Un Soir au club and Renoir

Bonjour!



  My name is Taylor Forr and a couple of days ago on March 21st, I attended the French Film Festival in Richmond at the Byrd Theatre. I went to see Un Soir au Club (a 2009 film) and Renoir (from 2012).
   First, let me say that the Byrd theatre was absolutely beautiful and old fashioned, and it made for a great film experience. I could hear many conversations in French all around me, and it definitely added to the foreign feeling.

   Both the producer, Charles Paviot, and the director, Jean Achache, of Un Soir au Club were there to talk a little bit about the film and answer questions. Jean Achache has directed 6 french films and has been an assistant director for 22 more. He commented on the incredible jazz music in the movie and also how happy he was that it got the chance to be shown in Richmond. The film was based on the Un Soir au Club a novel by Christian Gailly, about a jazz musician who can't pull himself away from a jazz bar and begins to have an affair on his wife.

   Personally, I was not a huge fan of this movie. I thought the music was beautiful, but other than that it wasn't too impressive. I found the two main characters to be almost unlikable. The ending was also very cliche. (I won't spoil it for those who have yet to see it.) I found myself getting bored and waiting and waiting for something to happen. I don't think I would recommend this movie to anyone, but it was a new experience.
   Renoir, directed by Gilles Bourdos, was a totally different experience. I loved this movie. The cinematography was absolutely stunning. The movie follows the famous painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1915. Renoir is an old man at this point in his life but still paints. The story tells of Renoir's desire to paint, despite a crippling illness, and the romance between one of his models Andrée, and his son, Jean Renoir. I would recommend this movie to anyone, and would buy it in an instance. The scenery is magnificent, and makes you wish you lived in France. This movie made me feel for the characters much more than Un Soir au Club, and I even cried at one point towards the end of the movie. It is a must see.
   Overall, I had a great time at the 2013 French Film Festival, and I hope to attend next year. It was an experience that will be remembered, and I encourage others to go, especially those who live in Richmond.
Vive la France!