La Côte d’Azur, known as the French Riviera in English, is known worldwide for its stunning beaches and charming villages. But, before it became a vacation spot for 10 million tourists a year, this iconic stretch of coastline was the backdrop of some of France’s most culturally significant movies of the 1960s. Here are five classic Côte d’Azur movies that will transport you to this dreamy destination:
This black-and-white romance drama, set between Nice, Cannes, and Monaco, follows a bank employee sucked into the dark world of gambling by a beautiful woman. Turbulent and glamorous, La Baie des Anges continues to receive acclaim for its portrayal of love and addiction. Prominently featured is the Promenade des Anglais, a stunning four-mile-long walkway along the coast of Nice.
Starring legendary French comedic actor Louis de Funès, Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez follows the adventures of a village police officer who is transferred to Saint-Tropez. The movie was an immediate box-office success, and five sequels followed. The series had such an impact that the police station featured in the film is now the Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum of Saint-Tropez, and, today, you can still find impersonators dressed as the iconic gendarme walking around Saint-Tropez.
Directed by French New Wave’s figurehead, Jean-Luc Godard, this crime drama oscillating between comedy and tragedy revolves around two lovers on the run from hitmen who settle in the Côte d’Azur. It includes breathtaking scenes filmed on the Porquerolles–an island known for its lush untouched nature, isolated beaches, and scenic bike rides. At the time of its release, Pierrot le Fou was overshadowed by Godard’s other successes, but time has made it one of Godard’s most celebrated films.
Starring three of the era’s cultural icons (Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, and Jane Birkin), this crime drama tells the captivating story of jealousy and betrayal among a pair of couples vacationing near Saint-Tropez. As tensions rise, the pool of their villa becomes the site of its most intense and memorable moments. La Piscine was received with critical acclaim and is a part of the Criterion Collection.
Set between Paris and the Isle of Ré, Les choses de la vie follows a man caught between past and present as he relives moments of love and regret. The movie contrasts the idyllic calm of seaside life with the emotional intensity of urban and rural life as the protagonist looks back on life of banality. A major critical and commercial success, the film marked a turning point in Claude Sautet’s career and helped establish him as a leading voice in French cinema of the 1970s. The Isle of Ré is on France’s Atlantic coast, but its nostalgic and quietly emotional coastal atmosphere holds the same symbolic power as the Côte d’Azur does in the other films on this list.
As the weather starts to cool down in Boston, put these films on your watch-list to daydream about days spent sunbathing and strolling through seaside villages.
And if you’d like to be surrounded by fellow Franco- and cine- philes, our Ciné-Club will be screening Les choses de la vie on Tuesday, October 14th.
La Baie des Anges (Demy, 1963)
This black-and-white romance drama, set between Nice, Cannes, and Monaco, follows a bank employee sucked into the dark world of gambling by a beautiful woman. Turbulent and glamorous, La Baie des Anges continues to receive acclaim for its portrayal of love and addiction. Prominently featured is the Promenade des Anglais, a stunning four-mile-long walkway along the coast of Nice.
Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez (Girault, 1964)
Starring legendary French comedic actor Louis de Funès, Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez follows the adventures of a village police officer who is transferred to Saint-Tropez. The movie was an immediate box-office success, and five sequels followed. The series had such an impact that the police station featured in the film is now the Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum of Saint-Tropez, and, today, you can still find impersonators dressed as the iconic gendarme walking around Saint-Tropez.
Pierrot le Fou (Godard, 1965)
Directed by French New Wave’s figurehead, Jean-Luc Godard, this crime drama oscillating between comedy and tragedy revolves around two lovers on the run from hitmen who settle in the Côte d’Azur. It includes breathtaking scenes filmed on the Porquerolles–an island known for its lush untouched nature, isolated beaches, and scenic bike rides. At the time of its release, Pierrot le Fou was overshadowed by Godard’s other successes, but time has made it one of Godard’s most celebrated films.
La Piscine (Deray, 1969)
Starring three of the era’s cultural icons (Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, and Jane Birkin), this crime drama tells the captivating story of jealousy and betrayal among a pair of couples vacationing near Saint-Tropez. As tensions rise, the pool of their villa becomes the site of its most intense and memorable moments. La Piscine was received with critical acclaim and is a part of the Criterion Collection.
BONUS: Les choses de la vie (Sautet, 1970)
Set between Paris and the Isle of Ré, Les choses de la vie follows a man caught between past and present as he relives moments of love and regret. The movie contrasts the idyllic calm of seaside life with the emotional intensity of urban and rural life as the protagonist looks back on life of banality. A major critical and commercial success, the film marked a turning point in Claude Sautet’s career and helped establish him as a leading voice in French cinema of the 1970s. The Isle of Ré is on France’s Atlantic coast, but its nostalgic and quietly emotional coastal atmosphere holds the same symbolic power as the Côte d’Azur does in the other films on this list.
As the weather starts to cool down in Boston, put these films on your watch-list to daydream about days spent sunbathing and strolling through seaside villages.
And if you’d like to be surrounded by fellow Franco- and cine- philes, our Ciné-Club will be screening Les choses de la vie on Tuesday, October 14th.
Emily Ternynck
Administrative Assistant & Social Media Coordinator
