French Film Friday: The best of Gérard Depardieu

Welcome to another round of French Film Friday!

In the words of Rihanna, here’s to the freakin’ weekend! To help you get in the weekender zone, we’ll be bringing you a selection of French films that we love, hate, or think you should watch just to say you’ve watched them.

Gérard Depardieu was quite studly when he was younger. These days though I find myself watching his movies for the plot, which would be disappointing if he wasn’t such a great actor. He’s been nominated for awards over a dozen times and even won a few of them. He’s a joy to watch on screen, particularily (for me, anyway) in the films we’ve selected for you this week.

‘Jean de Florette’

This film has Gérard playing a hunchback (but attractive!) farmer whose hard life doesn’t get easier when he inherits his mother’s farm. It’s a great film about the consequences and depth of human greed, and it brought him international attention and fame, leading to his successful career.

‘Cyrano de Bergerac’

http://youtu.be/ab6eaj4fdMA
Brains versus beauty in this film about unrequited and unfulfilled love. I find the story a little depressing, but Gérard’s performance as a swashbuckling poet really is excellent. It even won him a César.

‘The Man in the Iron Mask’

This English-language film is has Gérard once again playing a swashbucklung role, only this time he’s Porthos, one of four musketeers trying to end the cruel reign of King Louis XIV. Watch out for a particularily funny scene in which Porthos attempts to hang himself in a barn, naked for no apparent reason.

What are your favourite Gérard Depardieu films?