“Old Paris is no more (a city’s form/ Changes faster than a human heart)”
Baudelaire, The Swan

Paris has long been not only a locus for the production of artistic works of all genres, but a favored subject for artists as well. This was true with the development of photography and then with cinema. It is therefore only fitting that Film Club consider “Paris in French Film” as its inaugural topic.

From September 2021 to June 2022, the Athenaeum Film Club will meet once each month to discuss French films of distinction that feature Paris prominently in the story. We will begin with works by Renoir, Vigo and Lamorisse, and progress chronologically through films of the French “new wave” by Godard, Truffaut, Varda, and Rohmer to more contemporary films by Beineix, Jeunet, and Sciamma. We will have a dual focus as we view these films: to follow and enjoy the stories of life as it is lived by Parisians of all types, and to note how Paris itself changes from film to film.

Film Club participants will have opportunities to discuss their perceptions and reactions to films. Optional reading materials will be identified for participants over the course of the year. In addition, additional films by the selected French directors will be identified as the year progresses.

The “Paris in French Film” club meets once monthly from September 2021 through June 2022 to discuss the assigned film.

This group will meet remotely over Zoom, 5:30-7pm.

Film club members will watch each assigned film independently in advance of each month’s meeting. Members have multiple options for viewing the films: streaming, or borrowing, renting or purchasing DVDs. Please see the section on “Access to Films.” Generally, these films are offered in French with English subtitles.

Please note that there is a viewing assignment for the first meeting.

Wed, September 1
Jean Renoir, Boudu Saved from Drowning [Boudu sauvé des eaux], 1932. 86 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel

Wed, October 6
Jean Vigo, L’Atalante. 1934. 89 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Wed, November 3
Jean Vigo, Zero for Conduct [Zéro de conduite], 1933. 44 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel
Albert Lamorisse, The Red Balloon [Le ballon rouge], 1956. 36 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, HBO Max, Hoopla, Vudu

Wed, December 1
Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless [À bout de souffle], 1960. 90 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, HBO Max, Vudu

Wed, January 5
François Truffaut, Shoot the Piano Player [Tirez sur le pianiste], 1960. 85 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, HBO Max

Wed, February 2
Agnes Varda, Cléo from 5 to 7 [Cléo de 5 à 7], 1962. 90 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel, Apple TV, HBO Max

Wed, March 2
Eric Rohmer, Love in the Afternoon [L’amour l’après-midi], 1972. 97 minutes.
Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, HBO Max

Wed, April 6
Jean-Jacques Beineix, Diva, 1981. 117 minutes.
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu

Wed, May 4
Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Amélie [Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain], 2001. 121 minutes.
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu

Wed, June 1
Céline Sciamma, Girlhood [Bande de filles], 2014. 113 minutes.
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Hoopla, Vudu

Bonus! Watch when you like
Anthology (6 directors), Six in Paris [Paris vu par…], 1964. 95 minutes
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Anthology (22 directors), Paris je t’aime, 2006. 120 minutes.
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Hoopla, Vudu

Every film in the schedule should be readily accessible to any member who has access to on-demand video streaming services or to a DVD player.

How you choose to access a film is up to you. Most members will have multiple options available to them, whether they prefer streaming or DVD. Our research indicates that no single source for streaming or DVDs offers every film. Members will need to use more than a single source to see every film. If you have a preferred streaming service, be sure to check it to see whether a particular film is offered.

If you prefer streaming, it appears that your best bets overall will be Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime Video, and/or Apple TV. Each of these requires a subscription.

Hoopla (on-demand video streaming available free with your Athenaeum membership) currently offers three of the films on the schedule: The Red Balloon [Le ballon rouge], Girlhood [Bande de filles], and Paris je t’aime. www.hoopladigital.com Athenaeum staff can advise you on accessing Hoopla.

Kanopy (www.kanopy.com) is a streaming service with access to thousands of films provided free, with a public library card or with borrowing privileges from a college or university. Kanopy is not accessible through Athenaeum membership. Access to Kanopy is highly recommended. You can learn more at www.kanopy.com. Access to specific films varies by the individual library or educational institution. For example, the Rochambeau branch of the Providence Community Libraries offers five films via Kanopy: Breathless, Cleo from 5 to 7, Amélie, Girlhood, and Paris je t’aime.

Recommended for streaming: Criterion Channel, related to Criterion Collection (www.criterion.com). This source requires a subscription ($100 annually, $11 monthly). Additional materials (interviews, commentary) are often available with specific films. This could be an excellent and economical option if you plan to watch a lot of films in addition to those in our schedule, and their extensive catalog appeals to you. Two of our films (Boudu Saved from Drowning and Zero for Conduct) are only available for streaming from Criterion Channel.

Streaming caveat: you may find (on YouTube and elsewhere) other versions of these films. Be wary of “bootleg” copies that may have been reproduced without authorization. Further, be aware that unauthorized copies may have viruses or other malware. A “free” viewing may end up being very expensive if your computer or phone gets hacked as a result.

If you prefer to watch the films using DVDs, there are several options.  Every film is available on DVD for borrowing from the RISD library, the Athenaeum, or both. This is a good option, but with demand from many Film Club members at the same time, you may not be able to see the film when you want to. Another option is to rent a DVD from the Netflix affiliate www.dvd.com. Every film (but one, Boudu) in the regular schedule is available from this source. Another option is to purchase DVDs, from the usual sources. If you are thinking about purchasing for this film schedule, you may wish to look into the Criterion Collection. Criterion’s products typically have been technically upgraded and often offer bonus features that are not available in the original DVD releases.

Athenæum member Steve Coon leads the group as facilitator. Steve earned a Ph.D. from Brown University in Comparative Literature, with a focus on 19th and 20th century fiction and poetry. Since 2012, he has led reading groups at the Athenæum, including groups on Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, Balzac & Baudelaire in Paris, Roberto Bolaño, W. G. Sebald, Melville & Conrad, and most recently “French Kisses” and “More French Kisses” on the theme of love in French fiction. Steve emphasizes that the Film Club group is not a “class,” but rather an opportunity for lovers of Paris and of cinema to experience and discuss a set of timeless French film classics.