Celebrated French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier, Gallic producer Robert Benayoun, L.A. weekly critic Manohola Dargis and indie distrib John Gerrans are among the participants in "New Wave --- Next Wave: French Films in the U.S. --- Issues of Art and Commerce."
The panel on April 10 at 4:30 p.m. at the Directors Guild highlights "City of Lights, City of Angels," a weeklong tribute to recent French movies that concludes Saturday with Tavernier's award-winning "Capitaine Conan." Also screening in the program are Claire Denis' "Nenette and Boni" and Claude Lelouch's "Men, Women: User's Manual."
Next to America, French cinema has the longest unbroken history of quality and success. From the silent era through the work of Rene Clair, Renoir, the New Wave and to the present, French films and filmmakers have had a palpable impact on international moviemaking.
Nonetheless, in the U.S., influence less and less translates into box office even though America remains France's top export market. The panel, moderated by writer-director Frank Pierson, will attempt to grapple with the correlation and anomalies of business, art and foreign exchange. Also participating in the panel are UCLA Film Archive director Robert Rosen and Sundance program director Geoff Gilmore.
Admission is free and open to the public. Further information on the series is available by calling (310)-289-5318.
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