At 60, Nolan Mack's life is settled but somewhat lacking in passion.
He performs his job in a bank capably and he awaits his imminent promotion
with some indifference. His home life is equally tepid. Although
he loves his wife Joy, they no longer sleep together. One evening,
whilst wandering the streets after visiting his dying father in hospital,
he meets Leo, a gay prostitute. Nolan finds himself strangely
drawn to the younger man, who has been badly maltreated by his pimp, and
through the encounter he begins to find a new zest for living. Joy
notices the change in her husband's behaviour and soon becomes concerned...
In the 1940s, the shadowy, skewed visual style of 1920s German expressionism was taken up by directors of American thrillers and psychological dramas, creating that distinctive film noir look.
With so many great films to choose from, it's nigh on impossible to compile a short-list of the best 15 French films of all time - but here's our feeble attempt to do just that.