French Film and TV list for Australian French Teachers February 2023

Nowadays, our students have access to endless amounts of French media... which is sometimes the problem. How do we sort through all of the options?

Here is my annual list of French film and TV series list for Australian French teachers.

Access the list here.

On this list, you will find the most popular streaming platforms:

• Clickview
• SBS On Demand
• Netflix
• Stan

For 2023, here are some new additions to note:

• Plenty of G and PG rated films for your younger students on Clickview. 
• You can create interactive videos on Clickview. Add questions to the video for students to answer while watching the film. See an example in the link for Dilili à Paris. 
• Un Sac de Billes (A Bag of Marbles) was recently added to Clickview. Thank you for the contribution, Paula H!
• SBS On Demand have added an array of biographies and documentaries, such as De Gaulle, Dalida and Jane B. for Agnès V. 
• Students can watch Netflix films with French subtitles. This option is not available on other platforms.
• If your students have access to Netflix at home, refer them to the TV series with global success, such as Lupin (M) and The Parisian Agency (M). 

French Film and TV for Students and Teachers - film list and top 5 favourite films!

Has it ever happened to you when you've asked a foreigner about how they learned their exceptional English, and they replied, "By watching lots of TV!" Watching shows in French, not only extends us linguistically, but also exposes us to other cultural habits and insights. 

I first started learning French in high school in the early millennium - the Golden Age of the DVD! I could sometimes find French films to rent at my local Blockbuster and at times, French films were screened at Palace Cinemas. I could also wake up early on a Saturday morning to watch the French news. Nowadays, we have a plethora of sources and mediums to watch French shows, and can now tell people that our excellent French is thanks to the hours dedicated to watching Omar Sy!

For your easy viewing pleasure, I have created a list of French shows available on many streaming platforms: ClickView (for schools), SBS On Demand (free login), Netflix and Stan (paid subscriptions). It is a six page document but not exhaustive! 

For teachers, create your own copy of the French Film List and adapt it to suit your student audience. For example, give your young students a copy of the G and PG rated films only. When parents ask how they can help their kids learn French, give them a full copy of the list so that they can watch French TV as a family unit.

Shows are added and adapted by each platform constantly, so you will see this list being modified often (at least twice a year). 

Here are my top 5 favourite French films from the list:

1. Pour les jeunes : Belle and Sebastian (PG)

It's hard to go past Belle et Sébastien. The story of the friendship between a young adopted boy and his wild, stray dog. Set in the picturesque village of Saint-Martin bordered by the French Alps, the year is 1943, and occupied by Nazi troops. Sébastien's "brother-in-law" secretly aids Jewish exiles flee to Switzerland. 

Within the beauty of the scenery and the boy/dog friendship lies the harsh reality of war, poverty and loneliness. It is a great film to show Australian children, as not all kids watch films with such dark and troubled moments - themes that are more common to French cinema. The film also highlights a child's view of World War II - a topic that is not introduced to Australian children, usually, until high school. It willfully exposes them to European geography and bilingualism.

2. Les enjeux sociaux : The African Doctor/Bienvenue à Marly-Gomont (M)

Based on a true story, this comedy-drama is co-written by musician Kamini based on his experiences when his doctor father moved his family from Zaire to a small, French, country village called Marly-Gomont in 1975.

The film shows the struggles of living in the Francophone world: racial stereotyping, the hope of a better future. As well as the problems of an aging and rural population. Two key areas to expose to students of French: the French Africa and rural France. The hilarious scenes are when the relatives arrive from Brussels, causing havoc and noise around the town.

3. La gastronomie : The Chef/Comme Un Chef (M)

Constantly approved and requested by my students, as it is tasteful in both humour and French food. Starring Jean Reno as a Michelin-starred restaurant owner, and food amateur, Michael Youn, the pair emit fun and laughter through the screen. 

A great film to screen for any food study unit, as it not only showcases the gastronomical culture of France but also demonstrates the importance and hierarchy of the food industry. 

4. Les stéréotypes : Welcome to the Sticks/Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis (M)

A heartwarming story of a man's cultural expectations warped by new experiences showing that you can change your views at any age! Phillipe is from the chic and warm South of France and is transferred for his work at La Poste to the grey and seemingly 'uncultured' Bergues in the North. 

There have been both Italian and Dutch remakes of this film, highlighting the cultural stereotypes that exist within European cultures. Most Australian children will liken this phenomenon to the difference between the city and country, and strikes an interesting conversation about the entrenched French regional identity. 

Interesting fact: Bienvenue Chez les Ch'tis was the highest grossing French film of all time before the release of The Intouchables.

5. La téléréalité : The Parisian Agency (M)

Watching reality TV is not the most engrossing and stimulating topic, but these shows are an excellent way to pick up on common French language and slang. The language is also quite repetitive in this show, making it ideal for intermediate level learners (B2-B1).

The Kretz family own a real-estate business, concerning luxury properties, in which their four sons also work. The show takes you to many beautiful homes and their difficult clients, as well as focusing on the conversations within the family home. 

Don't forget to include the following films for your own viewing pleasure! 

The Intouchables (M), Roxane (PG), The Teacher (MA), Call My Agent (MA).

Which are your 'go-to' French films? 

Films that make me dream of France

There is nothing quite like a film set in France - whether it spans the idyllic countryside or captures the grandeur of Haussmann's Paris. Let's be honest, the only reason I ever watch the Tour de France is to transport myself to the quaint villages they pass through, picturing myself wandering through the cobble stones and tearing off the quignon d'une baguette. Whenever I feel la nostalgie, I satisfy my French craving by watching a film that glorifies the French terrain. Romantic and subtle, as if looking through an Impressionist painting, or through Piaf's rose-coloured glasses. These 14 films will make you want to jump on a plane to France tout de suite...

Il n'y a rien de tel qu'un film tourné en France - soit à la campagne idyllique, soit à Paris dans toute la splendeur de Haussmann. De toute façon, la seule raison pour laquelle je regarde le Tour de France, c'est pour me faire transporter aux petits villages au charme désuet, où je peux créer l'image de flâner dans les rues pavées en mangeant le quignon d'une baguette. Chaque fois que j'ai ce type de nostalgie, je regarde un film qui glorifie le terrain français pour que je puis satisfaire mon appétit. L'appétit pour les images romantiques et subtils, comme une peinture d'impressionnisme, ou la vie en rose de Piaf. Surtout, les 14 films suivants m'encouragent à partir tout de suite pour la France ...

Un: Amélie (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain)

There is nothing quite like the Paris in Amélie. Constant reds and greens with a sepia overtone make you dream of a Paris that only exists in dreams. Much like the dreams of Amélie, a young Parisienne waitress, who attempts to change the lives of those around her.

Scenery to watch: Parisian apartments, Parisian bistros, Montmartre


Deux: Midnight in Paris

Through the eyes of the main protagonist Gill Pender (Owen Wilson), you see the fine juxtaposition of the old and new Paris, usually at night or even more splendid... in the rain. All thoughts of a writer's Parisian 1920's utopia is brought to life where the Fitzgerald's, Stein, Porter, and Hemingway show Paris as it once was.

Scenery to watch: 1920-styled Parisian parties and bars, Saint-Ouen flea market


Trois: Paris, Je T'aime

It's hard to find a film that shows off more of the Parisian boulevards than this... 'Paris, je t'aime' is a series of short films portraying the lives of everyday Parisians in different arrondissements made by an array of different directors.

Scenery to watch: Parisian cobblestoned streets, grand boulevards


Quatre: French Kiss

The first scenes consist of Meg Ryan contained in a room and a plane, but she is soon liberated and unleashed in the vast, green French countryside. Filmed in many the idyllic location; Paris, Cannes, and the picturesque region of the Provence-Alpes-Côtes d'Azur, you will be whisked away by the beauty and romance of both Kevin Kline and the scenery.

Scenery to watch: Southern French vineyards, Côtes d'Azur seaside


Cinq: Before Sunset

This film immerses you in the bustling streets of Paris as it follows an afternoon of two past lovers as they talk and wander through les rues de Paris. The uncut long scenes make you feel as though you are walking alongside the couple, taking you through romantic areas of cafés, gardens and a bateau mouche.

Scenery to watch: Banks of the River Seine, Shakespeare and Company bookstore


Six: Elevator to the Gallows (L'ascenseur pour l'échafaud)

Jeanne Moreau takes to wandering the streets of Paris often in this film set to the music of Miles Davis. A great policier for it's time, the scenery shows off the new richness of the French industrial era and the Parisian streets in all their natural glory. Filmed in the Nouvelle Vague era, this film uses natural, outdoor light to capture the beauty of a growing city.

Scenery to watch: 1950's Parisian streets, French modernity


Sept: Charade

There is no doubt that Audrey Hepburn brought France to the forefront of the big screen. Charade captures the majestic Technicolour Paris with beautiful walks along the banks of the River Seine while the intrigue continues. Some other films with beautiful French scenery in which Hepburn stars are 'Paris When It Sizzles' and 'Two For The Road'.

Scenery to watch: Banks of the River Seine, glorious Parisian hotels

Huit: Marie Antoinette

Showcasing the glam, the glitz, and the glory. This modern interpretation of Marie Antoinette's history with main actress Kirsten Dunst is a sight for the senses. The film allows the audience to peer into the life of the old French monarchy and experience the majestic Versailles palace and gardens. There are beautiful scenes shot at Marie Antoinette's Estate, Le Petit Trianon, to feast your eyes on.

Scenery to watch: Versailles Palace and gardens, the Petit Trianon


Neuf: Moulin Rouge

Naturally the ridiculousness of Baz Luhrmann's films are ultimately indulgent and fascinatingly beautiful. His portrayal of the Moulin Rouge really gives you a bustling impression of the cabaret in it's 'heyday'. It's luxurious reds and velvets and romantic tunes also help if you are ever standing in front of the Moulin Rouge today on the touristy streets of Montmartre. Sing a little tune from Moulin Rouge and you can almost picture Toulouse Lautrec entering for a good night of painting and... well ooh la la.

Scenery to watch: Moulin Rouge, views from Montmartre


Dix: The Hundred Foot Journey

Just how you imagine every tiny French village to be; beautiful and intolerant. The film captures the beauty of an Indian immigrant family who move to France to open a restaurant, and the film develops a beautiful composition of food and family in the French countryside.

Scenery to watch: towns in the Midi-Pyrénées, sweeping country roads


Onze: Ratatouille

A film that makes you melt inside like an oozing raclette cheese. Even though an animated film, this movie beautifully portrays the daily life of a chef in Paris through the eyes of a cute Parisian mouse. The connection of food and French nostalgia is also tied together through a Proust Madeleine-esque moment.

Scenery to watch: wide-shots of Paris, French restaurant kitchens


Douze: A Very Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiançailles)

Set in wartime France, mainly in rugged Brittany, this film follows the life of a poor country girl waiting and searching for her long-lost love. Beautiful scenes of northern France with warm sepia browns and deep green forest will transport you to the harsh but serene moments of WWI.

Scenery to watch: Cliffs in Brittany, French country homestead


Treize: The Bélier Family (La famille Bélier)

Just another glorious regional setting in the captivating French countryside. A heart-moving story of the eldest daughter who, indispensible to her deaf family, desires to move to Paris to study music. The scenes revolve around the picturesque family farm and the small community group in town and at the local school.

Scenery to watch: French farms, small town food markets

Quatorze: Chocolat

A romantic vision of a small town filled with chocolate love and... Johnny Depp. There's the quaint little chocolate shop with a gorgeous terrace, the idyllic small French village on the river's edge, and dresses to die for.

Scenery to watch: French chocolate shop, small French stone village

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Which films would you add?
Quels films ajouteriez-vous?