November at the IFI

November focuses on all things French as we celebrate the 13th IFI French Film Festival. In October we started the build-up to the Festival with a celebration of one of France’s most prestigious independent production and distribution companies, Les Films du Losange. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, this programme continues into November with Éric Rohmer’s classic Tales of the Four Seasons. Rohmer wanted the stories of the four films in the series “to focus on attractive, intelligent, self-absorbed if not entirely aware young women” and this is a rare chance to get to see all four films, spread over nine days. This ‘Le Losange’ focus will be completed during the Festival with screenings of Nicolas Philibert’s Louvre City, Michael Haneke’s (whose new film Love opens the Festival) Hidden starring Juliette Binoche and Daniel Auteuil, and the first feature from Barbet Schroeder, More.

There are fantastic films and guests on offer in this year’s IFI French Film Festival. We are thrilled to welcome Juliette Binoche whose latest film, Another Woman’s Life, is a comedy-drama by actress and novelist, Sylvie Testud.

Juliette Binoche in Another Woman's Life

We are also delighted that Béatrice Dalle, star of Betty Blue, will attend the aforementioned film that shot her to fame as well as her latest offering, Bye Bye Blondie. We’re pleased to welcome directors Héléna Klotz (with her feature Atomic Age) and Benoit Jacquot (with his story of the final days in the life of Marie Antoinette in Farewell, MyQueen), alongside actors Reda Kateb (starring in Catherine Corsini’s ThreeWorlds) and Alice de Lencquesaing (featuring in the Festival’s Closing Film, Ina Rush). With 34 screenings taking place during the Festival, we couldn’t fit them all into our regular monthly programme, so be sure to pick up a separate copy of the French programme (download in PDF) or check out www.ifi.ie/FrenchFest.

Kinopolis 2012: Wojciech Smarzowski's The Dark House

November also sees the return of Kinopolis, the 7th Polish Film Festival, with highlights including a focus on ‘the dark side of the Polish soul’, as represented by the work of director Wojciech Smarzowski whose latest award-winning film, Rose opens the Festival. We’ll also look at the latest from Poland’s continually impressive animation industry with a programme of short films and will welcome guests Marian Dziędziel, Arkadiusz Jakubik and Wojciech Pszoniak.

Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master

October sees the release of many great titles. Jacques Audiard’s follow-up to A Prophet, Rust and Bone, is a particular take on a modern love story starring Marion Cotillard; Paul Thomas Anderson’s eagerly anticipated The Master opens on the 16th alongside the equally awaited Palme d’Or winning Love by Michael Haneke; while Mads Mikkelsen puts in a stunning performance in Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt which was a big hit at Cannes and won him the Best Actor prize.

Laurence of Arabia (restored and re-released from November 23rd)

There are also many IFI Classics on offer with the 50th anniversary new digital print of Lawrence of Arabia and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (in its extended U.S. cut!) making a return to the big screen.

Ross Keane

Director

Visit www.ifi.ie for more information on our November screenings or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates!