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For those familiar with Gerard Depardieu‘s stellar career, it would be fair to say he’s carved out a reputation as one of continental Europe’s finest-ever actors. The stage and screen veteran’s mere presence is one of the few things Robust has going for it, saving this comedy-drama (questionable claims in themselves) from obscurity.

Robuste – to give it its French title, and if you’re bothered about the extra letter – constantly meanders and never truly comes to life. It threatens to pick up around 30 minutes in, but in doing so flatters to deceive. All in all, a disappointing debut feature from filmmaker Constance Meyer.

Georges (Depardieu) an ageing, neurotic actor, strikes up an unlikely professional relationship with Aissa (Deborah Lukumuena), a female security officer who’s also trying to make her mark in the world of wrestling, and the pair become support units for one another as...

After going virtual in 2021, the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema Festival is returning as an in-person event at the Lincoln Center in New York with a bevy of heavy hitters, including Claire Denis, Juliette Binoche, Jacques Audiard, Arnaud Desplechin and Mathieu Amalric.

Kicking off with the North American premiere of Denis’ Berlinale Silver Bear winning movie “Fire” (also called “Both Sides of the Blade”) on March 3, the festival’s roster is curated by Film at Lincoln Center, which is also co-organizing the event with Unifrance, the French film advocacy org.

Besides “Fire,” starring Binoche and Vincent Lindon as two lovers whose relationship falls apart, the main highlights of the 27th edition include Audiard’s sexy relationship drama “Paris, 13th District,” Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet’s debut “Anaïs in Love,” which premiered at Cannes’ Critics Week, and Desplechin’s “Deception” with Lea Seydoux.

“We feel lucky to have assembled such a prestigious roster of...

Deception director Arnaud Desplechin tells Anne-Katrin Titze about the Emmanuelle Devos Kings & Queen connection to Andrew Wylie that led to a phone call from Philip Roth.

Arnaud Desplechin’s adaptation with Julie Peyr of Philip Roth’s Deception (Tromperie), starring Denis Podalydès, Léa Seydoux (Bruno Dumont’s France), Emmanuelle Devos, and Anouk Grinberg, is a highlight of the 27th edition of Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in New York. Claire Denis’s Fire (Avec Amour Et Acharnement), starring Juliette Binoche (in a Free Talk with Constance Meyer’s Robust star Déborah Lukumuena), Grégoire Colin (Nora Martirosyan’s Should The Wind Drop), and Vincent Lindon is the Opening Night selection. Jim Jarmusch is the Guest of Honour of this year’s festival.

An in-person Q&a with Kent Jones and Arnaud Desplechin will follow a screening of Diane at the French Institute Alliance Française Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze

Our Love Affairs: Arnaud Desplechin...

Palme d’Or-winning filmmaker Jacques Audiard and rising director Léa Mysius reminisce about presenting their respective debut features, “See How They Fall” and “Ava,” at Cannes’ Critics’ Week in an exclusive video celebrating the 60th anniversary of the sidebar.

Under the helm of Charles Tesson since 2011, Critics’ Week, which is dedicated to first and second films, has showcased more dozens of emerging filmmakers over the years. Some of them will have their latest movies unspool in competition at the festival. These include Audiard with “Paris, 13th District” which was co-written with Mysius and Celine Sciamma, as well as Julia Ducournau (“Raw”) with “Titane,” and Nadav Lapid (“The Kindergarten Teacher”) with “Ahed’s Knee.”

Audiard and Mysius are two of the 60 talents and artists who have shared testimonies about Critics’ Week brought to their lives and careers through videos and letters. Critics’ Week is unveiling these tributes throughout the month of June.

Paris-based banner Indie Sales has closed deals in key markets for Flore Vasseur’s environment-themed documentary “Bigger Than Us” which is produced by Oscar-winning actress and activist Marion Cotillard. It will world premiere at Cannes as part of an ephemeral selection of films about the environment.

The event documentary has been acquired for Australia & New Zealand (Kismet), the Benelux (Cinéart), Canada (Maison 4:3), Ex-Yugoslavia (McF Megacom), Germany/Austria (Koch Media), the Middle East (Osn), Poland (Best Film) and Switzerland (Praesens). Jour2Fête will release the documentary in France on Sept. 22.

Shot in Malawi, Lebanon, Brazil, Greece, Indonesia, Uganda and the U.S., “Bigger Than Us” sheds the light on a young generation aged 18 to 25 who are fighting for human rights, freedom of expression, climate, social justice, access to education and food security.

“We are very thankful to the Cannes Film Festival team for highlighting ‘Bigger Than Us,” thus bringing attention to...

Charles Tesson to step down after 10th edition at the helm.

French film critic Ava Cahen has been named as the new artistic director of Cannes Critics’ Week.

She replaces respected film critic and academic Charles Tesson who will step down after this year’s 60th edition after 10 years at the helm.

Under Critics’ Week regulations, an artistic director can serve a maximum of three terms of three years. Tesson was allowed one more edition to oversee the 60th anniversary.

Cahen will take up the role from August 1, having been a member of Critics’ Week feature film committee for five years.