While Paris is without question the center of French culture, the provinces (and beyond) are fascinating in themselves, as well as for their contrast with Paris. Life is different there.

Many outstanding films were candidates for inclusion in this year’s program. Given the theme of “beyond Paris,” the selection criteria were film excellence, including critical and popular reputation; accessibility of the films to an American audience; variety in cinematic locations and in the film stories; and the potential for enthusiasm and interest among Film Club members. Within France, locations range from Normandy and Brittany to the Côte d’Azur; beyond France, to Belgium, Switzerland, and Africa; and from urban to rural. Thematically, the stories range from comedy to tragedy. The time periods of the films selected were all contemporary with when they were made. We will explore a wide range of styles and moods.

This group meets on the first Wednesday of the month virtually via Zoom, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Group members will receive Zoom meeting invitations on the day of each meeting. Film Club members will watch the assigned film independently in advance of each month’s meeting. Members have options for viewing the films: streaming, or borrowing, renting, or purchasing DVDs. Please see the section on “Access to Films.”

Please note that there is a viewing assignment for the first meeting. The film selection may be subject to change in the course of the year.

Wed, September 6
Jacques Tati, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday [Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot] (1953). 1 hour 28 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel, Kanopy, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, HBO Max.

Wed, October 4
Alain Resnais, Muriel (1963). 1 hour 56 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu, YouTube.

Wed, November 1
Robert Bresson, Au hasard Balthazar (1966). 1 hour 35 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime, Apple TV.

Wed, December 6
Eric Rohmer, The Collector [La Collectionneuse] (1967). 1 hour 26 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel.

Wed, January 3
Chantal Akerman, Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975). 3 hours 31 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, HBO Max, Vudu.

Wed, February 7
Agnes Varda, Vagabond [Sans Toit ni Loi] (1985). 1 hour 45 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel.

Wed, March 6
Claude Chabrol, A Judgment in Stone [La Cérémonie] (1995). 1 hour 52 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel.

Wed, April 3
Claire Denis, Beau Travail (1999). 1 hour 33 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, HBO Max, Vudu.

Wed, May 1
Olivier Assayas, Clouds of Sils Maria (2014). 2 hours 4 minutes. Streaming: Criterion Channel, Kanopy, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu, AMC+, Tubi.

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

Most members will have multiple options available to them, whether they prefer streaming or DVD. If you have a preferred streaming service, be sure to check whether a particular film is offered. Note that some streaming services make a film available for a set period of time and then withdraw it when they offer other films in rotation. This means that for certain streaming services, a particular film may not be available in the month when the Film Club will discuss it. As of this writing, the information provided in the viewing schedule is correct.

If you prefer streaming, your best bet overall will be the Criterion Channel. This subscription service, associated with the Criterion Collection, provides access to a very large number of foreign and domestic films, as well as to a rotating film offering. All nine films in the program this year are accessible via the Criterion Channel. Three of the films are only accessible for streaming via the Criterion Channel. For those not familiar with the Criterion Channel, it is an excellent and economical choice. You may watch any film as often as you like. There are many “extra” features (interviews, versions with commentary) that are not available anywhere else. Subscription is highly recommended!

Hoopla is an on-demand video streaming platform available free with your Athenaeum membership. Athenaeum staff can advise you on accessing Hoopla. None of the selected films this year are accessible via Hoopla.

Kanopy is another streaming service with access to films provided free with a library card or with borrowing privileges from a college or university. Kanopy is not accessible through Athenaeum membership. Access to specific films varies by the individual library or educational institution. Kanopy may offer two of the films selected this year: Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday and Clouds of Sils Maria.

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. 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 using DVDs, there are several options. Films may be available on DVD for borrowing from the Athenaeum, the RISD Library, or both. Your local public library may also have some of the films in their DVD collections. These are good options, but with demand from many Film Club members at the same time, you may not be able to borrow the DVD when you prefer. Another option is to purchase DVDs, from the usual sources, including the Criterion Collection.

A good resource to identify streaming platforms for specific films is the app JustWatch.

Many of the filmmakers on this year’s viewing schedule are prolific, with many of their films set outside Paris. My recommendation is to look into their other films via the Criterion Channel, or to research the themes and locations of their films via Wikipedia. Specific films set “beyond Paris” by other French directors will be identified for Film Club members as the year progresses.

The French Cinema Book (Second Edition) , edited by Michael Temple & Michael Witt. The British Film Institute. Scholarly, erudite, comprehensive. A set of well-informed and well-written essays on multiple aspects of French cinema to the present. For those wanting to take a deep dive into French cinema.

The British Film Institute has a series of books devoted to specific films and specific directors. Relevant to our viewing schedule this year:

French Film Directors Series:

BFI Film Classics Series:

Athenæum member Steve Coon leads the Film Club 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 and discussion groups at the Athenæum. In 2021-2022, he led the inaugural Film Club program on “Paris in French Film,” followed in 2022-23 by “London in British Film.” Steve emphasizes that the “Beyond Paris” Film Club is not a “class,” but rather an opportunity for cinephiles of all backgrounds to experience and discuss great achievements in French cinema.