Films d'Amour
The poetry which is inherent in other areas of French art - most notably literature - is carried through into the cinematic medium, through the combined talents of some of the greatest directors, writers and actors the world has known. Where else is the traditional love film so infinitely variable, treated with such depth and sensitivity, than in French cinema? From musical extravaganzas, to sophisticated romantic comedies, to tragic romantic dramas - the variety is remarkable and constantly surprising.
Here is just a selection of the great love films which French cinema has given us. Préparez vos mouchoirs...
Le Million (1931)
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The Marseilles Trilogy (1931)
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L'Atalante (1934)
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Mayerling (1936)
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Une partie de campagne (1936)
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La Règle du jeu (1939)
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Douce (1943)
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L'Éternel retour (1943)
History repeats itself, according to this updating of the classic Tristan and Isolda love story, written by Jean Cocteau. The melancholic cinematography and some great acting makes this a captivating and moving film.Read full review...
Les Enfants du paradis (1945)
Often cited as the greatest of French films, this spectacular romantic epic, a guarded symbol of defiance against the German Occupation, is the crowning glory of the fruitful Carné-Prévert partnership.Read full review...
La Belle et la bête (1946)
This masterpiece of fantasy realism, set in a surreal fairytale world has become the stuff of legends. It combines literary and visual poetry, making this one of the most distinctive and memorable of French films.Read full review...
L'Aigle à deux têtes (1948)
Political intrigue and 19th century romanticism form the basis for this haunting tale of love from one of France's greatest creative talents, Jean Cocteau. Edwige Feuillère and Jean Marais form an iconic screen couple.Read full review...
La Ronde (1950)
With the grace of a Vienese waltz, this film carries its audience through a series of dove-tailing love vignettes. With a wealth of acting talent, Ophüls conjures up one of his most entertaining and charming films.Read full review...
Casque d'or (1952)
With its realistic reconstruction of Paris of the 1900s and a legendary performance from Simone Signoret, Casque d'or has become one of the most emblematic and memorable French films of the 1950s.Read full review...
Les Amants (1958)
Louis Malle's lyrical tale of marital infidelity created a storm of controversy in the late 1950s for its explicit love scenes. A touching, atmospheric work, in which Jeanne Moreau is captivating.Read full review...
Hiroshima mon amour (1959)
The scars of the present reflect the unspeakable tragedy of the past, at both a personal and societal level in this remarkable debut film from Alain Resnais.Read full review...
Moderato cantabile (1960)
A frustrated housewife witnesses a murder and places herself in the power of s stranger to relive the same drama. A lyrical depiction of female obsession, scripted by Marguerite Duras.Read full review...
Jules et Jim (1962)
Truffaut's enduring masterpiece is a poignant love triangle which captures fully the director's humanity and morbid passion for life. A haunting and poetic portrayal of the folly of romantic love.Read full review...
Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964)
With the yearning music of Michel Legrand, Jacques Demy creates a fairytale world marked by ill-fate and melancholia. Arguably the best French film musical and one of the most memorable love films of all time.Read full review...
Un homme et une femme (1966)
Winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1966, this stylishly filmed romantic drama stars Jean-Louis Trintignant and Anouk Aimée. The ideal St Valentine's treat. And who can forget that music...?Read full review...
Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967)
Danielle Darrieux, Gene Kelly and the famous Dorléac sisters give their all in this ebullient musical romance set in a sugar-coated fantasy world. The ultimate feel-good movie.Read full review...
Baisers volés (1968)
For the third installment of his semi- autobiographical Antoine Doinel cycle, François Truffaut offers us this delightful portrait of young love. A tender, witty, ironic and utterly charming film.Read full review...
Les Deux Anglaises et le continent (1971)
Beautifully filmed, and featuring Jean-Pierre Léaud at his best, this tale of doomed love is one of François Truffaut's most poetic and intense films.Read full review...
La Dentellière (1977)
A poignant and closely observed study of a tragically doomed romance. A young Isabelle Huppert portrays the vulnerability and despair of a naive adolescent with heart-rending believability.Read full review...
L'Ami de mon amie (1987)
The final film in Rohmer's widely acclaimed Comédies et proverbes series is this beautifully filmed and engaging comedy romance about friendship, love and infidelity.Read full review...
La Fille de 15 ans (1989)
In this poignant drama, a middle-aged man (played by Doillon himself) is torn between his love for his son and his physical attraction for a teenage girl. A beautiful, poetic and insightful work.Read full review...
Monsieur Hire (1989)
By merging psychological thriller and comedy romance, Patrice Leconte creates one of his best films, a dark yet tender study in loneliness and desire.Read full review...
Trop belle pour toi (1989)
A man dumps his beautiful wife for his plain secretary. By defying the obvious stereotypes, Bertrand Blier gives us a film with great depth and meaning, in which he is marvellously served by a stunning cast.Read full review...
Le Mari de la coiffeuse (1990)
A dark but seductively compelling portrait of obsessive love between a hairdresser and her husband. Director Patrice Leconte perpetuates the tradition of poetic realism and bleak existentialism.Read full review...
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf (1991)
With its melange of hard-edged realism and glittery fairytale, this depicts a poignant love story involving two homeless people. The film has some remarkable visuals and features a stunning Juliette Binoche.Read full review...
Un coeur en hiver (1992)
Daniel Auteuil and Emmanuelle Béart star in this masterfully composed, sorrowful tale of unattainable love, from Claude Sautet.Read full review...
Le Parfum d'Yvonne (1994)
An exquisitely poignant and sensual portrait of ephemeral love from Patrice Leconte, the master of the erotic romantic drama.Read full review...
Trois couleurs: rouge (1994)
The third installment in Kieslowski's highly rated Three Colours cycle is surely the director's masterpiece, a captivating tale of repressed desire and impossible love, with eerie supernatural undercurrents.Read full review...
Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud (1995)
Sublime performances from Michel Serrault and Emmanuelle Béart makes this a compelling and infinitely subtle romantic drama.Read full review...
L'Appartement (1996)
This unusual blend of thriller and romance benefits greatly from some fine acting and some imaginative direction. A well-paced and captivating film where the audience is constantly surprised.Read full review...
Marius et Jeannette (1997)
Robert Guédiguian makes something magical out of this anodyne tale of love involving ordinary people in the deprived area of Marseilles. A sunny blend of social realism and fairytale romance.Read full review...
L'Ennui (1998)
In this disturbing and ironic film, Charles Berling gives a remarkable performance as a man in mid-life crisis who becomes addicted to a meaningless sexual liaison with a younger woman.Read full review...
Conte d'automne (1998)
The final film in Rohmer's "Four Seasons" cycle is both a melancholic and uplifting work, in which a middle-aged woman is subjected to the match-making tendencies of her well-meaning friends.Read full review...
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
This fairytale Parisian romance was a worldwide success, thanks to its surreal comic touches, distinctive photography and, most of all, Audrey Tautou. A magical film.Read full review...