Unfiltered by Ruben Östlund (theatrical release September 28)In this new enjoyable satire, this time in the world of the ultra-rich and luxury, the Swedish director follows the adventure of Yaya and Carl, a couple of models and influencers on vacation on a luxury cruise for a trip that will turn into disaster. In a kind of reverse Titanic, where the weakest are not necessarily the losers, the film dissects the springs of class: the rich against the poor, but also men against women, and whites against blacks. After Play ( 2011), Snow Therapy (2014) and The Square (2017), Ruben Östlund continues his meticulous dissection of social conventions, petty cowardice and other moral dilemmas in a radical feature film. Five years after his Palme d’Or received for The Square, the filmmaker was once again crowned with the supreme award at Cannes this year, awarded by a jury “extremely shocked by this film” and which once again divided the festival-goers. At the end of August, we also learned of the sudden death of Charlbi Dean, the main actress of the film, at the age of 32. Andrew Dominik’s Blonde (released on Netflix on September 28) This was the most anticipated film of the year on the platform and for good reason. In addition to the eventful adaptation of a dark and fictionalized biography of the life of Marilyn Monroe of nearly 800 pages in project for more than 10 years, the 2h45 film produced by Brad Pitt received an NC-17 classification. -rated in the United States. All the parameters were there to exalt expectations. The final result will certainly not extinguish the fire. A feel-bad film from start to finish, in the words of its director, Blonde is above all the story of a child that no one wanted and who became the most desired woman in the world. Through this intense, brutal and excessive work, Andrew Dominik takes us by all means into the emotional distress of the icon and gives us to see a new film with each shot.The Sixth Child by Léopold Legrand (theatrical release September 28 )Films about family and being a parent (or not) are popular right now. They might be bland, but it’s the other way around. Because, like the very beautiful The Children of Others by Rebecca Zlotowski, another feature deserves your full attention. The sixth child, a story bringing together a couple of travelers (Judith Chemla and Damien Bonnard), who are going to sell/offer a baby to a couple of lawyers (Sara Giraudeau, overwhelming, and Benjamin Lavernhe). These first ones already have five children and the others can’t manage to have any. Heartrending and crazy mature for a first feature, with a solid cast that will question your own morals, we hadn’t seen it coming, far from the clichés that some bad guys can still forge of what French cinema would be. Les Jeunes Loups by Marcel Carné (released in theaters on September 28) The name of Marcel Carné is rather associated with cinema of the 1930s and 1940s. To Jacques Prévert, of course, but also to cult films such as Children of Paradise, Quai des Mists, and Hôtel du Nord. We know less about his film career in the 1960s and 1970s and especially Les Jeunes Loups. And for good reason, the film, which was released a few days before May 1968, was censored (Carné rejected the film), massacred by the press for its themes of sexual freedom that were too far ahead of their time, and withdrawn from theaters very quickly. We can even say that it has been invisible, until today, since Malavida is bringing it back to the cinemas, in a restored version. A unique opportunity to see a rare piece, which proves that, contrary to what we may believe, the French cinema of the 1960s was not limited to the New Wave and approached the hippie question as across the Atlantic. L’Origine du mal by Sébastien Marnier (theatrical release on October 5) After Irréprochable and L’Heure of the release, the French director Sébastien Marnier returns with a new thriller in semi closed very effective, presented at the Venice Film Festival. In a large villa by the sea, a sort of luxurious cabinet of curiosities, Stéphane, a modest young woman (Laure Calamy) finds her father, unknown and very rich, surrounded by a strange unfriendly family: Louise, his whimsical wife (Dominique Blanc), George, his daughter and ambitious businesswoman (Doria Tillier), Jeanne, his granddaughter and rebellious teenager (Céleste Brunnquell) as well than a disturbing servant. It is immediately obvious that someone is lying but why, how and for what purpose, the well-crafted scenario prevents us from understanding the workings of the scheme until the last minute of the film. Served by impeccable actresses, we attend a game of Cluedo in Technicolor against the Adams family.Un beau matin by Mia Hansen-Løve (theatrical release on October 5)Presented in Cannes at the Quinzaine des Cinéastes and preselected to represent the France at the Oscars, the new film by Mia Hansen-Løve completes the gallery of heroines of all ages who populate the cinema of the French director. In Un beau matin, it is Sandra (Léa Seydoux), translator and single mother who divides her life between two men: her father, suffering from a neurodegenerative disease (moving Pascal Greggory) and her former friend and new lover, Clément, who is already married (the elegant Melvil Poupaud). The visits to the Ehpad are overwhelming, but the director lightens her story thanks to the light of this new passion. In this mirrored daily life between a father who gradually disappears behind illness and the love that is reborn thanks to a new lover, the viewer swings between an existence that is both banal but also brutal. November by Cédric Jimenez (theatrical release October 5) Let’s be realistic for two minutes: after Bac Nord and its controversies, anyone could have feared seeing a film on the investigation that followed the attacks of November 13 by the same filmmaker. If the film is far from perfect, it relates the facts with a fair enough modesty, while incorporating enough cinematography so that on paper, the story works. And that’s the case. Whether we like certain biases or not, the fact is that it’s an important film to see this end of the year. The Revenge of the Humanoids by Albert Barillé (released in theaters on October 12) You know the cult series Once upon a time life and all that followed. Did you know, however, that the creators also made a sci-fi movie in space? Yes, an animated film, from the 1980s, with a Star Wars atmosphere, with the characters dear to our hearts and completely forgotten, that Carlotta is releasing in theaters in a remastered version. What more do you need? Jack Mimoun and the secrets of Val Verde by Malik Bentalha and Ludovic Colbeau-Justin (theatrical release October 12) For his first film as a director, the former Jamel Comedy Club has chosen to tackle adventure films. To do this, he has put on the hypocrisy and fake panoply of a fake reality TV adventurer, who will give in to the charm of an ambitious young woman (Joséphine Japy) who has decided to hire him to find a treasure on a dangerous lost island. In their mission, they will be accompanied by Jack Mimoun’s shoddy manager (Jérôme Commandeur) and a persistent and conspiratorial pilot (François Damiens). Mimoun et les secrets de Val Verde is a serious comedy that pays a sincere tribute to adventure films, with a lot of humor but without outrageous parody. Its authors have been able to find the right balance and this is the pleasant surprise of this new school year. L’Innocent by Louis Garrel (theatrical release on October 12) With La Croisade, produced in 2021, Louis Garrel dipped a timid toe in the comedy. With The Innocent, presented in special screening at Cannes this year, he confidently plunges into the deep end and directs one of the best comedies of the year. register of comedy — Louis Garrel also takes on the main role, that of Abel, only son and desperate to see his mother marry for the third time with a man met in the prison where she teaches theater. The one who claims to have hung up the gloves of banditry will finally embark his son-in-law in a final robbery. The object of desire: a delivery of caviar. Perfectly paced and very funny, The Innocent also knows how to move people to tears thanks to a scene of rare emotional intensity and mastery.Le Petit Nicolas by Amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre (theatrical release October 12)The film what Sempé and Goscinny’s cult work deserved — we’re not saying that the live action adaptations aren’t up to par with the books, but hey, you get the idea. The sublime animation of the duo of filmmakers seeks to find Sempé’s true touch and the story combines the story of the creation of the famous character and the story of Little Nicolas. We see two geniuses in action, their friendship, we learn more about the life of the discreet Sempé, and much more. A small masterpiece, which marked the last edition of the Annecy Festival, for all ages. Bros by Nicholas Stoller (theatrical release on October 19) We owe Bros to a shocking trio, sold as the first gay romantic comedy intended for an adult audience and produced by a big Hollywood studio: the boss of American humor Judd Apatow is producing, Forgetting director Sarah Marshall is directing and Billy Eichner (American Horror Story) is writing the screenplay, who also takes on the lead role. The fruit of their collaboration is a success. Billy Eichner is Bobby Leiber, a podcaster who is offered the writing of a romantic comedy about a homosexual couple. In the background, another story emerges, a very real one of a gay and single adult of today, who tries to come to terms with love, sex and commitment in the age of Grindr. Moving away from the often tragic LGBTQ+ love stories, Bros knows how to be both funny and sweet, shows explicit yet realistic gay sex, and offers a happy ending that will delight lovers of love.Medusa by Sophie Levy ( theatrical release October 26) It is always fascinating to watch first feature films. A first film is rarely perfect, but there is always a disconcerting sincerity about it — after all, when you make a film, you never know if you’ll make another one and you’re betting everything on it. This is the case of Méduse, a fairly simple story of two sisters, one of whom is hemiplegic and mute following a car accident, and her boyfriend who will get closer to the second. A story of jealousy, love, desire to get out of his cocoon, which impresses in many ways. The Escaped: The Strange Case Carlos Ghosn (on Netflix October 26) The story of the escape of the former boss of Renault-Nissan, accused of abusing social assets (among other things), who left Japan for Lebanon traveling in a suitcase (!), well deserved a Netflix documentary. Even if we fear that the scoundrel is presented as a gentleman, the fact remains that this news item which had caused a lot of talk at the time – three years ago, no more – is quite crazy. So we can’t wait and you should too. Wendell and Wild by Henry Selick (on Netflix October 28) The father of The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach or even Caroline, Master of Animation stop-motion, back, at Netflix, with a screenplay co-signed by Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us, Nope)? It’s a big yes.
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