Five fantastic French directors for every cinephile to fall in love with

In 2018, international movies are becoming a staple. To mark the 18th anniversary of Amélie’s release, we’re shining a spotlight on French cinema. No pressure on you to enjoy these movies because they speak for themselves – these directors have created extraordinary work. As such, here’s a list of French directors every film buff should know about.

Delphine & Muriel Coulin

The two sisters’ notable film was 17 Girls. They were inspired by the Massachusetts groups of teenage girls who made a pregnancy pact. Their vision places a heavy weight on the body and clique mentality.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet

His film Amélie became a worldwide hit. Jeunet’s style is opening up French culture and presenting it to a global audience. He creates art cinema with the theme of childlike whimsy. His work is usually ripe with colors to set the tone.

Julien Maury

Maury’s film Inside is a horror movie with a twisted conclusion. It would be fair to warn you, the story is a gory tale of a pregnant woman who is stalked in her home by a mad and violent perpetrator. The director was looking for an immediate reaction from the audience and it worked. This film is brutal, harrowing, and definitely a worthy watch for any horror junkies out there.

Abdellatif Kechiche

This director’s central film is Blue Is the Warmest Color – an intense look at a love affair between two women. It’s hailed as romantic agony rather than pornography and while Kechiche may have pushed the boundaries during the film’s production, he paints a beautiful portrait of love.

François Ozon

This director graduated from La Femis and his signature theme is usually sexual depravity, as demonstrated in Young & Beautiful. With this film, he takes audiences out of their comfort zone and into the world of prostitution via the story of the movie’s central character Isabelle (Marine Vacth).