Singapore – From 28 November to 7 December, 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema serves up a dazzling array of the latest French movies, that will appeal to every taste. The festival, in conjunction with the Singapore International Film Festival, will also feature the Singaporean premiere of Clouds of Sils Maria (Sils Maria), the latest film of cinema’s top leading lady Juliette Binoche, in her presence. 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema will further celebrate the actress of international fame with a Juliette Binoche Retrospective. A delegation of French directors will be attending the festival as well: Philippe de Chauveron, director of the festival’s opening film Serial (Bad) Weddings (Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au bon dieu); Audrey Dana, director of French Women (Sous les jupes des filles); Fred Cavayé, director of Mea Culpa; and Nils Tavernier, director of The Finishers (De toutes nos forces).
This immersion into French Cinema is complete with a photo exhibition, Inside Cannes, which will bring the magic of the Cannes festival’s red carpet to Singapore. With Binoche as part of the artistic delegation, a diverse programme of film screenings and the Inside Cannes photo exhibition, the festival promises to be a highlight of the Singapore film calendar. 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema is organised by Institut Français Singapour – Ambassade de France, Alliance française and Unifrance.
Festival Film Programme
A total of 16 films will be screened across three venues – The Cathay Cineplex, Shaw Lido and the Alliance française de Singapour. Opening the 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema will be the biggest French comedy of the year, Serial (Bad) Weddings, making its Southeast Asian debut. Directed by Philippe de Chauveron, who will be in Singapore for the festival, the film tells with humor how being of different origins and religions can not only divide, but also bring families closer together. Actor Medi Sadoun and actress Emilie Caen will be accompanying director Philippe de Chauveron at 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema.
This year’s cinematic delegation will also include the three directors Audrey Dana, director of French Women; Fred Cavayé, director of Mea Culpa; and Nils Tavernier, director of The Finishers – the three movies being as different as can be. French Women – watch out for the Special Ladies Night at Alliance française – is an ensemble film that hilariously depicts all facets of today’s woman, supported by a stellar cast of actress, featuring Isabelle Adjani, Laetitia Casta and Vanessa Paradis, to name a few. While Mea Culpa is a fast-paced, gripping thriller about two French cops, packed with action and suspense, that will give sensation-seekers a real buzz. And last but not least, The Finishers is the story of Julien, a wheelchair-bound teenager, who challenges his father to finish the Ironman triathlon with him – an inspirational sport drama that will have you cheering and crying in turns.
The festival will also feature a special tribute to Juliette Binoche, with the Singapore premiere of her most recent movie, Clouds of Sils Maria, also starring Kristen Stewart, which was officially selected to compete for the Palmes d’Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Known internationally for her roles in the movie The English Patient (1996) and Chocolat (2000), Binoche’s star power shines through once again for the festival’s debut of Clouds of Sils Maria in Singapore. The screening is in conjunction with the Singapore International Film Festival. Furthermore, 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema will present a Juliette Binoche Retrospective, with the screening of Summer Hours (L’heure d’été) and the documentary Juliette Binoche: Sketches for a portrait (Juliette Binoche dans les yeux), directed by her sister Marion Stalens.
Ahead of the Oscars, 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema will also feature France’s official selection for the Foreign Language Film category at next year’s Academy Awards – Saint Laurent directed by Bertrand Bonello. The film has received conflicted reviews, sparking up controversy for its depiction of the life and torments of designer Yves Saint Laurent (Gaspard Ulliel), his long-time business and life partner Pierre Bergé (Jeremie Renier), and his lover Jacques de Bascher (Louis Garrel). The film also competed for the Palme d’Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
A festival with something for all ages, 4th Rendezvous With French Cinema presents Beauty and the Beast (La belle et la bête) directed by Christophe Gans; and Nicholas on Holiday (Les vacances du Petit Nicolas) directed by Laurent Tirard. An adaptation from the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast is revived with visually lush computer-generated images and a striking visual style. Another classic story comes to life on your screens with Nicholas on Holiday, an adaptation from the all-time favourite series of books by illustrator Sempé and author Goscinny. These are films to be enjoyed by the whole family, right before the December school break. To further the fun, there will also be a Special Cine Kid at Alliance française.
Among the other films that will be shown during the festival, there will be Grand Central directed by Rebecca Zlotowski and starring Léa Seydoux; A Castle in Italy (Un château en Italie) directed by Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi (screening and Special Italian Evening in collaboration with the Italian Embassy); Jappeloup starring Guillaume Canet and Daniel Auteuil and directed by Christian Duguay; It Boy (20 ans d’écart) directed by David Moreau; Suzanne directed by Katell Quillévéré; Quai d’Orsay directed by Bertrand Tavernier and starring Thierry Lhermitte; and Diplomacy (Diplomatie), directed by Volker Schlöndorff and starring Niels Arestrup.
Outside of the official film selection, there will also be a special photo exhibition at the Alliance française de Singapour, Inside Cannes, a timeless black-and-white travel into the mesmerising atmosphere of the Cannes Film Festival. Cannes and its Croisette, the red carpet and its glitter, its beach and celebrities – all elements that have fuelled the dreams of movie lovers since the 1950’s are reunited. The photographer, Clotilde Richalet, is a regular of the Cannes Festival, as accredited photographer for the festival.
4th Rendezvous With French Cinema is supported by the Shaw Foundation and Total. It also has strong support from several French businesses in the local community. Luxury champagne house Piper-Heidsieck is on board as Official Champagne, Air France as Official Airline, and Christofle as Official Silversmith. Other sponsors include Raffles Hotel as Official Hotel; and TV5 Monde, France 24 and Heart Media as Official Media. It is also organised with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) together with the Singapore Film Society, and in conjunction with the Singapore International Film Festival.
4th Rendezvous With French Cinema will run from 28 November to 7 December. Tickets will be priced at $12 at the Shaw Lido ($11 for Singapore Film Society members); $12 at Alliance française ($11 for Alliance française and Singapore Film Society members); and $13 at the Cathay Cineplex ($12 for Singapore Film Society members). The festival’s film schedule and advance online booking will be made available to the public from 1 November. More ticketing and film programme details can be found at the website.
