FRENCH

Alliance Française French Film Festival 

Bienvenue Cinephiles,

Alliance Française French Film Festival is on in Melbourne at Palace Cinemas.

05 March - 09 April 2025

Here are some recommended French films that may interest you and your family.

Savages / Sauvages

Director: Claude Barras 

Country:France 

Run time: 87 mins 

Recommended: From Year 4, 10+ years

Classification: PG

Genre: Animation, Family 

Language: French with English subtitles

In the rainforests of Borneo, 11-year-old Kéria (Babette de Coster) lives on the edge of the wild. Her father works at an industrial palm oil plantation, but their lives change forever when Kéria witnesses local loggers kill a mother orangutan, leaving behind the orphaned Oshi. Rescuing the baby orangutan, Kéria awakens to the devastating reality of the forces threatening to destroy her home.

When Kéria’s cousin, Selaï (Martin Verset), a member of the Indigenous Penan tribe, seeks refuge with them to escape a conflict with powerful logging companies, the trio becomes united in their fight to protect the forest. But when Selaï and Oshi go missing after a heated argument, Kéria must venture deep into the jungle to find them. 

A journey of resilience, hope and discovery, Kéria will learn about the Penan’s harmonious way of life and uncover truths about her own roots. Featuring the voices of Laëtitia Dosch and Benoît Poelvoorde, and brought to life with whimsical stop-motion animation, SAVAGES delivers a heartfelt ecological message for all ages about humanity's relationship with nature – and with one another.

CONTENT WARNING

.Scenes of environmental destruction, including logging and burning forests.

.Depiction of the death of a mother orangutan (off-screen but emotionally impactful). .Discussions about industrial exploitation and conflict with indigenous communities

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All Stirred Up! Tous Toqués!

Director: Manon Briand 

Country: France 

Run time: 113 mins

Recommended: From Year 5, 11 to 17 years

Classification: M

Genre: Comedy

Language: French with English subtitles

Somewhere on the border between Quebec and the United States, the intractable customs officer, Sonia (Julie Le Breton), rules her boom gate with an iron first. No one gets past her eagle eye, not even Victor (Édouard Baer, How to Be a Good Wife, AF FFF20), a charming but down-on-his-luck French chef from New York, who finds his knives and gourmet food unfairly confiscated. Meanwhile, Sonia's daughter Lili-Beth is sick of being bullied at school. When she enters a Mini Chefs competition to stick it to her bullies, it seems she's the underdog with no hope of winning. Unless Julie can convince Victor to help her. 

However, it’s not just the pressure of the Mini Chefs competition that threatens to boil over: community tensions and divisions are bubbling under the surface of this rural border town, with bitterness an all-toofamiliar flavour. But Sonia, Victor and Lili-Beth are about to serve up something new. 

This feast of a comedy from director Manon Briand is full of laughs and touching connections. Set in the beautiful Canadian countryside and replete with mouthwatering dishes, ALL STIRRED UP! is a deliciously heartwarming story that will leave you hungry for more.

CONTENT WARNING

This film contains brief use of vulgar slang, i.e. “tu te fous de ma gueule” but translated on screen as “you’re kidding me” 

Sensitive viewers should be aware of implied community/racial tensions.

Bonnes vacances!

De la part des Madames,

Madame Esposito et Madame Farfalla