# Suggest some very good French movies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2013, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-very-good-french-movies/662250 "2013-06-30T08:57:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-very-good-french-movies/662250/61 "2013-07-08T16:49:04Z")
The PBS subchannel MHz has some French-made series in its “International Mystery” line-up: [http://www.mhznetworks.org/programs/mystery-drama](http://www.mhznetworks.org/programs/mystery-drama) Tonight, Monday, July 8th, they are starting a re-run of Season One of “Spiral”: > **[Spiral (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_(TV_series))** > > Spiral (French: Engrenages, lit. 'Gears', pronounced \[ɑ̃ɡʁəˈnaʒ\]) is a French television police procedural and legal drama series following the work and the private lives of Paris police officers and lawyers and judges at the Palais de Justice, Paris. It was created by Alexandra Clert for the TV production company Son et Lumière. The first series of eight episodes started broadcast on Canal+ in France in December 2005. > The first series was shown in the UK on BBC Four during the summer of 2006.... (two episodes each Monday for four weeks, the entire eight-episode first season – this showing is a set-up for Season Two (of four so far; two more in the pipeline), starting next month) “Spiral” is very edgy, gritty, high-end cinematic stuff, and can be difficult to follow. But it’s a monster hit in France and internationally. The French law enforcement and legal systems are very different from Anglo-American ones, so it can be hard for American viewers to tell who’s doing what, and whether they should be or not. Even native French speakers have trouble keeping up with the rapid-paced urban patois that the characters use. If you’d settle for some lower-brainpower stuff, there’s “Inspector Maigret” on Tuesdays, and “Frank Riva” (Alain Delon!) on Thursdays (ending its run soon; re-starting on Saturdays in a few weeks). “Blood of the Vine” has concluded its run, but may show up again. “Maigret” might be the best starting place for someone wanting to work on his/her French. This is more French programming than MHz usually runs; their staples are Italian and Swedish series. Everything is sub-titled (except an Australian series, which needs it – regional accents, immigrant Asian characters; even the Australians have trouble with it). Station listing: [http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhz-worldview/carriage](http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhz-worldview/carriage) On-line: [http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhz-worldview/live](http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhz-worldview/live) Various platforms: > **[MHz Networks Homepage](https://mhznetworks.com/)** > > MHz Networks is a global media company, which specializes in presenting the world's best programming to American and Canadian audiences. ---
**Author:** ![sylmar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@sylmar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sylmar)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-very-good-french-movies/662250/62 "2013-07-08T17:17:37Z")
No Jerry Lewis ? OSS 117, Cairo, Nest of Spies ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-very-good-french-movies/662250/63 "2013-07-14T20:25:33Z")
> [@ombre12](#): > > W > > So name me some outstanding French movies, movies that will blow my socks off… > > S’il vous plait. I dunno about blowing your socks off, but if you want to laugh: [Tatie Danielle](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100747/) [Roger Ebert’s review](http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tatie-danielle-1991) Only 6 votes, but 100% on Rotten Tomatoes [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-some-very-good-french-movies/662250.md?page=3)