Charcot's interventions with Augustine run the gamut -- from gentle, sensuous spoon-feedings to physical torture using a device of his own invention, known as the ovary compressor.

Some day there will probably be an American version of this story. We can only hope that the magic of this story of hope can be captured. For now the original is my choice for best film of the year.

People know that I have a great love for cinema. Not just for commercial cinema, but for the "cinema d'auteur." But to me, two of the great "auteurs" are actually actors and they both happen to be French.

Suffice to say, with Jean Dujardin winning the Oscar for his role in The Artist, all eyes are on France now; will they be able to repeat that success with films crossing the pond this year, like Cloclo and The Intouchables

If you can't take advantage of the festival's NYC-based screenings, many of these films have a good shot at being picked up for U.S. theatrical and online distribution.

What if the woman you loved was suddenly at the mercy of a sadistic band of criminals? Check out Fred Cavayé's adrenaline-fueled thrill ride through the streets and subways of Paris.

Outside the Law is a clever, well-balanced hybrid: part political thriller, part historical polemic, and part gangster movie.

For those younger readers unfamiliar with him, how best to summarize this actor? Well, let's put it this way: in terms of authentic heartthrobs, before there was Johnny Depp, there was Alain Delon.

"In France in particular... the way women are perceived is not that once you're past 40, you're past IT. But on the contrary, experience is very attractive, and we like seeing a woman with lines."

With theaters offering no new genre films this weekend, The Cinefantastique Podcast turns its gaze back through the mists of time to a 50th anniversary examination of Eyes Without a Face.

Mademoiselle Chambon is just about as perfect as a film can be. In some fashion it reminded me of the 1945 British film, Brief Encounter, in terms of...

The reported death of the serious, small drama -- the kind of things that major studios used to do before opening-weekend grosses became all-important...

This sort of pleonasm is the signature of Shall We Kiss, but there is no charm to this excess, and it feels almost indecent to watch something so haplessly try for a high quirk cache.

Although film awards are given in France, there is no such thing as "awards season." "Season" in France applies to fruit, vegetables, truffles and the prospect of shooting and eating small animals.