The first of films, Pierrot Le Fou by Jean-Luc Godard, was screened in the City last week. The screening had a good number of French students, professionals and film enthusiasts who took time off to watch the film.

“I have always liked French movies for their powerful portrayal of emotions. There’s always a sense of reality in all their films,” says Susan Joseph, student of St Joseph’s College. The festival of France strives to bring the Indian and French, living in the City, closer and hopes this would lead to more joint collaborations in art, culture and films as well. “The French have always admired Indian music and dance. We plan to hold this festival at least twice a year. We see this as a beginning,” says Dominique Caussaue, consulate general for Karnataka.

The movie opens with Ferdinand Griffon who is married with his wealthy Italian wife and has been recently fired from the television where he worked. His wife forces him to go to a party in the house of her influential father who wants to introduce Ferdinand to a potential employer. Ferdinand feels bored in the bourgeois party and borrows his brother-in-law's car to return home. He meets Marianne, who was his lover five years ago and insists to call him Pierrot, and offers to take her home; however, he spends the night with her and finds that she is involved in smuggling weapons. There’s action, drama and emotions — all knit well into one-and-a-half hours of pure entertainment.