President Linda Bleicken opened the eighth annual Francophone Film Festival with a warm “Bonsoir,” welcoming attendees to the premier screening of the 1965 film, “Alphaville.”
Armstrong’s French Club hosted the three-day celebration of French cinema, including a lovely reception on the first night catered by downtown French café, Café M. Owners Arthur and Amanda de Bruc de Montplaisir hail from France and were delighted to provide authentic French delicacies from their newly opened café.
As “Alphaville” and the first night of the festival came to an end, the audience gathered outside the Ogeechee Theater to snack on a variety of swirls, ham and swiss baguettes and chocolate croissants while discussing the film.
“I did indeed enjoy the film,” said junior English Communications major Luke Lyman-Barner. “I’ve been involved with the French Club before [… it] has been a more worthwhile group to be involved in as a commuter,” he said.
“[“Alphaville”] was a great dystopian film,” said current French Club officer Emily Randall. She takes her involvement in the club very seriously. “It’s important to realize that you are not just a local citizen but a global citizen,” she said.
The festival’s second night was opened by director of Women’s Studies Jane Rago, and interim Psychology department head John Kraft. Together they examined the intricacies of films “Deux Jours Une Nuit” (2014) and “De Rouille et d’Os” (2012) through the lenses of their respective fields.
The final night saw criminal justice department head Daniel Skidmore-Hess and director of International Studies Dorothee Mertz-Weigel discussing films “La Havre” (2011) and “La French” (2014).
Despite low turnout for the final two nights, senior and current French Club president Gannon Mason believes the festival was indeed a success.
“Every year we have a more diverse group of attendees. [This year] we had a visitor from Canada in Savannah and he enjoyed himself a lot. This festival made his entire trip,” Mason said.
For more information on the French Club, contact Gannon Mason at gm4595@stu.armstrong.edu.
