French Films For Rainy Days

August 7, 2012
By: Kelsi Farrington

Being a student, we all love our lazy days. Being a woman, many of us will have no shame in admitting we love cheesy films perfect for rainy days stuck indoors beneath the safety of our duvets. Kelsi Farrington shares with you the perfect films for such days to come.

If you have a definite love for subtitled films (particularly French) and good-looking men (particularly bearded ones) spend the rainy days soaking up some good, heart-melting chick flicks. Hunting and Gathering/Ensemble, c’est tout (2007) is a French subtitled love-story and features two of France’s successful faces in the film industry. The nice, quiet girl is played by the stunning Audrey Tautou (Amelie and Coco Before Chanel) who tames the ‘gruff’, hard-man played by the gorgeous Guillame Canet (Love Me If You Dare). From the get-go, boy hates girl and vice versa making it not the usual ‘boy meets girl’ plot. Like a bird with a broken wing, an ill Camille (Tautou) is taken in by Franck’s (Canet) flatmate, much to his disproval. Throughout the entirety of the film, each character is given help by the other when at last these two realise they need each other more than expected and become what the pair have been searching for in order to heal their troubled selves.

Tautou’s tomboyish short hair, fragile features and slight frame makes her the unlikely love interest of such a burly character paired with her phobias of attachment and his unsteady and irate attitude towards life and commitment . They come head-to-head quite often before the love sparks begin but it’s never uncomfortable for the audience because you can see what will happen way before they do.

What made Ensemble, c’est tout such an enjoyable film is that it starred characters who have a definite and believable chemistry with no annoying cliches or cliffhangers. The chemistry may have been heightened by Guillame’s charm which is very difficult to ignore but also how the plot was easy to follow and pleasantly formulated all around and the suspense was not as overpowering as the next film recommended to watch: Last Night (2010).

Last Night, has the essential elements once again for a good, rainy day film. Any movie with Kiera Knightley starring will usually be a period drama which is why this film makes a refreshing change not just for fans of the English actress, but a second chance for those who usual avoid her films. You will find that in Last Night she makes a very down to earth freelance journalist who prefers jogging bottoms and hoodies to corsets and girdles. Set in New York, Knightely is married to her college-love, Michael who is played by Sam Worthington (Avatar). ‘Happily’ was purposefully not mentioned because their relationship is more strenuous than anything but not entirely disastrous. They work but the spark is definitely missing.

The plot is simple- the married couple, Joanna (Knightley) and Michael have an argument the night before he’s due to go on a business trip. We know as the audience that based on Michael’s accused attraction to co-worker Laura (played by Eva Mendes, Hitch) the plot has already been spelt out for us. Joanna, on the same day of Michael’s departure, bumps into her very attractive ex-flame – Alex played (yet again) by Guillaume Canet. He manages to look even more gorgeous a few years older and with the film being subtitle free, there’s less distraction! How Kiera reacts to her French ex is similar to how you would imagine, having just popped out for a coffee with the argument still fresh in her mind.

You can roughly guess what happens throughout the film but don’t ruin it for yourself. Just take it as it is: a film with two likeable characters and two not so likeable. So just sit back and enjoy the similarly realistic connection between Alex and Joanna with Guillaume’s role this time being less angry and more charming. He becomes the perfect ‘wish it was you not him’ character and if you didn’t fall in love with him in Ensemble, c’est tout then his relaxed demeanour and straight to the point lines will definitely sell it to you.

The film does have its down points though and does have quite the opposite effect that the previous film did with cheesy cliches and annoying cliffhangers. Nonetheless, both films are recommended to be watched on the rainy days to come so grab your duvet, your favourite fluffy socks and even some ice-cream if you’re feeling like being Bridget Jones for the day.

You can rent or buy both films on iTunes.