At 17, Claire is torn between her swimming commitments and her first
love. Maurice Reverdy, a strange old man, welcomes her to his
mansion. But Claire assiduously avoids this distant figure who is none
other than her grandfather. Proud, rebellious and solitary, they
represent two generations that are both drawn to and repelled from one
another. Yet their two paths are intertwined, as one looks for a
future whilst the other is tormented by his past.
From its birth in 1895, cinema has been an essential part of French culture. Now it is one of the most dynamic, versatile and important of the arts in France.
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.
It was American film noir and pulp fiction that kick-started the craze for thrillers in 1950s France and made it one of the most popular and enduring genres.