As part of the 120th anniversary of the Franco-British Entente Cordiale, Ciné Lumière will be hosting a special screening of Occupied Europe, A Fragmented Resistance on 31 May. This documentary, which was written by Cécile Coolen and Olivier Wieviorka, traces the little-recognised and often neglected role of the British spy services in the fight against Nazi occupation on European soil. The film will look back at the creation of the SOE (Special Operation Executive) in July 1940 upon the request of Winston Churchill.
From 27 May until September, Ciné Lumière will present a series of screenings to (re)discover films that have left a significant mark on the history of cinema, including several French films: Is Paris Burning? and Forbidden Games by René Clément as well as Louis Malle’s Goodbye, Children, screened from a rare 35mm archival print, and the iconic comedy La Grande Vadrouille by Gérard Oury.
From timeless classics to contemporary productions, the selection incorporates films from several European countries, offering a well-rounded cinematic experience of the Second World War. The programme features Roberto Rossellini’s Italian film Rome Open City, Europa, Europa directed by Agnieszka Holland, Kanał directed by Andrzej Wajda and the 1958 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winning Soviet film The Cranes are Crying directed by Mikhaïl Kalatozov.
The season will later continue with screenings of Czech films Coach to Vienna by Karel Kachyňa and Shop on the High Street by Ján Kadár and Elmar Klos, and other films to be announced
Venue
Ciné Lumière at the Institut français, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT
Contact
Natacha Antolini
natacha.antolini@institut-francais.org.uk / 020 7871 3521