HOLLYWOOD's Coda is the first English-language remake of a French box office hit (2014's La Famille Bélier) to win Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Closer to home, La Famille Bélier launched the 2016 French Film Festival (FFF) in Malaysia courtesy of Alliance Francaise and the Embassy of France.
The story about the only hearing member of a deaf family, who struggles to balance family obligations and her love of music left an indelible mark on audiences here.
Since then, and before, the FFF has offered several memorable movies.
So, it's wonderful to have the festival back in cinemas for its 20th edition this year, with a sumptuous buffet of 21 celluloid offerings.
French ambassador, Mr Roland Galharague, said at the recent FFF 2022 launch in the Mid Valley Megamall Golden Screens Cinema branch that women are at the forefront of the movie festival, and the movie Proxima was just one good example.
Proxima is about a woman astronaut (played by Eva Green) who struggles to balance her family and her work.
It's a common problem many working mothers face. The movie offers insight into training to be an astronaut, and the finale is well, fitting.
The movie is directed by Alice Winocour, who made screen-writing fame with the 2015 movie, Mustang, which won the César Award for Best Original Screenplay.
If you are a fan of Celine Dion, try to catch Aline, which is based on the French-Canadian singer's rise to fame. It won the 2022 César Award for Best Actress for Valérie Lemercier.
Another musical is Annette, about a comedian and his opera singer wife who have a two-year-old daughter with a surprising gift.
Other than music and women, the French love their food as much as Malaysians. As the ambassador said, "we have the culture of makan in common!"
Hence, the movie Delicious is on the FFF 2022 menu. This 2021 movie is set in 18th century France, when gastronomy was still only for the aristocrats.
A duke fires his talented cooker Manceron who goes back to his country house, and finds his footing with the help of a woman.
The film festival has a few surprises this year, including an interactive programme for children called Le Petit Festival, where families can enjoy moving plots and eye-catching movies from the line-up of films available.
A curated selection of 10 of the movies can be enjoyed on the streaming platform MUBI, with the theme, Bewitching Outsiders.
Ranging from the Nouvelle Vague to contemporary cinema, Malaysians across the country will be able to enjoy French art house movies as well as a free 30-day trial.
The festival runs through four cities. In Penang, it will be partly organised in conjunction with the George Town Festival.
Other highlights are gastronomy-related workshops and events, visual art exhibitions and La Fête de la musique. The festival ends with a multi-sensorial concert called Solstice Lunaire.
As they say in France, and elsewhere, life is too short to drink bad wine. The FFF 2022 is right at the front door!
FFF 2022
Klang Valley (Mid Valley, MyTown, Nu Sentral, 1Utama): June 9-26
Penang: June 30-July 10
Johor Baru: July 7-10
Kota Kinabalu: July 14-17
For more information, visit www.lefrenchfestival.com.my or www.facebook.com/lefrenchfestivalmy.
FREE TICKETS
Free tickets for FFF 2022 are up for grabs. Just utilise the Promo Code, FFFNST0000000, which is valid from June 2, 2022 till July 17, 2022.
Just apply the Promo Code after selecting the Payment Method.
Terms & Conditions:
Valid for French Film Festival 2022 movies EXCEPT for The Family.
Valid for GSC Mid Valley Megamall, GSC Nu Sentral, GSC MyTown, GSC 1 Utama, GSC Gurney Plaza, GSC Paradigm Mall JB and GSC Suria Sabah KK.
Each code offers 1 (ONE) movie ticket for 1 redemption per transaction.
The code is inclusive of booking fees and surcharges.
The code is not exchangeable for cash.
Not valid with any ongoing promotions, vouchers and/or privilege cards.
GSC will not held responsible for any loss/damage of the promo code.