French Impressions at The Chiswick Cinema
(Sample notes here: Téchiné or The Illusionist)
Dates 2026 Season
I am continuing French Impressions at The Chiswick Cinema in their super comfy screens. An earlier start at 11
A talk illustrated with film clips followed by a break then introduction to film, a full screening followed by a Q and A in the bar! Finishes by 3.
All at 11.00am on Saturdays. Very likely to sell quickly so please book in advance for the best seats and (alas) you have to do it on line – no phones at The Chiswick Cinema
- April 18th – La Venue de L’Avenir (The Colours of time). A really excellent film and as background a look at the cinema of Cédric Klapisch. Trailer.
- May 16th – Vie Privée (A Private Life) and the dark side of French drama. Trailer.
- A Private Life (Vie privée) is a 2025 French comedy-mystery thriller directed by Rebecca Zlotowski, starring Jodie Foster as a Parisian psychiatrist investigating a patient’s suspicious death. The 105-minute film follows her character, Lilian Steiner, as she turns detective alongside her ex-husband (played by Daniel Auteuil), blending Hitchcockian intrigue with dark, witty humour.
- June 13th – La Danse des Renards (Wild Foxes) – the theme competitors on French films. Trailer.
- July 11th –L’Etranger, François Ozon’s latest and a film gaining much critical acclaim, plus a look at the way French cinema has used literary classics to attract audiences and, in the early days, respectability. Trailer.
The Cinema Museum – French Sundaes are back!
2026 Dates
The Cinema Museum, Elephant and Castle
Museum opens at 1.30 for event at 2.00. Finishes by 5. (Note earlier time this season).
2026 season What exactly was La Nouvelle Vague?
In this season, and following on from Richard Linklater’s tremendous hommage to the French Nouvelle Vague or New Wave I will be showing three excellent films from the very early days of this movement. All quite different but all very accessible and entertaining.
And each week I will be showing clips from a wide range of New Wave films.
May 17th The film That launched the New Wave. Le Beau Serge by Claude Chabrol.
Chabrol had just left the army and came into a small inheritance. He used it to visit the countryside of his childhood and tell the story of two young men, one who escaped the village and one who didn’t. Les flecheurs? (Bad French joke).
June 21st François Truffaut’s second feature Tirez sur le pianiste (Don’t shoot the pianist)
Truffaut’s career was riding high after the massive international success of 400Coups (400 Blows) so his second film a tribute to Hollywood’s B-pic gangster films came as a huge surprise. Audiences at the time were mystified but it has become a popular classic.
July 12th Jean-Luc Godard’s comedy/dance/crime pastiche Band à Part.
‘To make a movie all you need is a girl and a gun’ according to Godard. Add some amazing dancing, a love triangle and criminals so inept you can’t help feeling sorry for them in this classic early Godard.
Morley College
Current Film and Theatre at Morley College – Back in 2026
PDF of summer term 16 choices as an example
One week the class watch on line or visit a film and the next week discuss it.
A chance to learn more about current trends and become your own critic!
“This class took me to films, play and even places I would never have been to by myself – really exciting.’
Held at Morley College itself. Waterloo campus
Thursdays at 7.30 pm
Video of how the class work
and..
A History of French Cinema in the summer Term
Nine weeks of clips and discussion – will be fun!
20the April 2026 – 29th June 2026 ( 18 hours, 9 weeks ) Monday Afternoons.