Films in which small roles are turned into unforgettable moments such as “The Verdict” and “Angel Heart” are still amazing previous and new fans. Diverse roles including Miss Havisham in “Great Expectations” for television and the seductive Sarah Morton on film for “Swimming Pool” has kept Ms. Rampling as an icon of the industry. Her ability to take on any character large or small and make it completely her own is a rare gift. Like her peers, Catherine Deneuve and Helen Mirren, the roles and her talent merge to create a worthy study for young actors. A career spanning several decades takes perseverance and dedication in an industry as fickle as the movies. To continuously work and share her gift makes Charlotte Rampling one of the rare and gifted beauties.

In his early years, some of Godard’s greatest influences were American gangster films and pop art. The plot of movies like Breathless and Band of Outsiders are the straight out of the American gangster genre. Even if you
are unfamiliar with the films that Godard is referencing, he uses visual, pop art cues to guide the viewer; movie posters of Humphrey Bogart, for example, are strewn throughout the streets of Paris in the film Breathless. Godard’s use of jump-cuts, music, long takes, and natural lighting also create a pop art kaleidoscope of image and sound. The second half of Godard’s career was focused on how to put politics and philosophical treatises into the narrative of film. At this point Godard’s films became less like traditional movies, and more akin to political and philosophical essays. The film, Weekend, is the high-point of this stage.

The classic French film industry in the 19th and early 20th centuries was arguably the world’s most important, certainly among the most influential. Despite suffering a lack of capital after World War I, French film continued to remain prolific and became known for such styles as poetic realism and French Impressionist Cinema. Some of the greatest films to come from this era include Marcel Pagnol’s famous trilogy Marius, Fanny and Cesar, Under the Roofs of Paris by Rene Clair, Carnival in Flanders by Jacques Feyder, Jean Renoir’s La Grande Illusion and La Regle du Jeu. Another great film was Les Enfants du Paradis by Marcel Carne. Released in 1945, it was eventually voted the best French film of the century in the 90′s.

Modern French cinema still has a strong influence on the world as seen in films such as 1979′s La Cage aux Folles, which won numerous awards and has still had the most successful run of any foreign film in the United States. More recently, Luc Besson’s Nikita and Cyrano de Bergerac by Jean-Paul Rappeneau were very successful and the latter made Grard Depardieu a recognized name in the international industry.

Having been born as a mix between her French mother and Greek father, Agnes grew to become a world-renowned artist of truth. Having recently turned 81, her documentary style focuses on realism and gritty issues while still managing to confound and awe audiences across borders. In fact, her particular demands of multicultural interaction in film seem to destroy borders, rather than merely talk about them from some distant podium.

Who could ever forget Clo de 5 7, her first breathtaking film in 1962? She explores the intrigues of death and hope with the French singer Cleo and the young soldier she meets, on his way to Algeria. It is genuinely possible to experience the French life in a foreign style while gaining an abject look into the world beyond any other. Why? Because, Agnes Varda has done it.

It can almost be said that rather than provide inspiration for questions, her life’s work and even her latest film, said to be the last, The Beaches of Agns lead her audiences to ask questions of themselves instead.

Likeable cad escapism characters repeat in several of Belmondo’s film roles as he becomes an icon of the French New Wave. A genre that captured much of the world in the 1950′s and 1960′s. A complex turn of influences including the Italian Neorealism and 1940′s Hollywood enveloped French filmmakers. This in turn influenced a new idea of American Independent film making.

Belmondo has made several films a year from 1956 until 2000. Moving easily from romantic quirky, comedy, science fiction and edgy political characters his roles are fluid and smooth. Working with brilliant writers and directors over the decades, such as Francois Truffant and Alain Resnais, Jean Paul Belmondo has solidified a character actor and leading man status.

As far as Bardot goes, she was an important export for French film in general, and helped bring attention to the great work being done in that country. Considering that the French brought us the concept of cinema verite, or filmed truth, bears this claim out. Particularly, what has come to be known as the French New Wave of filmmaking still informs filmmaking technique today.

Discovering, or rediscovering the works of this particular region, and its native genres, can be a journey of joy. With or without attractive ingnues, the film scene out of France was highly influential, and deserves another look. There are some serious works to consider, as well as those made on the lighter side of the spectrum. All offer a unique and kinetic look into what were once considered radical methodologies, and are now considered state of the art.