Sandrine Bonnaire in A Nos Amours (To Our Loves) Watch this film for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011

“Queen to Play” is only the latest film for Sandrinne Bonnaire one of the most respected and celebrated French actresses. At age 16 she won a Cesár Most Promising Actress in her debut role in “A Nos Amours” (To Our Loves) and a second one for “Sans Toi Ni Loi” (Vagabond). Perhaps her most important achievement is not as an actress but as director for the documentary about her autistic sister entitled “Elle s’ appelle Sabine” (Her Name is Sabine).The docu won the International Film Critics Federation Prize at Cannes and the Prix France Culture Cinéma in 2008. The Filipino public is gifted with the free screenings of all three films which will be included in the retrospective of her work. Film fans can watch them at Shang Cineplex, ShangRila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011.

According to Wikipedia, “Bonnaire has a daughter, Jeanne, from a relationship with actor William Hurt, whom she met in 1991 during filming of the Albert Camus novel La Peste (The Plague). They acted together in Secrets Shared with a Stranger (1994). Since March 2003 she has been married to actor and screenwriter Guillaume Laurant, with whom she has had a second daughter, Adèle.”

Film descriptions provided by Gretchen Wilwayco of the French Embassy:

Watch this film for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011

A Nos Amours (To Our Loves)

At a vacation resort where she is rehearsing No Trifling with Love, 15 year old Suzanne rejects her boyfriend Luc and gives herself without any realpleasure toa visiting young American. Back toParis, she has other love affairs. Clashing with her parents, she comes up against a neurotic mother, a father who abandons them and her falsely protective brother. Suzanne seeks herself while going from one guy to another.

Directed by Maurice Pialat

Cast: Evelyne Ker, Dominique Besnehard and Pierre Loup Rajot and more.

Watch this film for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011

Sans Toit Ni Loi (Vagabond)

In the middle of winter in southern France, a girl is frozen to death in a ditch. Who was she? “A drug addict, a mental patient,” some say. People who came across her try to draw a portrait of this young wanderer. As she wanders you may see her bathing nude ata beach, being picked up by a planetogist as she hitch hikes, being lusted after by garage mechanics… her name was Mona, some rejected her others tried in vain to help her. No one was able to hold her back.

Directed by Agnes Varda

Cast: Macha Meril, Stephane Freiss and Yoland Moreau.

Watch this film for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011

La Ceremonie ( A Judgement in Stone)

Catherine and her husband Georges Lelievre think they’ve found a real gem when they hire as their maid a discreet, quiet and illiterate girl named Sophie. Sophie is dyslexic and hides it from her employers. Sophie becomes a friend of Jeanne a very strange young woman torn between her job and an imaginary life of dreams and fantasies. A macabre dance begins for these two cast offs, blending good and evil.

Directed by Claude Chabrol from a novel by Ruth Rendell

Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Jean Pierre Cassel, Jacqueline Bisset

Watch this film for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011

Mademoiselle

The life of Claire a young woman with no history, a medical representative and mother of two children brightens up. At a cocktail party she runs into an actor turned into a sad clown from the drudgery of hosting wedding events and banquets. Their unofficial date lasts the whole night one disastrous idea after another. Will this humorous encounter change her life?

Directed by Philip Lioret

Cast: Jacques Gamblin, Isabel Candelier, Zinedine Soualem and Jacques Boudet

Watch this film for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011

Elle s’applle Sabine (Her name is Sabine)

A documentary film by Sandrine Bonnaire

A sensitive portrait of Sabine Bonnaire, a 38 year old autistic woman directed by Sandrine her closest sister.  It tells her story through personal archives filmed by actress over a period of 25 years and shows her life today in a special facility. The documentary evokes and engaging personality whose development and multiple talents have been crushed by a failing care system.

Watch this film for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19, 2011

Jouese (Queen to Play)

Helené (Sandrine Bonnaire) knocked once, not hearing a response she opened the door with her key. Then she heard their voices in the terrace. “Go ahead” (in English motioned for Helené to go in) they were an American couple who seemed to be lost in each other. As a chamber maid she fixed the bed and tried not to pay attention. A slight breeze blows the thin curtain into the room. Helené felt like she was invading their space, their time together. And yet all they were doing was playing chess. They were both middle aged and still so attractive especially the woman (Jennifer Beals). She was in her nighties, vibrant, smiling and seductive without making any effort to do so.  For some reason Helené could not take her eyes away from them. click on link for full review

Sandrine Bonnaire (Helené) can’t take her eyes off the American couple playing chess. “Jouese” (Queen to Play) is screening for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19 as part of the French Film Fest 2011

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Helené (Sandrine Bonnaire) knocked once, not hearing a response she opened the door with her key. Then she heard their voices in the terrace. “Go ahead” (in English motioned for Helené to go in) they were an American couple who seemed to be lost in each other. As a chamber maid she fixed the bed and tried not to pay attention. A slight breeze blows the thin curtain into the room. Helené felt like she was invading their space, their time together. And yet all they were doing was playing chess. They were both middle aged and still so attractive especially the woman (Jennifer Beals). She was in her nighties, vibrant, smiling and seductive without making any effort to do so.  For some reason Helené could not take her eyes away from them.

They’d share knowing smiles. The woman calls out check mate as their hands clasp. Lover’s language needs no words. The camera shoots through the soft thin curtain creating a haze, softening the harsh sunlight. Their affection seemed to make them youthful in Helené’s eyes. She unintentionally peers into other people’s lives and sees what she wants in her own: intimacy, warmth, joy.

Jennifer Beals (L’Americaine) plays chess on the terrace. “Jouese” (Queen to Play) is screening for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19 as part of the French Film Fest 2011

The film is entitled  “Jouese” (Queen to Play) and is part of the Sandrine Bonnaire retrospective of the French film Festival from June 8-19, 2011 at the Shang  Cineplex in Shang Rila Plaza. The opening film is “Le Marquis” (The Marquis) a French produced film shot in Manila and Cebu. The Marquis is directed by Dominique Farrugia and executive produced by Louis Paul Heusaff. His daughter is the famous actress Solenn Heusaff. The closing film for the fest is “The Tree of Life” with Brad Pitt on the 19^th. Aureus Solito, Henry Burgos and Raya Martin are the featured director’s on June 12 as a Tribute to Phil. cinema.  All of the films have a free entrance on a first com first served basis.

“Queen to Play” is only the latest film for Sandrinne Bonnaire one of the most respected and celebrated French actresses. At age 16 she won a Cesár Most Promising Actress in her debut role in “A Nos Amours” (To Our Loves) and a second one for “Sans Toi Ni Loi” (Vagabond). Perhaps her most important achievement is not as an actress but as director for the documentary about her autistic sister entitled “Elle s’ appelle Sabine” (Her Name is Sabine). The docu won the International Film Critics Federation Prize at Cannes and the Prix France Culture Cinéma in 2008. The Filipino public is gifted with the free screenings of all three films which will be included in the retrospective of her work.

From left: Pioneer Films Head Wilson Yulo-Que, FDCP Media Relations Ed Maranan, Embassy of France Audio Visual Attaché Martin Macalintal, PR officer Gretchen Wilwayco, Cultural Counsellor Christian Merer and ‘Busong’ screen writer Henry Burgos. Photo was taken during the press preview of “Jouese” (Queen to Play) at Shang Rila Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall last June 1, 2011. Photo by Jude Bautista

Two Hollywood A-list actors join her in this film, Jennifer Beals and Kevin Kline. Beals is more known these days in the Phil. via “The Chicago Code” in Jack TV. Her role couldn’t be anymore different, in the hit series she’s a tough cop. “Jouese” is able to show her sexy, seductive side that she was initially known for in the film “Flashdance” about the same time Bonnaire became popular in 1983. For Kevin Kline this is the third time he has portrayed a French man, first was “French Kiss” with Meg Ryan (1995) and “Pink Panther” with Steve Martin (2006).

Jennifer Beals (L’Americaine) asks Helené if she plays chess. “Jouese” (Queen to Play) is screening for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19 as part of the French Film Fest 2011

Although Beals’ role may have been limited, that particular scene in the beginning triggered a powerful obsession for Helené. She was a chamber maid who led a relatively idyllic life on Corsica. There could not be a more picturesque part of France than the sunny island. The powder blue sky could only be rivaled with the deeper blue waters of the ocean, which dropped off rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. The green hills, forests, grasslands were the perfect landscape as Helené rode her old rickety bike through country roads. The economy made it difficult for her husband Ange (Francis Renaud) to earn money in the shipyard. Her love for her daughter Lisa (Alexandra Gentil) motivated her to earn by taking in more house keeping clients apart from the inn.

Immediately after watching the American lovers that morning, she runs to her husband working in the shipyard. Ange was surprised with her visit and thought that there was an emergency. He pulled away from her as she started to kiss and hold him not wanting to show such a public display of affection. That was when she started to transfer her need for love to the game that the lovers on the terrace played: chess.

Going to Kroger's house. “Jouese” (Queen to Play) is screening for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19 as part of the French Film Fest 2011

Kevin Kline’s Dr. Kroger is a mean spirited recluse that Helené cleans for. That same day she walks in to his house hearing muffled voices of laughter and even sex coming from his bed room. Kroger hardly remembers Helené’s name and doesn’t notice her when she’s around. Helené later on seeks his help in learning the finer points of chess. By learning the game she grows and discovers a different side of herself.

The French Film Festival is part of Franco Phil, the 2011 French cultural season in the Philippines. Franco Phil is organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and the Alliance française de Manille, together with Institut Francais, the Shangri-La Plaza and Shang Cineplex, UP Film Institute, with the support of Total, Air France KLM, L’Oréal Philippines, VEOLIA Water, Axantis Productions, Inc, Marithé François Girbaud, Daniel Hechter, Le Cellier, Bizu, and Pioneer Films, as well as official media partners Manila Bulletin, Sense & Style, Net 25, TALKtv, DZRJ and Spot.ph.

There could not be a more picturesque part of France than the sunny island of Corsica. “Jouese” (Queen to Play) is screening for free at Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza from June 8-19 as part of the French Film Fest 2011