All French films listed, including multinational (joint country) projects. 135 total films mentioned in the top 1000 ranked films, 2011 edition. Just French productions alone alone had 87 (down from 94). These are the highest totals after the U.S. Rules of the Game was #1 last time.
Renee Maria Falconetti turned in the best silent performance
of all time in Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc
France Only
88 Titles, most of any non-U.S. country
1. Passion of Joan of Arc, The (1928) Dreyer, Carl Theodor #34
2. 400 Blows, The (1959) Truffaut, François #37
3. Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) Bresson, Robert #50
4. Rules of the Game, The (1939) Renoir, Jean #63
5. Jules et Jim (1961) Truffaut, François #73
6. L'Atalante (1934) Vigo, Jean #88
7. Shoah (1985) Lanzmann, Claude #98
8. Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The (1972) Buñuel, Luis #99
9. Pickpocket (1959) Bresson, Robert #146
10. Breathless (1959) Godard, Jean-Luc #159
11. My Life to Live (Vivre sa vie) (1963) Godard, Jean-Luc #171
12. Man Escaped, A (1956) Bresson, Robert #188
13. Grande Illusion, La (1937) Renoir, Jean #197
14. Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974) Rivette, Jacques #202
15. Playtime (1967) Tati, Jacques #211
16. Diaboliques, Les (1955) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #214
17. Un Chien Andalou (1929) Short Buñuel, Luis #216
18. Ratatouille (2007) Bird, Brad & Pinkava, Jan #217
19. Belle et la bête, La (Beauty/Beast, 1946) Cocteau, Jean #241
20. Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain,2001) Jeunet, Jean-Pierre #243
21. Mon oncle (1958) Tati, Jacques #251
22. L'Âge d'or (1930) Buñuel, Luis #263
23. Band of Outsiders (Bande à part, 1964) Godard, Jean-Luc #268
24. Le Samouraï (1967) Melville, Jean-Pierre #299
25. Les Enfants du paradis (1945) Carné, Marcel #305
26. Diary of a Country Priest (1950) Bresson, Robert #312
27. Léon (The Professional, 1994) Besson, Luc #314
28. Day for Night (1973) Truffaut, François #334
29. Two or Three Things I Know About Her (1966) Godard, Jean-Luc #341
30. Napoléon (1927) Gance, Abel #354
31. Le Cercle Rouge (1970) Melville, Jean-Pierre #378
32. Forbidden Games (1951) Clément, René #383
33. Pépé le Moko (1937) Duvivier, Julien #384
34. Les Vampires (1915-16) Feuillade, Louis #391
35. Rise to Power of Louis XIV, The (1966) Rossellini, Roberto #399
36. Night and Fog (1955) Resnais, Alain #414
37. Shoot the Piano Player (1960) Truffaut, François #428
38. Lola Montès (1955) Ophüls, Max #432
39. Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) Ophüls, Max #433
40. Orpheus (1950) Cocteau, Jean #440
41. Sans soleil (1963) Marker, Chris #445
42. Le Million (1931) Clair, René #448
43. Prophet, A (2009) Audiard, Jacques #449
44. Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953) Tati, Jacques #459
45. Le Voyage dans la lune (Trip to the Moon, 1902) Méliès, Georges #462
46. Beau Travail (1998) Denis, Claire #468
47. Rififi (55) Dassin, Jules #474
48. Mother and the Whore, The (1973) Eustache, Jean #496
49. Mouchette (1966) Bresson, Robert #497
50. À nous la liberté (1931) Clair, René #528
51. Alphaville (1965) Godard, Jean-Luc #545
52. Le Jour se lève (1939) Carné, Marcel #562
53. Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) Varda, Agnès #599
54. Class, The (2008) Cantet, Laurent #620
55. Crime of Monsieur Lange, The (1936) Renoir, Jean #621
56. My Night at Maud's (1969) Rohmer, Eric #650
57. 35 Shots of Rum (2008) Denis, Claire #655
58. L'Enfant (The Child, 2005) Dardenne, Jean-Pierre & Luc #661
59. Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932) Renoir, Jean #676
60. United 93 (2006) Greengrass, Paul #685-UK-US
61. Carlos (2010) Assayas , Olivier #689
62. Claire's Knee (1970) Rohmer, Eric #712
63. Casque d'or (1952) Becker, Jacques #713
64. Son, The (Le Fils, 2002) Dardenne, Jean-Pierre & Luc #732
65. Plaisir, Le (1951) Ophüls, Max #745
66. La Commune (Paris, 1871) (2000) Watkins, Peter #754
67. Blood of a Poet, The (1930) Cocteau, Jean #778
68. Quai des Orfèvres (1947) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #788
69. Piccadilly (1929) Dupont, Ewald André #792
70. Le Boucher (1970) Chabrol, Claude #802
71. Young Girls of Rochefort, The (1967) Demy, Jacques #806
72. Time Out (2001) Cantet, Laurent #807
73. French Cancan (1954) Renoir, Jean #819
74. Phantom of Liberty, The (1974) Buñuel, Luis #828
75. India Song (1975) Duras, Marguerite #851
76. To Be and to Have (2002) Philibert, Nicolas #868
77. Au Revoir, Les Enfants (1987) Malle, Louis #873
78. Of Gods and Men (2010) Beauvois, Xavier #883
79. Beaches of Agnès, The (2008) Varda, Agnès #885
80. Under the Sand (2000) Ozon, Francois #894
81. Christmas Tale, A (2008) Desplechin, Arnaud #898
82. Wild Child, The (1970) Truffaut, François #906
83. Bob le flambeur (1956) Melville, Jean-Pierre #910
84. La Chienne (1931) Renoir, Jean #913
85. Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945) Bresson, Robert #950
86. Touchez Pas A Grisbi (1954) Becker, Jacques #978
87. Summer Hours (2008) Assayas, Olivier #991
88. Big Risk, The (1960) Sautet, Claude #1005
89. Murmur of the Heart (1971) Malle, Louis #1011
90. Van Gogh (1991) Pialat, Maurice #1055
91. La Haine (95) Kassovitz, Mathieu #1067
92. Vagabond (San toit ni loi, 1985) Varda, Agnès #1083
93. Mademoiselle Chambon (2009) Brizé, Stéphane #1125
94. Mon oncle d'Amérique (1980) Resnais, Alain #1146
95. La Ronde (1950) Ophüls, Max #1166
96. Delicatessen (91) Jeunet & Marc Caro #1168
97. Under the Roofs of Paris (1930) Clair, René #1195
98. Two English Girls (1971) Truffaut, François #1206
99. Amants du Pont-Neuf, Les (1991) Carax, Lèos #1207
100. Sur mes lèvres (Read My Lips, 01) Audiard, Jacques #1223
101. Lacombe, Lucien (1974) Malle, Louis #1265
102. Sugar Cane Alley (Rue case negres, 1983) Palcy, Euzhan #1288
103. Woman Next Door, The (1981) Truffaut, François #1303
104. A Woman is a Woman (61, Godard) Godard, Jean-Luc #1349
105. Port of Shadows (1938) Carné, Marcel #1361
106. Une Femme est une femme (1961) Godard, Jean-Luc #1384
107. La Collectionneuse (1967) Rohmer, Eric #1396
108. Carnival in Flanders (1935) Feyder, Jacques #1420
109. Out 1: Spectre (1974) Rivette, Jacques #1434
110. La Bête Humaine (1938) Renoir, Jean #1446
111. Un Coeur en hiver (1992) Sautet, Claude #1452
112. Cul-de-sac Polanski, Roman #1475
113. Les Enfants terribles Melville, Jean-Pierre #1489
Multinational Films (47 ranked)
1. Contempt (1963) Godard, Jean-Luc #89 France-Italy
2. Mulholland Dr. (2001) Lynch, David #122 France-US
3. Pierrot le fou (1965) Godard, Jean-Luc #124 France-Italy
4. Masculine-Feminine (1966) Godard, Jean-Luc #126 France-Sweden
5. Earrings of Madame de..., The (1953) Ophuls, Max #136 France-Italy
6. Pianist, The (2002) Polanski, Roman #142 France-Gy-UK-Poland
7. Wages of Fear, The (1952) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #168 France-Italy
8. Gospel According to St. Matthew, The (1964) Pasolini, Pier Paolo #176 France-Italy
9. Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The (1964) Demy, Jacques #187 France-Germany
10. Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The (2008) Schnabel, Julian #194 France-US
11. Last Year at Marienbad (1961) Resnais, Alain #213 France-Italy
12. Belle de jour (1967) Buñuel, Luis #219 France-Italy
13. Eyes Without a Face (1959) Franju, Georges #229 France-Italy
14. Hiroshima mon amour (1959) Resnais, Alain #246 France-Japan
15. Last Tango in Paris (1973) Bertolucci, Bernardo #262 France-Italy
16. Three Colours: Red (1994) Kieslowski, Krszystof #275 France-Switzerland-Poland
17. Army of Shadows (1969) Melville, Jean-Pierre #277 France-Italy
18. L'Eclisse (1962) Antonioni, Michelangelo #286 France-Italy
19. That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) Buñuel, Luis #293 France-Spain
20. Week-End (1967) Godard, Jean-Luc #304 France-Italy
21. Double Life of Veronique, The (1991) Kieslowski, Krszystof #344 France-Poland-Norway
22. La Notte (1961) Antonioni, Michelangelo #357 France-Italy
23. Red Desert (1964) Antonioni, Michelangelo #408 France-Italy
24. Three Colours: Blue (1993) Kieslowski, Krszystof #421 France-Poland-Switzerland
25. Persepolis (2007) Paronnaud, Vincent & Satrapi, Marjane #438 France-US
26. Tristana (1970) Buñuel, Luis #444 France-Spain
27. F for Fake (1973) Welles, Orson #471 France-Iran-West Germany
28. Sacrifice, The (1986) Tarkovsky, Andrei #472 France-Sweden
29. 1900 (1976) Bertolucci, Bernardo #505 France-Germany-Italy
30. Lola (1961) Demy, Jacques #540 France-Italy
31. In the Realm of the Senses (1976) Oshima, Nagisa #583 France-Japan
32. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964) Parajanov, Sergei #592 France-Iran
33. Argent, L' (1983) Bresson, Robert #593 France-Switz
34. River, The (1951) Renoir, Jean #611 France-India-US
35. Underground (1995) Kusturica, Emir #633 France-Germany-Hungary
36. Atlantic City (1980) Malle, Louis #642 Canada-France
37. Providence (1977) Resnais, Alain #718 France-Switz
38. Triplets of Belleville, The (2003) Chomet, Sylvain #736 France-Belg-Can-UK
39. Muriel ou Le Temps d'un Retour (1963) Resnais, Alain #817 France-Italy
40. Lancelot du Lac (1974) Bresson, Robert #831 France-Italy
41. Three Colours: White (1994) Kieslowski, Krszystof #845 France-Poland
42. Je rentre à la maison (I'm Going Home, 2001) de Oliveira, Manoel #879 France-Portugal
43. Certified Copy (2010) Kiarostami, Abbas #908 France-Italy-Belgium
44. Nostalgia for the Light (2010) Guzmán, Patricio #936 France-Gy-Chile
45. Passion (1982) Godard, Jean-Luc #952 France-Switzerland
46. La Belle Noiseuse (1991) Rivette, Jacques #967 France-Switz
47. Sauve qui peut (la vie) (1980) Godard, Jean-Luc #977 France-Switzerland
48. Since Otar Left (2003) Bertucelli, Julie #997 France-Belgium
49. Seraphine (2008) Provost, Martin #1020 France-Belgium
50. Ludwig (1972) Visconti, Luchino #1027 France-Germany-Italy
51. Tenant, The (1976) Polanski, Roman #1042 France-US
52. Z (1969) Costa-Gavras, Constantin #1080 France-Algeria
53. Trial, The (62) Welles, Orson #1092 France-Gy-Yugo-Italy
54. Winged Migration (2001) Perrin, Cluzaud, & Debats #1191 France-Ity-Gy-Spn-Switz
55. Arabian Nights (1974) Pasolini, Pier Paolo #1231 France-Italy
Some of the above don't seem very French (Pasolini, Kurosawa) - that's what makes country lists difficult.
All French Titles Merged (135 ranked)
1. Passion of Joan of Arc, The (1928) Dreyer, Carl Theodor #34 France
2. 400 Blows, The (1959) Truffaut, François #37 France
3. Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) Bresson, Robert #50 France
4. Rules of the Game, The (1939) Renoir, Jean #63 France
5. Jules et Jim (1961) Truffaut, François #73 France
6. L'Atalante (1934) Vigo, Jean #88 France
7. Contempt (1963) Godard, Jean-Luc #89 France-Italy
8. Shoah (1985) Lanzmann, Claude #98 France
9. Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The (1972) Buñuel, Luis #99 France
10. Mulholland Dr. (2001) Lynch, David #122 France-US
11. Pierrot le fou (1965) Godard, Jean-Luc #124 France-Italy
12. Masculine-Feminine (1966) Godard, Jean-Luc #126 France-Sweden
13. Earrings of Madame de..., The (1953) Ophuls, Max #136 France-Italy
14. Pianist, The (2002) Polanski, Roman #142 France-Gy-UK-Poland
15. Pickpocket (1959) Bresson, Robert #146 France
16. Breathless (1959) Godard, Jean-Luc #159 France
17. Wages of Fear, The (1952) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #168 France-Italy
18. My Life to Live (Vivre sa vie) (1963) Godard, Jean-Luc #171 France
19. Gospel According to St. Matthew, The (1964) Pasolini, Pier Paolo #176 France-Italy
20. Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The (1964) Demy, Jacques #187 France-Germany
21. Man Escaped, A (1956) Bresson, Robert #188 France
22. Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The (2008) Schnabel, Julian #194 France-US
23. Grande Illusion, La (1937) Renoir, Jean #197 France
24. Celine and Julie Go Boating (1974) Rivette, Jacques #202 France
25. Playtime (1967) Tati, Jacques #211 France
26. Last Year at Marienbad (1961) Resnais, Alain #213 France-Italy
27. Diaboliques, Les (1955) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #214 France
28. Un Chien Andalou (1929) Short Buñuel, Luis #216 France
29. Ratatouille (2007) Bird, Brad & Pinkava, Jan #217 France
30. Belle de jour (1967) Buñuel, Luis #219 France-Italy
31. Eyes Without a Face (1959) Franju, Georges #229 France-Italy
32. Belle et la bête, La (Beauty/Beast, 1946) Cocteau, Jean #241 France
33. Amélie (Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain,2001) Jeunet, Jean-Pierre #243 France
34. Hiroshima mon amour (1959) Resnais, Alain #246 France-Japan
35. Mon oncle (1958) Tati, Jacques #251 France
36. Last Tango in Paris (1973) Bertolucci, Bernardo #262 France-Italy
37. L'Âge d'or (1930) Buñuel, Luis #263 France
38. Band of Outsiders (Bande à part, 1964) Godard, Jean-Luc #268 France
39. Three Colours: Red (1994) Kieslowski, Krszystof #275 France-Switzerland-Poland
40. Army of Shadows (1969) Melville, Jean-Pierre #277 France-Italy
41. L'Eclisse (1962) Antonioni, Michelangelo #286 France-Italy
42. That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) Buñuel, Luis #293 France-Spain
43. Le Samouraï (1967) Melville, Jean-Pierre #299 France
44. Week-End (1967) Godard, Jean-Luc #304 France-Italy
45. Les Enfants du paradis (1945) Carné, Marcel #305 France
46. Diary of a Country Priest (1950) Bresson, Robert #312 France
47. Léon (The Professional, 1994) Besson, Luc #314 France
48. Day for Night (1973) Truffaut, François #334 France
49. Two or Three Things I Know About Her (1966) Godard, Jean-Luc #341 France
50. Double Life of Veronique, The (1991) Kieslowski, Krszystof #344 France-Poland-Norway
51. Napoléon (1927) Gance, Abel #354 France
52. La Notte (1961) Antonioni, Michelangelo #357 France-Italy
53. Le Cercle Rouge (1970) Melville, Jean-Pierre #378 France
54. Forbidden Games (1951) Clément, René #383 France
55. Pépé le Moko (1937) Duvivier, Julien #384 France
56. Les Vampires (1915-16) Feuillade, Louis #391 France
57. Rise to Power of Louis XIV, The (1966) Rossellini, Roberto #399 France
58. Red Desert (1964) Antonioni, Michelangelo #408 France-Italy
59. Night and Fog (1955) Resnais, Alain #414 France
60. Three Colours: Blue (1993) Kieslowski, Krszystof #421 France-Poland-Switzerland
61. Shoot the Piano Player (1960) Truffaut, François #428 France
62. Lola Montès (1955) Ophüls, Max #432 France
63. Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) Ophüls, Max #433 France
64. Persepolis (2007) Paronnaud, Vincent & Satrapi, Marjane #438 France-US
65. Orpheus (1950) Cocteau, Jean #440 France
66. Tristana (1970) Buñuel, Luis #444 France-Spain
67. Sans soleil (1963) Marker, Chris #445 France
68. Le Million (1931) Clair, René #448 France
69. Prophet, A (2009) Audiard, Jacques #449 France
70. Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953) Tati, Jacques #459 France
71. Le Voyage dans la lune (Trip to the Moon, 1902) Méliès, Georges #462 France
72. Beau Travail (1998) Denis, Claire #468 France
73. F for Fake (1973) Welles, Orson #471 France-Iran-West Germany
74. Sacrifice, The (1986) Tarkovsky, Andrei #472 France-Sweden
75. Rififi (55) Dassin, Jules #474 France
76. Mother and the Whore, The (1973) Eustache, Jean #496 France
77. Mouchette (1966) Bresson, Robert #497 France
78. 1900 (1976) Bertolucci, Bernardo #505 France-Germany-Italy
79. À nous la liberté (1931) Clair, René #528 France
80. Lola (1961) Demy, Jacques #540 France-Italy
81. Alphaville (1965) Godard, Jean-Luc #545 France
82. Le Jour se lève (1939) Carné, Marcel #562 France
83. In the Realm of the Senses (1976) Oshima, Nagisa #583 France-Japan
84. Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1964) Parajanov, Sergei #592 France-Iran
85. Argent, L' (1983) Bresson, Robert #593 France-Switz
86. Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) Varda, Agnès #599 France
87. River, The (1951) Renoir, Jean #611 France-India-US
88. Class, The (2008) Cantet, Laurent #620 France
89. Crime of Monsieur Lange, The (1936) Renoir, Jean #621 France
90. Underground (1995) Kusturica, Emir #633 France-Germany-Hungary
91. Atlantic City (1980) Malle, Louis #642 Canada-France
92. My Night at Maud's (1969) Rohmer, Eric #650 France
93. 35 Shots of Rum (2008) Denis, Claire #655 France
94. L'Enfant (The Child, 2005) Dardenne, Jean-Pierre & Luc #661 France
95. Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932) Renoir, Jean #676 France
96. United 93 (2006) Greengrass, Paul #685 France-UK-US
97. Carlos (2010) Assayas , Olivier #689 France
98. Claire's Knee (1970) Rohmer, Eric #712 France
99. Casque d'or (1952) Becker, Jacques #713 France
100. Providence (1977) Resnais, Alain #718 France-Switz
101. Son, The (Le Fils, 2002) Dardenne, Jean-Pierre & Luc #732 France
102. Triplets of Belleville, The (2003) Chomet, Sylvain #736 France-Belg-Can-UK
103. Plaisir, Le (1951) Ophüls, Max #745 France
104. La Commune (Paris, 1871) (2000) Watkins, Peter #754 France
105. Blood of a Poet, The (1930) Cocteau, Jean #778 France
106. Quai des Orfèvres (1947) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #788 France
107. Piccadilly (1929) Dupont, Ewald André #792 France
108. Le Boucher (1970) Chabrol, Claude #802 France
109. Young Girls of Rochefort, The (1967) Demy, Jacques #806 France
110. Time Out (2001) Cantet, Laurent #807 France
111. Muriel ou Le Temps d'un Retour (1963) Resnais, Alain #817 France-Italy
112. French Cancan (1954) Renoir, Jean #819 France
113. Phantom of Liberty, The (1974) Buñuel, Luis #828 France
114. Lancelot du Lac (1974) Bresson, Robert #831 France-Italy
115. Three Colours: White (1994) Kieslowski, Krszystof #845 France-Poland
116. India Song (1975) Duras, Marguerite #851 France
117. To Be and to Have (2002) Philibert, Nicolas #868 France
118. Au Revoir, Les Enfants (1987) Malle, Louis #873 France
119. Je rentre à la maison (I'm Going Home, 2001) de Oliveira, Manoel #879 France-Portugal
120. Of Gods and Men (2010) Beauvois, Xavier #883 France
121. Beaches of Agnès, The (2008) Varda, Agnès #885 France
122. Under the Sand (2000) Ozon, Francois #894 France
123. Christmas Tale, A (2008) Desplechin, Arnaud #898 France
124. Wild Child, The (1970) Truffaut, François #906 France
125. Certified Copy (2010) Kiarostami, Abbas #908 France-Italy-Belgium
126. Bob le flambeur (1956) Melville, Jean-Pierre #910 France
127. La Chienne (1931) Renoir, Jean #913 France
128. Nostalgia for the Light (2010) Guzmán, Patricio #936 France-Gy-Chile
129. Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945) Bresson, Robert #950 France
130. Passion (1982) Godard, Jean-Luc #952 France-Switzerland
131. La Belle Noiseuse (1991) Rivette, Jacques #967 France-Switz
132. Sauve qui peut (la vie) (1980) Godard, Jean-Luc #977 France-Switzerland
133. Touchez Pas A Grisbi (1954) Becker, Jacques #978 France
134. Summer Hours (2008) Assayas, Olivier #991 France
135. Since Otar Left (2003) Bertucelli, Julie #997 France-Belgium
Winged Migration was shot at over 200 locations
worldwide over six years, following migrating birds
My Favorites (* = unranked)
1. Winged Migration (2001) Perrin, Cluzaud, & Debats #1191 France-Ity-Gy-Spn-Switz
2. Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring (1986) Berri, Claude * France
3. 400 Blows, The (1959) Truffaut, François #37 France4. Chaos (2001) Serreau, Coline * France
5. A Very Long Engagement (2002) Jeunet, Jean-Pierre * France
6. La Femme Nikita (1990) Besson, Luc * France
7. Micmacs (2009) Jeunet, Jean-Pierre * France
8. Diva (1981) Beineix, Jean-Jacques * France
9. Innocence (2004) Hadzihalilovic, Lucile * France
10. Chorus, The (2004) Barratier, Christophe * France
11. United 93 (2006) Greengrass, Paul #685 France-UK-US
12. Ridicule (1996) Leconte, Patrice * France
13. Atlantic City (1980) Malle, Louis #642 Canada-France
14. The Two of Us (1967) Berri, Claude * France
15. Grande Illusion, La (1937) Renoir, Jean #197 France
16. Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) Bresson, Robert #50 France
17. Léon (The Professional, 1994) Besson, Luc #314 France
18. Triplets of Belleville, The (2003) Chomet, Sylvain #736 France-Belg-Can-UK
19. Elevator to the Gallows (1958) Malle, Louis #1593 France
20. Earrings of Madame de..., The (1953) Ophuls, Max #136 France-Italy
21. Plaisir, Le (1951) Ophüls, Max #745 France
22. 13 Tzameti (2006) Babluani, Géla * France
23. Rififi (1955) Dassin, Jules #474 France
24. Band of Outsiders (Bande à part, 1964) Godard, Jean-Luc #268 France
25. Vatel (2000) Joffé, Roland * France-UK-Belgium
26. Return of Martin Guerre, The (1982) Vigne, Daniel * France
27. Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, The (1972) Buñuel, Luis #99 France
28. Wages of Fear, The (1952) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #168 France-Italy
29. Day for Night (1973) Truffaut, François #334 France-Italy
30. Carlos (2010) Assayas , Olivier #689 France
31. Prophet, A (2009) Audiard, Jacques #449 France
32. Army of Shadows (1969) Melville, Jean-Pierre #277 France-Italy
33. Jules et Jim (1961) Truffaut, François #73 France
34. Shoah (1985) Lanzmann, Claude #98 France
35. Diaboliques, Les (1955) Clouzot, Henri-Georges #214 France
36. Pianist, The (2002) Polanski, Roman #142 France-Gy-UK-Poland
37. Shoot the Piano Player (1960) Truffaut, François #428 France
38. Man Escaped, A (1956) Bresson, Robert #188 France
39. Under the Sand (2000) Ozon, Francois #894 France-Japan
40. Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) Varda, Agnès #599 France
41. La Ronde (1950) Ophüls, Max #1166 France
42. Rules of the Game, The (1939) Renoir, Jean #63 France
43. Passion of Joan of Arc, The (1928) Dreyer, Carl Theodor #34 France
44. Chocolat (2000) Hallström, Lasse * UK-US
45. Lacombe, Lucien (1974) Malle, Louis #1265 France
46. Belle de jour (1967) Buñuel, Luis #219 France-Italy
47. Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud (1995) Sautet, Claude * France-Italy-Germany
48. The Raven (1945) Clouzot, Henri-Georges * France
49. Breathless (1959) Godard, Jean-Luc #159 France
50. La Vie en Rose (2007) Dahan, Olivier * France-UK-CzechRep
Some of the multinational films I purposely left off my list since they seem more like other nations (like Antonioni and Bertolucci) than French films.
Many that I left off of my list I simply haven’t seen, such as L’atalante, Pickpocket, My Life to Live, Celine and Julie Go Boating, L'Âge d'or, Le Cercle Rouge. Some others I have seen and just didn’t like a lot (Children of Paradise I found tedious and cliché ridden – I mean, do people HAVE to sing La Marseilles in every French film? This one also had the clichés of mimes, Pierrots, cognac, and mistresses; you name it, if it’s French, they put it in this film. So where the heck was Chevalier singing?)
How in the world is Jean de Florette unranked? For me, and many others I’ve talked to, this is France’s best epic, a multi-generational story about land, water, and justice in life. One novel filmed as two films, four hours total, released simultaneously as a double feature so people could see both parts in one sitting or return for the second half, Manon of the Spring (aka Manon des Sources). Claude Berri also directed the wonderful and uplifting story The Two Of Us (aka, The Old Man and the Boy, also unranked), about a Jewish child sent from Paris to live with an elderly couple in the country during WW2.
I found Children of Paradise (#20) painstaking to sit through; and La Jetee is not even a film, its 15 minutes of still photos with a narrator - it has no "moving pictures".
The 400 Blows is terrific, shot at 25 by Truffaut, a movie critic, for his first feature film. Much of it was improvised, most was overdubbed later by the actors so he could shoot in the streets without bulky sound equipment.
Louis Malle's first fim, Elevator To the Gallows, belongs on this list. It's only ranked 1593rd overall.
At one point, I was gonna say that you could tell a French film because (a) someone will either dress up like a woman or two guys will dance together (b) someone will sing something French, either Freres Jacques or La Marseillaise (c) someone will do mime or Pierrot the clown with the frilly collar (d) someone will drink cognac or champagne, or both. I believe ALL of these are in the classic La Grande Illusion (well, not Pierrot), which is a masterpiece anyway; all are in Children of Paradise (which I don't like). Thankfully, I saw enough French gangster films that the stereotype was finally broken. But I still don't get their spelling - if all those letters are silent, then why use 'em? Rendezvous that..
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