Daniela is a freelance writer with two years of experience covering entertainment. She is a senior writer on Collider’s freelance team and has also been published in other platforms, such as Elite Daily. When she’s not writing, she's diving into thought-provoking, existentialist films and classic literature.
French cinema has long captivated audiences all around the globe with its storytelling, beautiful visuals, and memorable characters. With plenty of critically acclaimed films under its belt, its prestige dates back to the French New Wave — or Nouvelle Vague, if you prefer the full flourish — to the visions of modern auteurs who continue to redefine what film can be.
Of course, with so many great films that have earned mainstream attention, it can be difficult to spot the quieter treasures that surprise, delight, and sometimes even challenge us in different ways. That is why we decided to uncover some of the French hidden gems that deserve your attention, whether by revealing something essential about French culture or cinematic craft while providing an entertaining time in front of the screen. 10 'Gagarine' Following 16-year-old Yuri as he fights to save his hometown — a sprawling, working-class red-brick housing project on the outskirts of Paris — from demolition, this dreamy Fanny Liatard and Jerémy Trouilh gem slipped into the world during some of his darkest times — the pandemic — but was slightly overshadowed by louder festival picks. Despite its lack of mainstream attention, Gagarine is arguably one of the best French debuts of the 2020s. It drifts between social realism with elements of sci-fi, folding into magical realism without ever losing its footing. At its heart, though, Gagarine is a hopeful meditation on the meaning of home, the power of imagination, and the resilience of community. It's a film about the dreams we cobble together to keep the lights on inside us, plus what it truly costs to keep them burning. 9 'Happening' Although Happening took home the Golden Lion, Audrey Diwan's film is still largely underseen outside the arthouse landscape, becoming one of the prize-winners that hasn't quite crossed over into wider conversation. Starring Anamaria Vartolomei in an impeccable acting effort, the 2021 film is set in early 1960s France. It follows a bright young student with a promising future ahead who falls pregnant, forced to watch her chances to finish her studies — and escape the constraints of her social background — slowly slipping away. Happening is arguably one of the most intense films of the decade. With a solid Letterboxd score of 4.0, this underappreciated film fascinates with its intensity and beautiful execution, though it is also known for provoking intense physical discomfort in those who decide to give it a watch. It's a harrowing, at times claustrophobic experience that sheds a poignant light on the approach to abortion in the 1960s, all anchored by Vartolomei's flawless performance. 8 'La Chinoise' Jean-Luc Godard is far from an unknown director when it comes to French cinema, but La Chinoise is often overshadowed by his most well-known and beloved works such as the groundbreaking Breathless. With its pop-art radicalism, the film follows five Parisian students led by Véronique who study Maoism and plot terrorist endeavors. Despite its stunning color and provocative narrative, La Chinoise initially disappointed audiences accustomed to Godard's work. These days, though, it's recognized as a prescient and darkly comedic masterpiece. It's also interesting that it has, in a way, foreshadowed the May 1968 student protests. While La Chinoise may not be entirely unknown among cinephiles, it certainly remains a niche and underrated political film that offers a surprisingly sharp and interesting analysis of student radicalism. 7 'Peppermint Soda' Directed by Diane Kurys, Peppermint Soda is a tender, funny portrayal of teenage girlhood, following 13-year-old Anne and her older sister, Frédérique , as they navigate adolescence, school, divorce, and social activism. Kurys' beautifully shot movie is often dismissed among 1970s French classics, unlike more well-known gems. However, Peppermint Soda offers a pioneering look at the very specific phase in a young girl's life, unfolding as a delicate slice-of-life that tackles the loneliness of growing up. Even if it earned prestigious acclaim in France, the film is often overshadowed by male-dominated films of the era and never achieved massive international recognition beyond cinephile circles. 6 'La Belle Noiseuse' A great pick for slow-burn enthusiasts, La Belle Noiseuse presents a four-hour runtime about artistic creation, following a legendary painter in Provence who, inspired by a visitor's girlfriend , resumes a masterpiece he abandoned years prior. Despite its deliberate pacing, the meditative La Belle Noiseuse remains captivating, especially for anyone who takes an interest in art, creation, and the creative process. Fundamentally, it's a real-time, realistic celebration and observation of painting that also dives into obsession and the decay of relationships, and the beautiful chemistry between Piccoli and Béart at its heart adds an intimacy to the story. Yet, for all its depth, it was somewhat overshadowed by more accessible 1990s French films, even though it comes from the acclaimed Jacques Rivette. 5 'La Collectionneuse' Often overshadowed by Rohmer's later films and within Six Moral Tales, La Collectionneuse is the perfect sun-drenched watch for the upcoming summer. At its center are an art dealer and his painter friend , whose relaxing Riviera summer is disturbed by a bohemian woman they accuse of being a collector of men. This captivating psychological, humanistic meditation on relationships is considered, to some, the purest expression of Rohmer's style, even if it's less famous than his bigger hits. The movie explores the complexities of desire and male insecurity — our protagonist judges Haydée's promiscuity while secretly becoming obsessed with her, with a bit of intellectual vanity on top. Despite its quiet, dialogue-driven narrative, La collectionneuse is never boring or dull. For anyone who really wants to sink into the rhythms of French cinema, this one is a must-see. 4 'Wedding in Blood' Also titled Les Noces rouges and Red Wedding in the UK, Wedding in Blood whisks audiences to a small French town where the mayor discovers his wife is cheating on him, a betrayal that eventually leads to murder, as the name strongly suggests. Claude Chabrol's critically acclaimed yet overlooked psychological thriller and satire is a chilling watch for all the right reasons. Beyond its stellar performances and filmmaking, it stands out as a compelling meditation on hypocrisy and a sharp political critique that reflects on France's bourgeois life, corruption, and the complacency of local politicians. Yet despite its quality, Wedding in Blood is often overshadowed by other acclaimed works in Chabrol's extensive filmography, as well as a temporary ban at the time didn't help it reach a wider audience, so one can see why it has quietly remained out of the spotlight. 3 'Mélo' Alex Resnais' stylized adaptation of a boulevard melodrama follows Pierre Belcroix and Marcel Blanc — two violinists and lifelong friends living in Paris in the 1920s. Despite Marcel becoming famous and Pierre not, both seem to be happy with their lives — until Marcel meets Pierre's wife and falls in love with her. Mélo is a masterful fusion of theater and cinema that entertains and intrigues. At first glance, it seems like a simple love triangle story elevated by powerful performances — Azéma won a César Award — but beneath the surface, it's a deeply emotional and psychological exploration of desire and friendship. Despite its greatness, though, Resnais' film hasn't achieved much mainstream attention, perhaps because it is structured like a play and has a taste for theatricality. Even so, it remains one of Resnais' most exquisite works, though Hiroshima mon Amour arguably remains the most well-known. 2 'Femmes femmes' Directed by Paul Vecchiali and starring Hélène Surgère and Sonia Saviange in two excellent performances, Femmes Femmes is about the fantasies and dreams of two over-the-hill actresses. Said fantasies are intertwined with their realities as the two grapple with surviving their daily life in the expensive world of Paris. This moody, niche French movie is not your typical mainstream classic, but it captivates through its intense exploration of codependency, melodrama, and a hint of existentialism to keep things interesting. A female buddy film at heart, Femmes Femmes has garnered a strong reputation among anyone who has seen it, achieving a cult status that cements it as one of France's most beloved hidden gems. Its surreal look into the lives of the two aging and alcoholic actresses, combined with an experimental structure, makes it feel fresh and interesting even today. 1 'Jacquot de Nantes' While Agnès Varda is among the most influential French directors of all time, some of her work is still overlooked. Jacquot de Nantes, based on acclaimed French filmmaker Jacques Demy's life, tells the story of a boy growing up in Nantes during World War II, surrounded by his father's auto shop, with a passion for puppet shows and cinema. Demy reflects on his childhood influences at the end of his life. This poignant and tender film transcends serving its cinematic purpose to become an intimate love letter to Varda's husband. Despite being far from mainstream, this hidden gem arguably takes a place among the best biopics, especially fit for those moved by the works of those great artists, particularly in the film industry. Jacquot beautifully captures the innocence and passion of discovering what moves you, movingly blurring the lines between a fictionalized childhood and archival clips from Demy's own life. Like Follow Followed Jacquot Drama Release Date May 15, 1991 Runtime 118 minutes Director Agnès Varda Writers Agnès Varda Cast
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