by Marla Lewin

Just a little more than a month away from my favorite French Film Festival in Los Angeles, The City of Lights-City of Angels film festival. Each year it gets better and better with great films and small intimate interviews with amazing legendary directors and this year will be no different as they will be honoring the acclaimed writer-director Bertrand Blier. Who could forget his film GOING PLACES starring Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, and Jeanne Moreau? This year they will screen his new film COL-COA 2011: THE CLINK OF ICE, starring Albert Dupontel and Jean Dujardin, which opened the 2010 Venice Days sidebar and won its best film award. The Thursday Happy Hour Talk will follow his film COLD CUTS which also starred Gerard Depardieu.

THE CLINK OF ICE starring Albert Dupontel and Jean Dujardin    ©Luc Roux/Wild Bunch Distribution

The festival has also announced that as part of their 15th anniversary year celebration they will also honor  two other distinguished directors with COL▪COA Classics screenings.  Writer-director Pierre Schoendoerffer’s THE 317th PLATOON, was the first definitive film to cover the struggle during the French Vietnam War.  The octogenarian, who won Best Screenplay for the film at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival, will make a rare appearance at the festival.

The incomparable Anouk Aimee 

Another treat is Famed French New Wave writer-director Jacques Demy’s film “LOLA,” which celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new print of the restored film. The 1961 film stars acclaimed film actress Anouk Aimée.

 This GOI NG PLACES   clip is in French only, but you get the idea and the video quality is very good.

Their program announcement email goes out 3/22, and tickets go on sale the same day, so follow them on FaceBook or Twitter (links are here) to ensure that you get your tickets!