French tv series

[Ilovejacketpotatoes]

I am looking for recommendations for french tv series as trying to improve my french. Less keen on dubbed but if you know any that are done well do say. I am gutted that Call My Agent is bo longer on netflix as hadn't finished it . I have usual netflix/ i player etc

I am the same - I often wonder if the actors get annoyed when they are dubbed by some bored sounding shouty American for example. I think it must make them want to cry half the time. I'd much rather hear the real thing and just read.

Great tip off, I've been wanting to watch this for a while. Thank you!

I wouldn’t pick that up in either subtitled or dubbed but I can imagine it being really grating in exactly that Dick van Dyke way. It might just pass in a comedy but in Narcos it must really jar.

I was talking about subtitled TV this weekend with one of my SiLs (also a fan) and she reminded me of another reason we started watching them. With subtitled dramas we had to give more of attention to the story, rather than watching whilst catching up with a million other things for the next day. I think that made them more relaxing to watch (relaxing being a relative term for the noir thrillers we both like!).

No I mean the character’s accent is often short hand to the character in a way that isn’t always obvious from the voice. eg I would not be able to distinguish between the equivalent of and old Etonian accent and a WC Belfast accent in Norwegian but these accents are often used a portray aspects of the character which don’t come across in subtitles or just voice. In the dubbed versions typically these nuances are audible.

I agree, dubbing is usually awful so I watch a bit of each new character dubbed knowing that the accent represents aspects of the character then switch back to subs.

I do think the quality of subtitles is poorer since they were largely generated rather than “translated”.

I agree with all PP recommendations but maybe if you are looking for something a bit different and a bit more French, here are a few suggestions:
disclosure: i am french so maybe not the best to recommend series to learn french!
Have you seen les intouchables with Omar Sy (the guy from Lupin) it is a great movie and it is studied for french A level in the uk. (Along with La Haine).

For a TV serie: If you look up on Youtube “Bref” you will find lots of short comedy videos. They do make up a story but its ok if uou dont watch them in order.
then on Disney + you can watch Bref 2. The sequel, in long form. Only a 5 or 6 episodes but so existentialist, it is refreshing to have a mini serie that intelligent and light hearted (overall, even if some moments are very deep)
it is very well known in France so you can tick a box for french culture! Kyan Kojandi was on Canal + so he is a household name in france

if you enjoyed Bref 2, then why not try the french version of “En therapy” again, seeped in French culture (though a lot more niche than Bref) and excellent! En Therapy 2 - is a lot darker and maybe more suited to hardcore psychoanalysts! 😅 En therapy (1st season) is not dubbed, it is adapted from a popular serie in hebrew. They also made an adaptation for the US (but not as good as the french one!!) It is super clever.

Netflix is good but it can get a bit boring….
Bon apprentissage!

Has anyone added the brilliant drama exactly based on the real serial rapist who carried on raping in the same area over about 30 years? I cannot remember its name.

I see what you mean. I just find a dubbed voice so artificial, I find it hard to get past.
Aspects of class, background etc are often portrayed by a character's clothes/where they live etc as well though, and how the others talk about them. But I do agree, I often feel in foreign dramas that I'm missing a lot of cultural points that in English and a UK setting I would just 'get'.

I think you mean Sambre, which some pp have mentioned. I too thought it was very well done.

That’s it, thank you. It was brilliant.

Yes exactly - in the nuances of class in particular are often portrayed differently in different cultures and other cultural signifiers (eg the colour of a football scarf in Glasgow) would also pass me unnoticed.

When working in Scandinavian countries in particular I’ve found it very hard to distinguish class as the cultural norm is to minimise the differences, at least in the workplace. In Italy I had no such trouble - that norm simply isn’t there. I’m working in cities usually so that also will have an effect of course.

I suppose I’m using half an episode of awful dubbing as an idiot signboard telling me “who” the character really is outside of their words.

When working in Scandinavian countries in particular I’ve found it very hard to distinguish class as the cultural norm is to minimise the differences
That's interesting. I'm sure I've read that the wealth gap in Scandinavian countries is much less than it is here – the difference between what a bin man makes and what a lawyer makes, say, is much smaller. I guess it's all part of the overall culture.

I think the two things probably are related. There is less of a gap in wealth but also being seen to stand out too much is bad form and likely to attract negative comment. It isn’t the wealth which is the problem socially but someone thinking they are better because of the wealth (if that makes sense). Or at least that is how it was explained to me by colleagues.

That said historically the Scandinavian countries have been very culturally cohesive. Its interesting to see some of the changes creeping in with more cultural diversity from mass media and migration and more economic stress.

It's all down to Jante's Law. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante It's had huge influence over societal attitudes in Scandinavia.

Yes, 'tall poppy syndrome' is a real thing in Nordic countries, I think.
And it is a bit worrying the way they seem to be responding to the changes in demographic caused by people coming in from non-white majority countries.

Sambre

Not a series, but for Omar Sy fans a new film just dropped on Netflix - French Lover. It’s a bit cheesy but very watchable - shades of 10 percent and Lupin. We enjoyed it!

If you can find it anywhere, this was amazing

According to JustWatch, it’s available on Prime Video. Agree it was great, but hadn’t realised it was there. Prime are classic at adding titles without fanfare but also making them hard to find.

just remembered Insoupconnable which is on STV Player still. It’s a straight remake of the first two series of The Fall. So no surprises if you’ve watched that, but maybe helpful to follow along with a bit of prior knowledge of the plot.

And also, currently on Disney+ they have a few of the France 3 serie: Meurtres a... it's a collection of TV movies in which the characters investigate crimes. The plots are related to cults, local myths, historical events, or legends in the towns and regions of France. You get to visit France by proxy, as well as learning the language. It's great.

Oh thanks for this. I need something to watch tonight!

I’ll be jumping on these. There was a nice short one we watched about a set of apartments during Covid. Can’t think what it was called though

Thanks to Mumsnet I found ‘Un Village Francais’ (called ‘The Line’ on ITVx). It is brilliant! Up there in my top Tv of all time. It originally it sounded like a dull period drama following a village from the occupation in WW2 until afterwards but it a clever thriller, spy, drama and is breathtaking. I never thought out the detail before on people’s lives and how thing actually happened - I’m gripped.
I only have a handful of top TV off all time and half are French! I’d also add Bureau des legendes (my no.1 ever) and Engrenages/Spiral.
.. a few of the main /Sprial actors play main roles in Un Village Francais/The Line.
Bon viewing.

I started this and enjoyed it to a point but it fizzled a bit for me by ep3 and I'm not sure why. I'll go back and keep going, given your praise.