EDITOR’S NOTE: I made this list in 2010. I updated the list in 2011. The updated list is more complete and puts far less emphasis on personal preference. The new and improved version can be found here.
On the cusp of Bastille Day, and with such a rich history of French cinema, I felt that it was only fitting to create a list of the 50 best French films. Initially, I’d planned on simply listing them in no particular order. However, mon ami, I eventually determined that it wouldn’t be fair to not put forth the extra effort. They’re now listed at least in order of personal preference, with some weight given to overall quality. In other words, there are likely more influential films or higher quality films further down the list. But their higher quality doesn’t overcome my overall enjoyment of the other films higher up on the list.
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Filed under Foreign Film, French Film
Tagged as 400 Blows, A Man Escaped, A Woman is a Woman, Alain Resnais, Army of Shadows, Au Revoir les Enfants, Belle de Jour, Bob le Flambeur, Breathless, Children of Paradise, Contempt, Danton, Delicatessen, Diary of a Country Priest, Drole de Drame, Elevator to the Gallows, Eyes Without a Face, Film, Forbidden Games, Gervaise, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Jean Cocteau, Jean de Florette, Jules et Jim, L'Age D'Or, La Haine, Lacombe Lucien, Last Year at Marienbad, Le Corbeau, Le Jour Se Leve, Le Samourai, Les Diaboliques, Louis Malle, Luis Bunuel, M. Hulot's Holiday, Manon des Sources, Marcel Carné, Mon Oncle, Mouchette, Movies, Murmur of the Heart, Night and Fog, Orphic Trilogy, Phantom of Liberty, Place de la Republique, Play Time, Port of Shadows, Rififi, Sorrow and the Pity, The Battle of Algiers, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The Fire Within, The Passion of Joan of Arc, The Piano Teacher, Un Chien Andalou, Vampyr, Wages of Fear, Weekend