Leave – 2005 – François Ozon

A gay fashion photographer facing his mortality is determined to leave a legacy. Now is the time for reviewing old memories and trying to leave a trace in a future he’s got no place in. Ozon’s made a little gem. I’ve rarely come across a movie about loss and death as warm and reassuring. Omid Nikfarjam

13 Tzameti – 2005 – Géla Babluani

What would it take for you to kill someone? In Tzameti the protagonist unwittingly ends up in a secretive but deadly game of Russian roulette after following instructions intended for some one else. Shot in black and white, it’s nerve wracking, visceral and crazy.
JJ

Combien tu m’aimes – 2005 -Bertrand Blier

A businessman spends his lottery winnings by soliciting a prostitute (Monica Bellucci) to live with him until his money runs out. Blier’s script is complex but captures the false expectations that lay between hope and love. Bellucci is mesmerizing and clearly what God intended women to be.
William Hilderbrandt