Le silence de Lorna (Lorna’s silence)
by Jean-Pierre et Luc Dardenne (2007)

Trailer | Review

The films of Belgian brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne make up a body of work that is unrivaled in its realist, deeply humane focus on how those who exist on the margins of society—the poor, criminals, immigrants—must constantly face enormous moral decisions in their struggle for more secure, stable lives in a global economy. Lorna, an Albanian immigrant living in the Belgian city of Liege, shares an apartment with a heroin addict named Claudy. They have a sham marriage that allows her to legally live in the country, where she dreams of opening up a café with her boyfriend. But the mobster who arranged their marriage is now planning to kill Claudy—with Lorna’s help—in a planned overdose so she can marry a Russian who’s willing to pay a steep price for Belgian residency papers. Lorna, like all of the Dardennes’ protagonists, isn’t merely a one-dimensional emblem of suffering, but a multifaceted character who must make—and live with—her own decisions. (Drama, 105 minutes)

AWARDS
Best Screenplay, Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne – Cannes Film Festival (2008) Best French Language Film – Lumières Awards (2009) 

C’est dur d’être aimé par des cons (It’s hard being loved by jerks)
by Daniel Leconte (2008)

Trailer | Review

This important documentary on the freedom of the press, censorship, and the right of religious minorities looks at a crucial 2007 Paris trial. Several Islamic organizations brought charges of slander against the French news weekly Charlie Hebdo for reprinting 12 satirical cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed that had originally appeared in a Danish newspaper in 2005. Director Daniel Leconte follows the entire course of the trial, with Philippe Val, editor of Charlie Hebdo (a publication that’s an equal opportunity offender), giving the filmmaker complete access to the magazine’s editorial and strategizing meetings. Amid the media circus surrounding the case, Leconte captures cogent, passionate speakers on both sides of the argument, including such prominent witnesses as Claude Lanzmann, reminding viewers of the absolute necessity of both the right to publish and the right to protest. (Documentary, 105 minutes)

Paris by Cédric Klapisch (2007)

Trailer | Review

In Cédric Klapisch’s wistful ensemble film about the City of Light, characters of different backgrounds intersect, providing a sense of the complex multitude contained within this great metropolis. The beating heart of Klapisch’s love letter to the city is the relationship between Pierre, a former dancer at the Moulin Rouge, and his older sister, Elise, a divorced, overburdened social worker raising three young children. After Pierre discovers that he has a potentially fatal illness, Elise and her brood move into his cramped apartment, taking care of and comforting a man who now fully appreciates the preciousness of life. Though his flat is small, Pierre has an incredible view from his balcony, where he frequently observes the teeming street life below. Regardless of whether you’ve never been to Paris or have visited several times, Klapisch’s stunning compositions of the city will inspire you to see the French capital in a whole new way. (Drama, 130 minutes)