Ciné Club Series: 'Langue Étrangère' by Claire Burger

Friday, June 13, 2025 From 6:00 PM To 8:00 PM Add to Calendar 2025-06-13 18:00:00 2025-06-13 20:00:00 Ciné Club Series: 'Langue Étrangère' by Claire Burger A 2024 Berlinale contender for both the Golden Bear and Teddy Award, Langue étrangère is a tender and insightful look at teenage connection across borders. French Library, 53 Marlborough Street, Boston, MA, United States America/New_York

At French Library

Join us for the Boston premiere of Claire Burger’s latest film, Langue étrangère, a sharp and tender coming-of-age story that explores cross-cultural friendship, identity, and the politics of language.
Set between Strasbourg and Leipzig, the film follows Fanny, a reserved French teenager, as she travels to Germany for a school exchange with Lena, an outspoken classmate. What begins as a simple visit soon evolves into a journey of self-discovery, rebellion, and unexpected connection.

Featuring powerful performances from newcomers Lilith Grasmug and Josefa Heinsius, alongside Chiara Mastroianni and Nina Hoss, the film delves into themes of consent, activism, and Franco-German memory with both humor and insight.

Langue étrangère premiered in competition at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for both the Golden Bear and the Teddy Award for Best Feature Film. This special screening is presented in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Boston.

“Claire Burger invents a joyful language of desire, where everyone is free to negotiate what they want—or don’t want. A film that explores the power of words with both depth and lightness.” —Le Monde

Watch the trailer

The evening will include a reception where guests can connect and share their thoughts over a celebratory glass of wine.

Movie in French with English subtitles.

The Q&A that will follow the screening will be in English.

Every attendee will receive a free Sézane tote bag with a surprise to be redeemed at their new pop-up store in Boston: 70 Pier 4 Blvd. Suite 220, Boston, MA 02210

Members

$14

Non-members

$18

About Claire Burger

Claire Burger is a French filmmaker, screenwriter, and editor known for her intimate, character-driven films. She received the Caméra d'Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival for Party Girl, her debut feature co-directed with Marie Amachoukeli and Samuel Theis. A graduate of La Fémis in Paris, she brings a distinctive sensitivity to both form and narrative. Drawing inspiration from her hometown of Forbach, a former industrial town in northeastern France, Burger crafts powerful portraits of everyday life, often focusing on themes of family, resilience, and social struggle.

About Barbara Bouquegneau

Barbara Bouquegneau is the President and Executive Director of the French Library. She holds a Master of Science in Film Production from Boston University and has curated the Library’s cinema program for many years, offering local audiences a rich selection of French films. Her passion for cinema and cultural dialogue continues to foster thoughtful conversations around both contemporary and classic works of French filmmaking.

About Karin Oehlenschläger

Karin Oehlenschläger is the Program Curator for film, literature, and politics at the Goethe-Institut Boston. She has curated the German Film Series at the Coolidge Corner Theatre for over a decade and manages the regional Goethe-Institut Film Archive. With a Master’s in German Literature and Communications from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, she brings a deep knowledge of German cinema and culture to her programming, fostering rich cultural exchange through film.

Our Partner

This event is co-presented with the Institut Francais Cinéma

Goethe Institute Boston

Boston French Community

and Sézane

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