The “New French Extremity” was a term coined, somewhat pejoratively, in 2004 by film critic James Quandt, when referring to a group of French films coming out at the tail end of the 1990’s and into the early 2000’s that reveled in transgressive and extreme depictions of sex and violence. This series aims to showcase French filmmakers and French language films and build a greater appreciation of an underrepresented component of French cinema. Canadian film writer Alexandra West, author of “Films of the New French Extremity: Visceral Horror and National Identity”, will be invited to speak to the films’ lasting impact and importance on the cultural landscape. As part of the series, we will be screening BAISE-MOI (Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi, 2000), INSIDE (Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, 2007), TROUBLE EVERY DAY (Claire Denis, 2001) and MARTYRS (Pascal Laugier, 2008).
Content warning: These films portray extreme violence, sexual assault, explicit sex, torture, blood and gore. Viewer discretion is advised.
Baise-moi
Fri, Sept 24 / 9pm
Wed, Oct 6 / 7pm
Tue, Oct 12 / 9:10pm
Thu, Oct 14 / 9:10pm
Trouble Every Day
Sat, Sept 25 / 5:05pm
Tue, Sept 28 / 7pm
Thu, Sept 30 / 9:15pm
Tue, Oct 5 / 7pm
Alexandra West on the New French Extremity
Sat, Sept 25 / 7:30pm
Martyrs
Sat, Sept 25 / 9pm
Sat, Oct 2 / 9:05pm
Wed, Oct 13 / 7pm
Inside
Sun, Sept 26 / 5:05pm
Fri, Oct 1 / 7pm
Wed, Oct 6 / 8:55pm
Sun, Oct 10 / 7pm
This series is sponsored by the Ambassade de France au Canada.
