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The 2003 festival
opened with two rare silent films from Alice Guy Blaché,
the world’s first – and largely forgotten –
woman director, and George Mélies’ classic fantasy,
A Trip to the Moon, all with live accompaniment by
pianist Patrick Miller.
More tweaks to the social order come from Beaumarchais:
The Scoundrel (intrigue in the court of Louis XV), Jean
Renoir’s masterful dissection of the French caste system,
The Rules of the Game, and cross-dressing in the
suburbs (Ma Vie en Rose)…to name but a few!
The exciting closing night show was a new Québecois
film that won Best First Film at the Toronto Film Festival.
It was the Connecticut Premiere of The Left Side of the
Fridge, a wickedly funny “mocumentary” on
a two young roommates staying afloat in a downwardly-mobile
economy, directed by Philippe Falardeau.
April in Paris 2003 film list :
A House Divided
and Matrimony's Speed Limit (France, 1913). Two short
films written and directed by Alice Guy Blaché and
A Trip to The Moon (Voyage Dans la Lune, France,
1902) Written and directed by Georges Méliès,
based on the book by Jules Verne. All three short films
were accompanied by pianist Patrick Miller, and followed
by an opening reception.
Amelie (Le
Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, France, 2001)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
Marius et Jeannette
(France, 1997, 105 min) Written and directed by Robert Guediguian.
The Closet (Le
Placard, France, 2001) Written and directed by Francis
Veber.
Beaumarchais: The Scoundrel
(Beaumarchais, l’insolent, France, 1997, 100
min) Written and directed by Edouard Molinaro.
My Life in Pink
(Ma Vie en Rose, Belgium, 1997) Director: Alan Berliner.
Screenplay by Berliner and Chris Vander Stappen.
La Bûche
(France, 1999) Written and directed by Daniele Thompson.
Delicatessen
(France, 1989) Directed by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierrre Jeunet.
The Rules of the Game
(La Règle du Jeu, France, 1939) Directed by
Jean Renoir.
The Left Side of the
Fridge (La Moitié Gauche du Frigo, Canada,
2003) Written and directed by Philippe Falardeau.
*** Best First Film, Toronto Film Festival. Best Feature
Film, Quebec Cinema Critics Association ****
current festival
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