10e Chambre — Instants d'audience (10th District Court) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2004 Raymond Depardon documentary film; real-life moments of courtroom drama in the 10th arrondissement of Paris; Over the course of several days, varied cases come before Judge Michèle Bernard-Requin. This film gives an insider’s perspective on the French judicial system, but also on truth, guilt, and human nature; in French with optional English subtitles; 1 hour 47 minutes.

18 ans après Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2003 Coline Serreau comedy; Eighteen years later, the cast of Trois hommes et un couffin reunite. Marie, now a teenager, passes her baccalaureate exam and leaves her three fathers in Paris to spend the summer in the south of France with her mother Sylvie…and Sylvie’s husband and two adopted sons. Jacques, Michel, and Pierre struggle with letting go of their little girl and soon also meet up with the rest of the family in the south. One giant patchwork-family vacation leads to many lessons learned for all; in French with optional French captioning and English subtitles; 1 hour 30 minutes.

24 heures de la vie d'une femme Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2002 Laurent Bouhnik drama; Louis, a retired diplomat, returns to the French Riviera to rediscover the setting of a troubling moment of his adolescence. A chance encounter with the young Olivia unlocks his memories of his mother and the tales of a mysterious widow. The three layers of this story recount the passionate moments of 24 exceptional hours in the lives of three different women; in French, no subtitles; 1 hour 45 minutes.

À votre tour! 2nd Edition (FR 1.088) Region 1 (NTSC). DVD to accompany À votre tour!. 2nd Edition textbook by Jean-Paul Valette and Rebecca M. Valette (c. 2007 Houghton Mifflin Company). Captioned for the Hearing Impaired.

Abouna (Our Father) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2002 film directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. After Tahir and Amine's father abandons their mother for no apparent reason, the two leave their village in the Republic of Chad and head toward Cameroon to search for him. Entering a local movie theater, they are astonished to see what appears to be their father in the film. The two decide to steal the reel of film to examine it, and are later caught and sent to a strict Koran school to learn discipline. Extremely unhappy in their new school, Amine and Tahir are determined to escape and continue their search. This is a powerful and unpredictable drama from the award-wining director of Bye-Bye Africa. Available extras include: interview with director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun; two film shorts by Haroun, Goï Goï and B 400; original theatrical trailer; liner notes by film critic Phil Hall (Film Threat, Wired Magazine). In Chad Arabic and French, with optional English subtitles. 1 hour 24 minutes.

L'affaire DominiciRegion 2 (PAL) DVD of 2003 Pierre Boutron crime film based on a true story; In the summer of 1952, a family of English tourists is murdered in a rural village in the south of France. Police Commissioner Sébeille arrives to investigate the crime. With the help of public opinion as manipulated by the press, Sébeille succeeds in bringing to trial Gaston Dominici, the 75-year-old farmer on whose land the murders took place. One journalist, however, is convinced that the police don’t have the right man; in French with optional French captioning; Part One, 1 hour 35 minutes; Part Two, 1 hour 45 minutes.

L'amant (The Lover) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 1992 Jean-Jacques Annaud drama. Set in 1920s French Indochina, this film explores race and class in this colonial society through the relationship of a young French girl from a poor family (Jane March) and her Chinese aristocrat lover (Tony Leung Ka Fai). The pair struggles not only with the limitations placed on them by society and by their families, but with the boundaries of their own feelings for each other. Is their relationship founded solely on physical attraction or a deeper love? Based on Marguerite Duras’ autobiographical novel of the same title, which won the Prix Goncourt in 1984. In French or English with optional English, French or Spanish subtitles; 1 hour 55 minutes.

Les amants du Pont-Neuf Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 1991 Léo Carax romance starring Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant; Michèle, a young artist living on the street, is losing her sight. She has a chance encounter one evening with Alex, a Parisian vagrant. Both homeless, they make a life together on the Pont-Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, which has been closed for renovation. When people from Michèle’s former life try to find her, will Alex’s possessiveness allow him to give her up?; in French, no subtitles; 2 hours.

Les amants réguliers Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2005 Philippe Garrel drama starring Louis Garrel and Clotilde Hesme. François, a 20 year-old poet, participates in the student demonstrations in Paris in 1968. In the aftermath of their failed revolution, he and his artist friends live an empty existence. That’s when François meets the sculptor Lilie, and they attempt to navigate what a relationship means in the post-68 world; second DVD in set includes additional shorter films/presentations: (1) Zanzibar, a 26-minute documentary by Jackie Raynal about the artistic movement Zanzibar that began cerca May 1968; (2) 6 Cinématons (21 mins.) by Gérard Courant highlighting the works of Zanzibar film directors Philippe Garrel, Daniel Pommereulle, Jackie Raynal, Patrick Deval, Frédéric Pardo, and Serge Bard; (3) 33-minute film Vite by Daniel Pommereulle; (4) Festival de Venise — press conference and interviews with Clotilde Hesme and Louis Garrel; in French, no subtitles; 3 hours.

Amélie Region 1 (NTSC) DVD (2 discs) of 2001 Jean-Pierre Jeunet film featuring Audrey Tautou as Amélie and Mathieu Kassovitz as Nino Quincampoix; story of a naive young waitress who sees the beauty in simple things and goes on a quest to bring happiness to others, all the while making her own way to happiness through imagination, creativity and innocence; a lighthearted, romantic tale of fate, love, and the importance of seizing life's moments; in French with option of English or Spanish subtitles ; scene selections option available; bonus disc includes: Look of Amélie (featurette in English), Q&A with Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and cast, cast and crew filmographies, Fantasies of Audrey Tautou, audition footage of Audrey Tautou, Urbain Cancelier and Yolande Moreau, Inside the Making of Amélie (home movie), Amélie Scrapbook (behind the scenes photos), storyboards, theatrical trailers, French and American TV spots ; film = 2 hours.

L'Anglaise et le duc (The Lady and the Duke) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD, 2002. Directed by Eric Rohmer. This film, from the true-life diary entries of Lady Grace Elliott, the Scottish ex-mistress of both George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV) and Phillipe, the Duke of Orleans and cousin of King Louis XVI. Much of the film consists of conversations between the two main characters, marking milestones in their philosophical and passionate relationship. Although their friendship is tested by the events of the French Revolution and the "Reign of Terror", and despite the fact that Elliott is a dedicated royalist — devoted to the King and Queen — and the Duke is a radical revolutionary, the two remain committed to each other. Chosen by "Les Cahiers du Cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2001. In French with optional English or Spanish subtitles. Available extras include theatrical trailers, widescreen presentation, interactive menus, and scene selections. 2 hours 9 minutes.

L'antidote Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2005 Vincent de Brus comedy starring Christian Clavier and Jacques Villeret. Jacques-Alain is the head of a major corporation that is about to close an important business deal. With the stress of his job, he starts having strange anxiety episodes, leaving him incapable of speaking properly. His psychiatrist tells him he is bothered by a childhood incident, and needs to search for his “antidote” – an object that will counteract the repressed memory that is bothering him. When Jacques-Alain discovers that only André’s presence can calm him, he must drag the awkward accountant along with him as he tries to close the deal despite cutthroat competition; in French with optional French captioning; 1 hour 44 minutes.

Après Vous (After You) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2005 Pierre Salvadori film. Late for dinner with his girlfriend, Antoine Letoux cuts through a deserted park and stumbles upon a man attempting to kill himself. The kind-hearted and always solicitous Antoine brings Louis home to his apartment and decides he will help Louis straighten out his life. Antoine begins by finagling Louis a job as sommelier at the upscale restaurant where he is headwaiter, despite Louis's neurotic anxieties that render him nearly incapable of human interaction. Learning of the woman who sent Louis spiraling into depression after she broke off their love affair, Antoine sets out to reunite his new friend with Blanche. Soon, however, Antoine finds himself deeply conflicted as he too begins to fall for Blanche, a lovely girl who works in a flower shop. The film's comedic impact grows as Louis gains confidence and Antoine becomes increasingly unhinged. Amidst the three characters' bumbling intrigues, director Pierre Salvadori finds a charming and hilarious tale of love and friendship gone slightly awry. Film veteran Daniel Auteuil stars as Antoine Letoux, with José Garcia as the obsessive lover Louis and Sandrine Kiberlain as Blanche. In French with on-screen English subtitles. 1 hour 50 minutes.

Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2002 Alain Chabat comedic adventure starring Gérard Depardieu. Christian Clavier and Monica Bellucci; Goofy live-action comedy based on the classic French comic book series. Cleopatra (Monica Bellucci) charges the architect Numérobis (Jamel Debbouze) with the task of building a palace for Julius Caesar in three months, to prove the talents of the Egyptian people. Faced with this impossible task, Numérobis journeys north to Gaul to fetch the only people who can help him: his friends Astérix (Christian Clavier), Obélix (Gérard Depardieu), and Panoramix (Claude Rich). This unconventional gang of heroes must race against the clock (well, hourglass) and overcome the sabotage efforts of Numérobis’s jealous rival. Will they finish the palace in time to please the queen Cleopatra? in French with optional French captioning; 1 hour 44 minutes.

Au Petit Marguery (At Le Petit Marguery) Region 2 (PAL) DVD Directed by Laurent Bénégui. Chef Hyppolyte and his wife Joséphine have run the Petit Marguery happily for 26 years. It looked as they would run the place well into their old age, until Hyppolyte was diagnosed with olfactory cancer. Tomorrow they close the restaurant forever. But before they leave their home, they have gathered their family and friends for one last dinner to share delicious food and delightful memories. French with optional English subtitles. 1 hour 35 minutes.

Au revoir les enfants (Goodbye, Children) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 1987 Louis Malle film; During World War II, Julien Quentin attends a Catholic boarding school for boys in rural France, where his mother hopes he will be safe from the realities of the German occupation of Paris. The boys must still deal with many of the harsh realities of wartime France from rationing of food and heating oil to tense encounters with the Nazi occupying forces. A mysterious new student arrives at the school that the boys immediately label as different. Julien’s reluctant friendship with this new boy eventually teaches him a powerful lesson in tolerance. In French with optional English subtitles; 1 hour 41 minutes.

L'auberge espagnole (The Spanish Apartment) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2003 Cédric Klapisch film featuring Audrey Tautou as Martine and Romain Duris as Xavier; Xavier, a French college senior, realizes that a job in economics requires fluency in Spanish. In order to become a better candidate for the job, he decides to leave behind his mother and girlfriend Martine and spend a year studying in Spain. Finding lodging in a Barcelona apartment with students from all over Europe, Xavier learns more than he had planned about life, love, friendship, and fun; French and Spanish audiotracks; option of English or Spanish subtitles and full- or wide-screen format; 2 hours 2 minutes.

Les aventures de Rabbi Jacob (The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 1973 Gérard Oury comedy starring Louis de Funès. The story of an extremely close-minded man caught up in an international espionage adventure. Jacob Plivert is forced to confront the stereotypes he lives with as he pretends to be a rabbi to escape from the clutches of international thugs. In French with on-screen English subtitles; 1 hour 40 minutes.

Betty Fisher et autres histoires (Alias Betty) Region 1 (NTSC). Directed by Claude Miller. 2001. After Betty Fisher (Sandrine Kiberlain) loses her son to an accident, her mentally unstable mother (Nicole Garcia) kidnaps a similar-looking boy from a poor neighborhood of Paris, setting in motion a variety of stories involving the kidnapped boy's mother (a promiscuous woman who doesn't particularly miss the child), her boyfriend (a man who becomes the prime suspect in the investigation), the kidnapped boy's possible father (a gigolo whose current lover cuts off his funds), and Betty's ex-husband (a writer who tries to blackmail Betty into resuming their relationship). A fascinating psychological thriller. In French with optional English subtitles. Available extras include the making of the featurette, theatrical trailer, filmographies, weblinks, and French film trailer gallery. 1 hour, 41 minutes.

Biguine Region 2 (PAL) DVD; 2005 Guy Deslauriers and Patrick Chamoiseau film; A colorful, sonorous journey to 19th-century Martinique. Hermansia and Tiquitaque leave behind work in the sugar plantations and come to the city of St-Pierre to make their living as musicians, bringing with them the traditional songs and instruments of Martinique’s rural black communities. Though the couple is enamored by the city at first, St-Pierre is reluctant to return the affection. Unfamiliar with the European instruments and music styles in demand, Hermansia and Tiquitaque cannot find employment as musicians and are forced to take domestic work to survive. But Hermansia’s gift of a clarinet to Tiquitaque will change not only their own fate, but the sound of Martinique’s music forever. In French and Creole with optional English subtitles; 1 hour 30 minutes.

Bon voyage Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2003 Jean-Paul Rappeneau romance, set in World War II Paris, starring Isabelle Adjani and Gérard Depardieu. With the Nazis set to invade Paris in June 1940, the population of the city desperately flees south by train, car, foot, or any way possible. Among the various refugees are film actress Vivianne (Isabelle Adjani) and her lover (Gérard Depardieu), a minister in the French government; her former sweetheart (Grégori Derangère), who has taken the blame for a murder she committed and now escaped from prison; a young physics student (Virginie Ledoyen) and her professor, who are trying to preserve a vital scientific discovery from the invading enemy. These characters and others cross paths in Bordeaux on their way to the relative safety of southern France in this complex and often comic tale. In French with optional English, Portuguese or Spanish subtitles; 1 hour 55 minutes.

Bon voyage — Édition Collector 2 DVD Region 2 (PAL) DVDs of 2003 Jean-Paul Rappeneau romance, set in World War II Paris, starring Isabelle Adjani and Gérard Depardieu; Disc 2 features: “La double vie de Jean-Paul Rappeneau” (making of), interviews with the film's actors, Jean-Paul Rappeneau’s commentary on special effects, filmography of Jean-Paul Rappeneau; in French with optional French captioning; film = 1 hour 54 minutes.

Caché (Hidden) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2005 award-winning (Cannes 2005 Best Director) Michael Haneke psychological thriller starring Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche; Georges, a well-known literary talk-show host, begins to receive anonymous violent sketches and surveillance tapes of himself and his family. With the police unwilling to open an investigation, as the mysterious packages present no direct threat, Georges is left on his own. His stalker’s increasingly manipulative messages lead Georges down a dark, disturbing path to recall forgotten childhood events that put into question his friendships, his family relationships, and his own character; in French with optional English or Spanish subtitles; 1 hour 58 minutes.

Camille Claudel Region 1 DVD (NTSC);1989. Directed by Bruno Nuytten, this film tells the tragic story of Camille Claudel, sister of acclaimed poet and diplomat Paul Claudel and mistress of sculptor Auguste Rodin. Born into a wealthy family, Claudel is drawn to artistic endeavors even as a child. After graduating from art school in Paris, she impresses Rodin with her aptitude for sculpting the human form. She becomes his apprentice and then his lover. Their volatile relationship is made more troubled by Rodin's commitment to his wife and his artistic celebrity. As her affair with Rodin deteriorates, Claudel's work suffers and her behavior grows erratic. Alienated from family, friends, and Rodin, she descends into self-destruction, chaos, and eventually madness. She dies in 1943, after thirty years of involuntary residency at a mental institution, during which time she has few visitors. Camille Claudel is played by Isabelle Adjani, with Gérard Depardieu in the role of Auguste Rodin. In French with optional English, French, and Spanish subtitles. 2 hours 39 minutes.

Ces jours qui ont changé LE MONDE: L'Attaque de Pearl Harbor Region 2 (PAL) DVD of BBC – LE MONDE 2006 documentary about the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941; audio available in French or English, no subtitles; 50 minutes.

La chambre des officiers Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2001 François Dupeyron World War I drama. Adrien, a handsome young officer, has a brief but passionate affair with a woman named Clémence the day before he leaves for the front. Once the war begins, he suffers a severely disfiguring injury, and throughout his recovery and rehabilitation in a special hospital for facial injuries, thoughts of Clémence fill his mind. Adrien and the other officers in the same hospital ward struggle with not only their physical injuries but with the social and psychological difficulties of returning from the war front, barely recognizable to their families; in French with optional French captioning; 2 hours 8 minutes.

Les chansons d'amour (Love Songs) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2007 Christophe Honoré musical film; touching story of love and complex relationships in Paris: Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) and Ismaël (Louis Garrel) are a loving if troubled couple in a long-term relationship. When Julie dies suddenly, her boyfriend, close friends, and family struggle to cope with their loss as best they can. Through emotional musical dialogue, Ismaël ponders how and if he can move on with his life; in French with English subtitles; 1 hour 35 minutes.

Chaos Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2001 film by Coline Serreau featuring Rachida Brakni as Noémie, Catherine Frot as Hélène, and Vincent Lindon as Paul. After witnessing a brutal attack on a prostitute (Noémie) and failing to help, Hélène, a bourgeois housewife, is driven by guilt to nurse the younger woman back to health. She learns that Noémie had fled an arranged marriage to a much older Algerian man and, unable to return to her family, lived on the streets of Marseille. Then, seduced by kind words and the promise of food, Noémie was kidnapped by a pimp and turned into a drug addict and sex slave. When Hélène learns of the horrific abuse Noémie has suffered at the hands of the criminal organization to which she is bound, Hélène vows to help her escape. In the process, Hélène is forced to confront her own male oppressors — the husband and son who regard her as no more than a servant and exhibit an appalling disrespect for all the women in their lives. By turns shocking, thrilling, and comedic, the film explores the modern problems of race, class, gender, and religion in a manner that is both unapologetic and unsettling. In the film's dénouement, Hélène conspires with Noémie in a bid to win Noémie's freedom and exact revenge; the result is at once satisfying and disturbing. Rachida Brakni won a César and a Lumière award for Most Promising Young Actress for her work in "Chaos." In French with option of English subtitles. DVD special features include: original theatrical trailer and individual scene selections. 1 hour 49 minutes.

Charles Munch Conducts...Berlioz, Debussy, and Ravel, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Region 0 DVD. WGBH/Video Artists International. Filming of live BSO performance from Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, April 17, 1962. Charles Munch conducts Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14a; Debussy's La Mer; Ravel's Daphnis et Chloë, Suite No. 2. Black & white, 1 hour 36 minutes.

Le Chemin du retour (FR 1.087) Film to accompany elementary-level French textbook Débuts, 2nd edition, by Siskin, Williams, and Field (c. 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.).
Instructional Version: 3 Region 1 (NTSC) DVDs
Director's Cut: 1 Region 1 (NTSC) DVD. Approx. 1 hour 42 minutes.

Les choristes (The Chorus) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD, 2004. Directed by Christophe Barraier with Jean-Paul Bonnaire, Marie Bunel and Jean-Baptiste Maunier. This film is a sentimental tale that follows the arrival of a new Prefect at the remote Fond de l'Etang boarding school in 1949 France. Clement Mathieu is a lonely, middle-aged, and frustrated musician. Things at the school do not start off well, due to the fact that the students don't respect him, and also because he does not agree with the director's "action-reaction" educational methods. However, one day Mathieu decides to introduce choral singing as a way to bridge the gap with his students. With his daily lessons, Mathieu begins to build a strong bond with his students, winning their trust as well as teaching them the wisdom of music. Nominated for Academy Awards in both the Foreign Language Film and Best Song categories. In French with option of English or Spanish subtitles. Scene selections available. 97 minutes.

Comme une image (Look At Me) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2004 Agnès Jaoui comedic drama starring Marilou Berry, Jean-Pierre Bacri, and Agnès Jaoui. Lolita is a gifted young music student with a beautiful singing voice. Her own artistic talents hide in the shadows of her father’s, however. As the daughter of a celebrated writer, Lolita is used to friendships and relationships with people who only use her to get closer to Étienne. Étienne himself is ignorant of the talent his own daughter possesses, and is too busy to listen to her sing. Tensions rise in the family until the night of Lolita’s concert with school friends, when she realizes whom she can truly count on. In French with optional English or Spanish subtitles; 1 hour 51 minutes.

Comme un juif en France Region 2 (PAL) 2-DVD set of 2007 films by Yves Jeuland. Disc 1 includes a two-part documentary outlining the experience of Jews in France beginning with the Dreyfus Affair at the end of the 19th century, up to recent episodes of anti-semitism in France in the 2000s, plus a collection of original photographs and footage, along with commentaries from historians and witnesses; Disc 2 contains a variety of short documentaries; in French, no subtitles; De l'Affaire Dreyfus à Vichy: 1 hour 13 minutes; De la Libération à nos jours : 1 hour 52 minutes; Bonus material from Disc 2: 2 hours 55 minutes.

Un couple épatant/Cavale/Après la vie Region 2 (PAL) DVD. Directed by Lucas Belvaux, this trilogy takes three dramatically different perspectives on the same few days. One film's lead character may become a secondary character in another film, so as you complete the trilogy, you come to understand each of the character and their motivations more clearly. Each movie unveils another layer of narrative and psychological depth. Un Couple Épatant focuses on a hypochondriac and his suspicious wife, and the chaos that results from their miscommunication. Cavale is a thriller that follows the path of a fiery revolutionary ready to wage war against the system after 15 years in prison. Finally, Après La Vie is a melodrama about a less-than-scrupulous police officer and his drug-addicted wife. All are in French with optional English, Dutch and French subtitles. Un Couple Épatant: 1 hour 37 minutes. Cavale: 1 hour 49 minutes. Après La Vie: 2 hours 3 minutes.

Le dernier métro (The Last Metro) Region 1 (NTSC) Criterion Collection 2-DVD set of 1980 César Award-winning film by François Truffaut starring Gérard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve; in French with optional English subtitles; 2 hours 11 minutes.

Dialogue avec mon jardinier (Conversations with My Gardener) Region 0 (PAL) DVD. 2007 Jean Becker film based on the memoirs of painter Henri Cueco; A Parisian artist (Daniel Auteuil) returns to his childhood home in rural France to restore his deceased parents' home. An old friend (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) turns up in response to his advertisement for a gardener, and their boyhood friendship picks up after its decades-long hiatus. Through their conversations about life, love, and the occasional reminiscence of their schoolday pranks, both painter and gardener gain different perspectives from each other on life, art, and land; in French with on-screen English subtitles; 1 hour 46 minutes.

L'enfant sauvage (The Wild Child) Region 1 (NTSC) black & white DVD of 1970 François Truffaut film based on the real journal entries and medical observations surrounding the “Wild Boy of Aveyron”; At the end of the 1700s, a young boy of 11 or 12 is found alone in a forest in the Aveyron region of France. Fending for himself, far from any contact with human civilization, the boy is wild and completely incapable of communication. Doctor Itard is intrigued by the case when he reads of it in the newspaper, and takes it upon himself to teach the boy how to function in the world; in French with the option of English, French, or Spanish subtitles; 1 hour 25 minutes.

Les Enfants de Chabannes (The Children of Chabannes) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD. 1999. Documentary film by directors Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell. Story of how the people of Chabannes, a tiny village in unoccupied France, saved the lives of 400 Jewish refugee children during WWII. Features interviews with two of the 400 children (Gossels' father and uncle) and accounts by the teachers who taught these children. In French and English. 1 hour 33 minutes.

Entre les murs (The Class) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD; 2008 award-winning (Best Picture — Palme d'Or, Festival de Cannes) film by Laurent Cantet; story of the challenges experienced by an inner city high school class and their new teacher, Mr. Marin (François Bégaudeau). In this very racially mixed class both Mr. Marin and his students must learn how to respect each other and the boundaries of their relationships; audio options = French, English or Spanish with the option of English or Spanish subtitles; 2 hours 10 minutes.

Être et avoir (To Be and To Have) Region 1 (NTSC). Directed by Nicholas Philbert. 2002. This documentary offers an in-depth look at George Lopez, a devoted teacher responsible for a small one-room schoolhouse in the Auvergne region of France, where between December 2000 and June 2001 he taught 12 students between the ages of three and ten. Employing a curriculum that embraces both academics and practical skills, Lopez not only teaches his children academic skills, but also social skills as well as work ethic. The students not only learn how to draw and write proper letters and numbers as well as what diameter and radius mean, but also how to verbalize confrontations in a civilized manner. This film captured Georges Lopez near the end of his career in education -- shortly after the film was completed, he retired after 35 years as an educator. Awarded 2003 National Society of Film Critics Best Documentary. In French with optional English Subtitles. Available extras include French trailer, theatrical trailer, interview with Director Nicholas Philibert, the children reciting poetry, and scene selections. 1 hour, 44 minutes.

Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2001 Jean-Pierre Jeunet film featuring Audrey Tautou as Amélie and Mathieu Kassovitz as Nino Quincampoix; story of a naive young waitress who sees the beauty in simple things and goes on a quest to bring happiness to others, all the while making her own way to happiness through imagination, creativity and innocence; a lighthearted, romantic tale of fate, love, and the importance of seizing life's moments; in French with option of French subtitles; scene selections option and extra (hidden) option of interviews with Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet available; gift of Boston College's Lambda Psi chapter of Pi Delta Phi (National French Honor Society) in the name of Faculty Moderator, Prof. Rebecca M. Valette; 2 hours.

Garrel: Le vent de la nuit & Elle a passé tant d'heures sous les sunlights... Two Region 2 (PAL) DVDs each featuring a Philippe Garrel film; Disc 1 = Le Vent de la Nuit , a 1999 drama starring Catherine Deneuve and Daniel Duval; plot = Paul, a young artist, starts a friendship with Serge on a road trip to Italy. Serge was a revolutionary in May '68 and most of their time spent together consists of his recounting of the student and worker protests of that time to his younger companion. Back in Paris, Paul's lover Hélène becomes ever more despairing of finding a satisfying life. Both she and Serge will face suicidal questions; in French, no subtitles, 1 hour 32 minutes; Disc 2 = Elle a passé tant d'heures sous les sunlights…, a 1985 dramatic fantasy starring Mireille Perrier and Jacques Bonnaffé; plot = a director films a story based on his own relationships with two different women; in French, no subtitles, 2 hours 13 minutes.

Le goût des autres (The Taste of Others) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD, 2000. Opposites collide in this romantic comedy, directed by Agnès Jaoui. A wealthy but vulgar businessman falls for his English tutor, an actress and intellectual who is repelled by his cultural ignorance and his lack of manners. Attracted by curiosity about Clara's bohemian lifestyle rather than real compatibility, Castella wedges his way into her milieu, made up of fellow artists with similar financial woes. His hulking bodyguard Franck becomes involved with one of Clara's friends, the fiery, feminist bartender Manie. Unfortunately, Manie is already seeing Bruno, Castella's meek chauffeur. Ideals are challenged and everyone begins to see that they must revise stereotypes about status, money, education, and the opposite sex. In the end, each character is forced to decide what they are willing to risk to learn about the unfamiliar and unexpected. With Anne Alvaro as Clara, Jean-Pierre Bacri as Castella, Gérard Lanvin as Franck, Alain Chabat as Bruno, and Agnès Jaoui as Manie. In French with English subtitles. 1 hour 52 minutes.

La haine 3 Region 2 (PAL) DVDs; 1996 César Award-winning film by Mathieu Kassovitz; 3 DVD-set includes (1) the film; (2) bonus documentary "10 ans de Haine"; (3) bonus "Making Of..."; in French, no subtitles; film = 1 hour 35 minutes.

Les Hauts de Hurlevent (Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights) Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 1992 Peter Kosminsky drama starring Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes. Classic tale of a tumultuous and tragic love affair between the well-born Cathy Earnshaw and the orphan child her family adopted, Heathcliff. When Cathy marries the rich and refined Edgar Linton, Heathcliff’s obsession will drive him to take revenge on the Earnshows and the Lintons across multiple generations. Disc 2 of 2-DVD set packaged with Les Amants du Pont-Neuf; in French or English with optional French subtitles; 1 hour 50 minutes.

Un héros très discret Region 2 (PAL) DVD, 1996. Directed by Jacques Audiard. This film, Dehousse, who finds that his family was not everything he believed. His father was not a war hero and his mother collaborated with the Nazis. This discovery triggers a sequence of events which lead him to convince the French authorities that he fought in the Resistance. The authorities make him an offer, and Albert finds himself in the same position as his parents — an imposter. French language track with optional French subtitles. 1 hour 47 minutes.

Huit femmes (8 Women) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD. Directed by François Ozon. 2002. In this murder mystery, partly inspired by George Cukor's 1939 classic The Women, the 1960's Agatha Christie-inspired play Ten Little Indians, as well as the 1980's mystery Clue, eight women find themselves snowbound in a French country estate with a dead man (Marcel, played by Dominique Lamure) — a man whom each of them (his wife, sister, sister-in-law, mother-in-law, daughters, housekeeper, and chambermaid) had reason to kill. All eight women are suspects, and all are guilty of secrets. One of the characters may be guilty of murder, and as each is forced to confront their long-standing secrets and resentments, we learn that they all had motives. Following its immensely successful release in France in early 2002, Eight Women enjoyed much acclaim at the Berlin and Toronto Film Festivals. Starring Catherine Deneuve, Virginie Ledoyen, Ludivine Sagnier, Emmanuelle Béart, Fanny Ardant, Isabelle Huppert, Danielle Darrieux, and Fermine Richard. In French with on-screen English captioning and optional Spanish subtitles; 1 hour, 51 minutes.

Le huitième jour (The 8th Day) Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 1996 Jaco van Dormael drama starring Daniel Auteuil and Pascal Duquenne. Harry is a workaholic businessman, unhappily living separated from his wife and children. One rainy evening he runs over a dog with his car. The owner of the dog is Georges, a young man with Down syndrome who has run away from the group home where he lives hoping to be reunited with his mother. What begins as a chance encounter turns into a life-changing experience for Harry; in French with the option of English or Dutch subtitles; 2 hours.

Il ne faut jurer de rien! Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2005 Eric Civanyan comedy starring Mélanie Doutey, Gérard Jugnot and Jean Dujardin. Van Buck is an uptight businessman in 1830s Paris, who sees only economic opportunity when he meets the Baroness de Mantes. The pair decides to arrange the marriage of her daughter Cécile with his nephew Valentin. The only problem is getting the interested parties to agree — the romantic Cécile will only marry for love, and Valentin vows to never give up his life of drinking, women, and gambling. A game of tricks and manipulation begins; in French with optional French captioning; 1 hour 40 minutes.

Imaginez: Le français sans frontières Film Collection DVD (FR 1.090) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD to accompany intermediate-level French textbook Imaginez: Le français sans frontières by Cherie Mitschke (c. 2008 Vista Higher Learning). A collection of 10 short films by various directors from the French-speaking world. Contents include: Le télégramme (12 minutes), J’attendrai le suivant… (4 minutes 20 seconds), Émilie Muller (20 minutes), La révolution des crabes (4 minutes 40 seconds), Samb et le commissaire (15 minutes), De l’autre côté (29 minutes), Comment j’ai marché sur la Lune (12 minutes), Le ballon prisonnier (13 minutes), Bonbon au poivre (34 minutes), L’homme qui plantait des arbres (30 minutes). In French with optional English or French subtitles; total running time 2 hours 54 minutes.

Indochine Region 1 (NTSC) DVD — An Oscar award winner for Best Foreign Language Film in 1992, this picture stars Catherine Deneuve as a wealthy owner of a rubber plantation in French Indochina. Throughout the film, Deneuve's small family (her elderly father and her adopted Indochinese daughter) faces numerous struggles as a result of a Communist uprising and intermingled, clandestine love affairs. When Deneuve's lover returns to Indochina, Deneuve's daughter falls passionately in love with him and trouble results; also included: note on the actors; in French with the option of English, French, or Spanish subtitles; 2 hours 36 minutes.

Interaction, 7e édition (FR 1.086) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of video to accompany the St. Onge and St. Onge intermediate French-level text Interaction: Révision de grammaire, 7e édition (c. 2007 Thomson Heinle); in French with optional French subtitles; 1 hour 15 minutes.

Jambon jambon (Jamón, jamón) Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 1992 Bigas Luna comedic drama starring Penelope Cruz (her first film) and Javier Bardem; plot = Silvia works on the factory floor for a men's underwear company and is pregnant by José Luis, the son of the company's owners. José Luis promises to marry her, but his domineering mother has other plans. She finds Silvia too poor to marry her son and decides to hire ham factory worker Raúl to lure Silvia away from José Luis. The romantic entanglements become very complicated; in Spanish with optional French audio track and French subtitles; 1 hour 35 minutes.

Joyeux Noël Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2005 Christian Carion World War I drama starring Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, and Guillaume Canet; Christmas Eve, 1914: At the front, French, Scottish, and German troops anxiously wait out the night in the trenches, prepared for hostilities as on any other day. The enemies’ trenches are so close, they can hear each others’ own improvised Christmas celebrations, bringing the soldiers out of hiding. An impromptu cease-fire will give the officers and enlisted men alike, on all sides, a human look at those they are sworn to fight; in French with optional French subtitles and captioning for the hearing impaired; 1 hour 55 minutes.

Laissez-passer (Safe Conduct) Region 1 (NTSC). 2004. This film, by director Bernard Tavernier, is a fascinating recreation of French filmmaking during World War II and a moving study of a few of the people who worked with the French Resistance — specifically, screenwriter Jean Aurenche, who refused to write a single word in service of the German state; and director Jean Devaivre, who not only worked for Continental Pictures (a studio which has recently been taken over by the Germans) but also acted as a saboteur in the French Resistance. Both Devaivre and Aurenche were real-life figures in the French film industry during the occupation, as were many of the film's supporting characters; the real life Aurenche went on to write the screenplay for Bertrand Travernier's first feature film. Winner of 2002 Silver Bear Award for Best Actor and Best Music at the Berlin International Film Festival; in French with option of English subtitles; extras include Bertrand Travernier interview, photo gallery, and selected filmography; 2 hours 43 minutes.

Les Misérables Region 1 (NTSC) DVD — 1998 adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic directed by Billie August and starring Liam Neeson, Uma Thurman, Claire Danes, and Geoffrey Rush; Jean Valjean (Neeson), a hopeless convict, turns his life around after 20 years in prison and makes an honest and profitable living, thanks to the generous gift of a priest. He even takes in a pregnant young prostitute, Fantine (Thurman), and raises her child, Cosette (Danes). Valjean is once again haunted by his past when a former prison guard, Javert (Rush), recognizes him and attempts to return Valjean to prison; French and English audio tracks; option of French or English subtitles; 2 hours 14 minutes.

La Môme (La vie en rose) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2007 film directed by Olivier Dahan and starring Marion Cotillard (2008 Academy Award winner for Best Actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf); This biopic recounts the public and personal life of the famous French singer, as seen through Édith's own fragmented memories at the end of her short life. A sickly child, she was abandoned by her mother and cared for by her alcoholic father. As a young adult Édith sang on Parisian street corners to survive, where she was discovered by the cabaret owner Louis Leplée. Though Édith's music became a worldwide phenomenon, she could not escape her own personal tragedies and addictions; in French with optional subtitles in English, French, or Spanish; 2 hours 21 minutes.

Monsieur Ibrahim et Les Fleurs du Coran Region 1 (NTSC) DVD. Directed by François Dupeyron. 2003. Set in 1960s Paris, the film revolves around Moses (Pierre Boulanger), a young man who lives alone with his father in the bustling Rue Bleu district. After he is abandoned by him, "Momo" finds an unlikely friend in Monsieur Ibrahim (Omar Sharif), a Muslim shopkeeper who spends most of his days behind the counter of his store reading the Koran. As time passes, Momo and Ibrahim begin to bring each other out of his respective shell, sharing a series of everyday adventures, culminating in Momo's indoctrination into Ibrahim's faith. Winner of best actor, audience award, and career Golden Lion award at the Venice film festival; Sharif awarded best actor award at the Cesar awards; given 2003 Afi Film Festival lifetime tribute award; winner one of the top five foreign films from the National Board of Review; special feature Omar Sharif audio commentary; in French with option of English, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles; 1 hour, 35 minutes.

La moustache Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2005 Emmanuel Carrère mystery drama starring Vincent Lindon and Emmanuelle Devos. Marc decides one morning in the bath to shave off the moustache he has worn for years. His wife not only doesn’t notice, but insists that he’s never had one. Gradually Marc begins to doubt everything that he has assumed to be true in his life; a disturbing look into our perceptions of reality; in French, no subtitles; 1 hour 22 minutes.

Ne touchez pas la hache (Don't Touch the Axe) Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2007 Jacques Rivette film, based on La Duchesse de Langeais by Honoré de Balzac; The Duchesse de Langeais is a young popular socialite living a frivolous life of balls and coquetry in early 19th-century Paris. When the brooding Napoleonic war hero Général de Montriveau makes his appearance on the Parisian social scene, the Duchesse’s interest is piqued. So begins a long manipulative love affair, with tragic results; in French with optional English subtitles; 2 hours 12 minutes.

Night on Earth Region 0 DVD of 1991 Jim Jarmusch film featuring Winona Ryder, Roberto Benigni, and Béatrice Dalle; Five taxi drivers in five different cities (Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, Helsinki) simultaneously pick up five different customers. These brief encounters among strangers lead to deep insights about their personal lives; in French, English, Italian and Finnish with English subtitles; 2 hours 3 minutes.

On connaît la chanson (Same Old Song) Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 1997 César Award-winning film directed by Alain Resnais ; romantic, musical comedy about two Parisian sisters, Odile (played by Sabine Azéma) and Camille (Agnès Jaoui), who become entangled in dysfunctional relationships with a submissive husband (Pierre Arditi), an old boyfriend (Jean-Pierre Bacri), a dishonest realtor (Lambert Wilson), and a kind, older man (André Dussolier); in the midst of normal dialogue, characters lip-synch to recordings of old as well as contemporary French song fragments which express their inner thoughts and true feelings; singers featured in these song excerpts: Charles Aznavour, Joséphine Baker, Alain Bashung, Maurice Chevalier, Dalida, Johnny Hallyday, Edith Piaf, among many others; in French with option of French, English, German or Italian subtitles; also available in VHS video with English subtitles; gift of Boston College's Lambda Psi chapter of Pi Delta Phi (National French Honor Society) in the name of Faculty Moderator, Prof. Rebecca M. Valette; 2 hours.

Le pacte des loups Region 2 (PAL) DVD (2 discs) of 2001 Christophe Gans film based on the true story of the Beast of Gévaudan (a wolf-like creature) that terrorized southwestern France in the mid-18th century; mixed genre movie with elements of period costuming, horror, martial arts, espionage, action, religious/political intrigue; stars Samuel le Bihan as Grégoire de Fronsac, a naturalist sent by the King of France to find and kill the beast, and Mark Dacascos as Mani, an Iroquois shaman and hunter whom de Fronsac befriended while in New France; story of de Fronsac's fight against ignorance, bigotry, and conspiracy and the roles in that struggle of a crippled hunter, Jean François (Vincent Cassel), and two women, Marianne, an aristocrat (Emilie Dequenne) and Sylvia, a prostitute (Monica Bellucci); in French with option of French subtitles, scene selections option, and option to view film with commentary by the director or actors le Bihan and Cassel; bonus disc includes: 78-minute piece about the making of various portions of the film (casting, combat, artistic direction, creation of the beast, etc.), clips of 7 outtakes (36 minutes), movie trailers, selected actors' filmographies, presentation about the Gévaudan legend by naturalist Michel Louis, access to Internet link to film's website and press packs in French and English; colorful 24-page booklet includes synopsis of film, production notes, historical references, comments by the cast, biographies of film's technical team; gift of Boston College's Lambda Psi chapter of Pi Delta Phi (National French Honor Society) in the name of Faculty Moderator, Prof. Rebecca M. Valette; film = 2 hours 25 minutes.

Paris, je t'aime Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2006 collection of short films by various directors : Olivier Assayas, Frédéric Auburtin & Gérard Depardieu, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet, Joel & Ethan Coen, Isabel Coixet, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuarón, Christopher Doyle, Richard LaGravanese, Vincenzo Natali, Alexander Payne, Bruno Podalydès, Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas, Oliver Schmitz, Nobuhiro Suwa, Tom Tywer, Gus Van Sant. Each short is dedicated to a different Parisian neighborhood, and the love stories — as diverse as these directors — that one can find there. In French, English, Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin; with optional English or Spanish subtitles; 2 hours 45 minutes; 3 copies available.

Père et fils Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2003 Michel Boujenah comedy starring Philippe Noiret, Charles Berling, Bruno Putzulu and Pascal Elbé; The aging Léo has three adult sons who haven’t gotten along since childhood. Following a minor health problem that puts him in the hospital, he decides to invent a fatal illness in order to convince his sons to take a trip with him to explore Québec. Through their various misadventures in the Canadian wilderness, the brothers must learn to overcome their differences; in French with optional French captioning and Arabic subtitles; 1 hour 35 minutes.

Persépolis
Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2007 Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud film; includes the voices of Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, this unique animated film tells the story of Marjane Satrapi’s coming of age with both compassion and humor. As a precocious young girl in Iran, she witnesses the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Her family tries to maintain a normal childhood for Marjane under the strict religious regime and the daily threats of the war with Iraq, but her parents eventually decide the country is too dangerous for her. They send her to Austria to attend school, hoping she will benefit from the relative safety of Europe. Marji struggles to find her identity in a foreign land, and eventually returns to Iran in a deep depression. Getting back on her feet, she attends university and begins to make a life for herself in Iran. Marji continues to struggle to find her place as an independent young woman under the oppressive regime of her home country, and finds she must leave again; in French or English with optional English or Spanish subtitles; 1 hour 35 minutes; 3 copies available.

Le placard (The Closet)Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2001 Francis Veber comedy that illustrates common prejudices and stereotypes; film stars Daniel Auteuil as François Pignon, a divorced man who works as an accountant for a condom factory. When Pignon learns that he is to be fired, a lie emerges about his sexuality which sends the factory into chaos and precipitates unexpected changes in his life; in French with optional English subtitles; 1 hour 25 minutes.

Les poupées russes (Russian Dolls) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2005 Cédric Klapisch film starring Romain Duris and Audrey Tautou. "5 years later" look at the character Xavier's world in this follow-up to Klapisch's 2002 film L'auberge espagnole. Xavier is now 30 and a writer of soap opera scripts. Given the opportunity to reunite with some of his Barcelona roommates, he is able to get some perspective on life, but will it be too late to salvage his most valuable relationships? In French with optional English, Spanish subtitles; 2 hours 9 minutes.

Qui perd gagne! (Loser Takes All!) Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2004 Laurent Bénégui comedic mystery starring Thierry Lhermitte and Elsa Zylberstein. Jacques is a compulsive gambler with a photographic memory. His lover, Angele, works for the government investigating fraud in the lottery system, and asks him to help on a peculiar case. Together they set to work uncovering the secrets of an unknown math professor who claims he has uncovered a formula to predict winning numbers in the national lottery drawings. Is it a scam, or is the professor a true mathematical genius?; in French with optional French captioning and English subtitles; 1 hour 32 minutes.

La Résistance Region 2 (PAL) set of 3 DVDs, 2008. 2 documentary-fiction films of 1 hour 30 minutes each: Vivre libre ou mourir, Quand il fallait sauver les juifs; 4 documentary-historical films of 52 minutes each: Le sourd grondement d'un peuple, La lutte armée, Victimes contre bourreaux, Face à la déportation des juifs; This series of films combines authentic film footage from the Second World War with modern-day reenactments to tell the story of the French Resistance in both political and military efforts, as well as the movement to save thousands of Jews in France from deportation; in French with optional closed captioning in French for the hearing impaired; total time of DVD set = 6 hours 28 minutes.

Ressources humaines (Human Resources) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD, 2000. Directed by Laurent Cantet. This film focuses on a fictional factory about to make the switch to the government-mandated 35-hour workweek. Franck, a Parisian business school student, takes a summer apprenticeship in the Human Resources department at a factory in a small industrial town where his father has labored for the past thirty years. Franck's intentions are honorable as he attempts to balance this managerial internship with his parents and friends' lower-class social standing. However, as he sees the injustice committed by the company for which he is interning, Franck not only faces a decision about what is right and wrong, but also one that could destroy his promising future. Winner of over 17 international awards, including the Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival. In French with on-screen English subtitles. Available extras include French trailer and information about the director. 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Riens du tout (Little Nothings) Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 1992 comedy directed by Cédric Klapisch; Monsieur Lepetit (Fabrice Luchini) takes over a top management position at the Grandes Galeries, a major department store in Paris. To save the company from going under, he implements a total restructuring of the store and attempts to infuse a new spirit of camaraderie among the employees, often with absurd results; in French with optional English subtitles; 1 hour 33 minutes.

Rue Cases-Nègres (Sugar Cane Alley) Region 1 (NTSC). Directed by Euzhan Palcy. 1983. This film tells the story of a young teenage boy, José, who was orphaned at the age of 11 and sent to live with his grandmother, who works on one of Martinique's sugar cane plantations. Although he gets into mischief, he is still able to learn valuable lessons on living from an old former slave. Because his grandmother realizes he has no future if he stays on the plantation, she does what she can to keep him in school and away from the tedious labor to which she's devoted her life. With his intelligence and determination, he wins a scholarship to one of the top school's in the island's main town. Winner of "Best Actress" award at the 1983 Venice Film Festival, and the 1983 Cesar for "Best First Film." In French with English subtitles. Scene selections available. 1 hour 47 minutes.

Un Secret (A Secret) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2007 Claude Miller film; tale of one French family's life in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust — and how the family survived these events: François is a quiet boy growing up in a comfortable home in 1950s Paris under the eye of a loving mother and critical father. At the age of 15, he learns more of his family history from their neighbor and family friends, and learns the reasons for his parents' secretiveness; based on Philippe Grimbert's novel of the same title, which was based on real events; in French with on-screen English subtitles; 1 hour 40 minutes.

Saint Jacques...La Mecque Region 2 (PAL) two-DVD set of 2005 Coline Serreau dramatic comedy starring Muriel Robin, Artus de Penguern, and Jean-Pierre Darroussin. People decide to make the pilgrimage through France and Spain to Santiago de Compostella for many reasons. Siblings Clara, Pierre, and Claude must complete the trek on foot in order to receive their inheritance from their mother. The two-month long journey will bring them closer to each other, and to the 6 other strangers they meet in their group; includes second DVD with bonus features; in French, no subtitles; 1 hour 44 minutes.

Tanguy Region 2 (PAL) DVD of 2001 Étienne Chatiliez dramatic comedy starring Sabine Azéma, André Dussolier, Éric Berger, and Hélène Duc; Tanguy, at 28 years old, has everything going for him – he’s attractive, intelligent, fluent in multiple languages – except for the fact that he still lives with his parents. Hoping for some peace in the house, his mother and father begin a campaign to get their son to move out; in French, no subtitles; 2 hours.

Versailles: Le Testament Region 2 (PAL) interactive DVD to be used with DVD player or PAL-enabled Macintosh or PC computer; playing the role of 1700-era courtisan Charles-Louis de Faverolles the user (via animated on-screen characters) presents himself to the court of Louis XIV in hopes of becoming a diplomat to be sent to Spain where resides Elvira, his beloved; game based on historical facts and features dialogue opportunities with historical characters such as Louis XIV, Madame de Maintenon, etc.; c. 2001-2003 Réunion des Musées Nationaux/Dreamcatcher Europe/Établissement Public du Musée du domaine de Versailles.

Le Viel homme et l’enfant (The Two of Us) Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 1967 film directed by Claude Berri. A Jewish Parisian family struggles to keep their troublesome son safe during the Nazi occupation. The parents move the family several times to different towns, but finally decide to send 9-year-old Claude away to the country to live with the elderly parents of a friendly neighbor. Claude must hide his Jewish identity even from his protectors, whom he learns to affectionately call “Grandpa and Grandma” (Papi et Mami). Despite the old man’s blatant anti-Semitism, Claude and Grandpa come to share a unique bond across generational and cultural chasms. In French with English subtitles. 1 hour 27 minutes.

VirgilRegion 2 (PAL) DVD of 2005 Mabrouk El Mechri comedic drama starring Jalil Lespert, Lea Drucker, and Jean-Pierre Cassel. Virgil’s father Ernest has been in jail for six years. During their weekly visits Virgil tells him about his latest victory in the boxing ring. The only problem is that Virgil hasn’t been back in the ring since Ernest first went to jail. When Ernest announces that he is due to be released ahead of schedule, in about 6 months’ time, Virgil must pick up his boxing gloves once again; in French with optional French captioning and English subtitles; 1 hour 30 minutes.