At the time of the Directoire in the last few years of the 18th
century, the royalists are plotting to organise the escape of the
Dauphin from revolutionary France. A fashion merchant,
Paméla, will become actively involved in the plot, whilst the
Vicomte de Barras turns a blind eye.
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.
A wave of fresh talent in the late 1950s, early 1960s brought about a dramatic renaissance in French cinema, placing the auteur at the core of France's 7th art.
From Jean Renoir to François Truffaut, French cinema has no shortage of truly great filmmakers, each bringing a unique approach to the art of filmmaking.
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.