(Classic?) French films for 14 year olds

[Stewedcoot]

Hi posting here in the hope of more 'traffic'.

Could anyone please recommend some classic French films for 14 year old English children (boys and girls).

The teens concerned are native English speakers and French learners. Their level of French isn't high but they are generally intelligent and have a basic understanding of the language. (Presumably many films have sub-titles anyway.) Don't want anything too risqué as I am a godparent to one of the children concerned!

Any suggestions gratefully received! Thank you!

if theyre only just learnimg, it might scare them off

This has made me remember a lovely French film made in the 50's called The Red Balloon. But there's very little spoken in it so not much good for learning French I guess.

It's just a beautiful (and typically French ie stylish) film. I'd love to see it again. No idea where to find it.

Oh I love the red balloon Throwachickenintheair that is definitely going on the list - and as you say, not much dialogue, but very atmospheric!

Yes it might Branleuse that's why I am trying to choose carefully. Loads of DVDS have sub-titles in English too. Thought a comedy might work?

Any of Jacques Tati's films.

btw Branleuse didn't mean that in a snippy way

Thanks allalonenow Jacques Tati films did spring to mind but thought they might be a bit slow for 14 year olds - more suited to 18 yr olds maybe? Not sure!

I was thinking more along the lines of Les Visiteurs

All of Louis de Funes (start with "les grandes vacances", le grand restaurant, la grande vadrouille) Love them! move on to the cheesy "gendarmes" series if they like the humour.

Jacques Tati: Mon oncle, Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot

The Jacques Demi musical comedies: les parapluies de cherbourg, les demoiselles de Rochefort, Peau d'Ane

These are all super feelgood post war movies, garanteed

More recently Amelie Poulain?

la crise and la belle verte by coline serreau have more adult themes but very funny and OK for that age group.

La vie est un long fleuve tranquille, tatie Danielle and le bonheur est dans le pre(Ettienne Chatiliez) are really hilarious. More classic french disfunctional adults & families but in a very non threatening way.

My 2 Jean Paul Belmondo favorites: L'homme de Rio (70ies James Bond spoof) & Itineraire d'un enfant gate.

La vie en Rose is great if they are into biopics

How about Truffaut's Les Quatre Cent Coups? I should think 14 year olds would respond very well to its themes -- family conflict, adolescent feelings of unwantedness and dislocation.

Or Vigo's Zero de Conduite -- about a rebellion in a school?

Thank you very much for all of those suggestions Laptopwieldingharpy Will investigate all of those! [Bows to encyclopedic knowledge of French film!]

Thank you also NimimyPiminy another two to investigate! Funnily a friend mentioned the latter to me today!

My kids absolutely love Les Touches - about a French family who win the lottery and move to Monte Carlo. Also Diner des Cons - which as well as being very funny also has the benefit of not being too long. Also anything with Louis de Funes as previously mentioned.

Thank you so much Indelikate and Lillian - really kind of you! They sound like really good suggestions. I'll check them out as to suitability !

I loved the jean de florette trilogy at 16 whilst revising for GCSEs French. In the second one Manon de source she is about 15.

Relatively new film with a bit of swearing but absolutely lovely is untouchable.

Un monstre à Paris
The triplets of Bellevue
The illusionist

All great animations

I used to be a French teacher and these films all went down a treat:

Wasabi
Yamakasi
Taxi 1, 2 and 3 (these films were loved by Yr 9 boys - aged 14!)

Small change by Truffaut
Ma vie en rose (NOTHING to do with Piaf; it's about a little boy who is convinced he's a girl)
Lucie Aubrac (WW2)
Au revoir les enfants (WW2)

Probably a bit too old for these kids:
La Haine
L'Apartement

I agree with suggestion upthread about Le diner des cons - that's a classic!

Yet more replies!! Fantastic! Thanks everyone!

Preciousbane thank you very much! I agree, Les Visiteurs should definitely be on the list!

Emgee thanks - not having teenagers yet - your tips on what films are suitable for a particular age group are absolutely invaluable!

Stillwish thanks - I thought of Jean de Florette trilogy - they are definitely going in the 'to watch again and check out category'!

Animations will be good Cerealoffender!

Will check out the others you mention Nydj and Indelikate

Thanks to anyone I have missed out too!

The teenagers concerned are quite young/straight for their age so will be going for the 'younger' selection of films this time but thanks to this thread, now have loads of choices for the years ahead too !

PS Emgee your French lessons sound a lot more interesting than the ones I endured at school!

Les choristes, Le Guerre des boutons and Le Petit Nicolas. All great French films. The first about a school choir with lovely music, the other two children's films which are frankly a delight.

When they're a bit older, the jean de florette trilogy. Ridicule is a great film too, probably quite hard to understand though.