French Cinema at the Colombo International Film Festival

By Susitha R.Fernando

For the second consecutive year ‘Colombo International Film Festival’ is now being held at the Savoy cinema, Wellawatte. The festival which started November 3 brought the rare opportunity for Sri Lankan moviegoers to experience the cinematic gems from Bangaladesh, India, Iran, Russia and France.

A scene from 'Work Hard, Play Hard'

According to the NFC the main objective of the festival is to create an opportunity for Sri Lankan filmgoers to become familiar with the art of story telling with the help of movies about different social experiences ,under different environments, balancing happiness and sorrow, human suffering and courage, in a decent manner but being forceful in conveying feelings. Organised by the National Film Corporation, the Festival is sponsored by EAP Films and Theatres (Pvt,) Limited.

Acclaimed French movies, 'Viper in the Fist' and 'Work Hard, Play Hard' will be screened at 3 pm and 7 pm on November 6.

'Viper in the Fist' by directed by Philippe de Broca tells the story of Jean Rezeau's childhood. In 1922, after their paternal grandmother who was looking after them died, the young boy and his brother Ferdinand found their parents, who'd returned from China, once again. But the relationship with their mother rapidly becomes a nightmare. She's quick to lash out at the two children. The film is the first episode of an autobiographical trilogy and it stars Catherine Frot, Jacques Villeret, Jules Sitruk and Cherie Lunghi in the stellar cast.

Director Jean-Marc Moutout

'Work Hard, Play Hard' (Violence des echanges en milieu tempere) Belgium/France this production is a psychological drama reflecting a social problem.

French filmmaker Jean-Marc Moutout makes his feature debut with the drama in which Jérémie Rénier stars as Philippe Seigner, an ambitious young executive at a management consulting firm.

Things are going well for him at work and he starts dating single mom Eva (Cylia Malki). Soon his boss, Hugo Paradis (Laurent Lucas), chooses him for a special job auditing a company outside Paris. When Philippe realizes that he's been effectively downsizing a company, he begins to feel a moral opposition to his task.

Produced in 2003 'Work Hard Play Hard' was nominated for the Golden Leopard at the 2003 Locarno International Film Festival.