For 12 hours on Friday, the Manship Theatre will be inhabited by a combination of French enthusiasts, cinephiles and food lovers. The Center for French and Francophone Studies will present the eighth annual LSU Night of French Cinema: une nuit blanche à Baton Rouge.
Todd Jacob, assistant director for the Center of French and Francophone Studies, has helped develop the film festival each year. Jacob acquires the rights to show the films and handles catering for the event.
In 2005, a group of graduate students pitched the idea of a film festival to Jacob and the former Director of the Center of French and Francophone Studies, Bernard Cerquiglini. Cerquiglini developed the idea of having an entire night to show the films, naming it after the French nighttime art festival Nuit Blanche.
At the first year’s film festival, more than 200 people came to the event and it has continued to grow each year.
“We started it as an outreach event, but it has had an educational value as well,” Jacob said.
Kevin Bongiorni, French and Italian literature and film professor, said there is a growing interest in world cinema based upon films becoming more accessible.
“As more and more films become easily accessible through streaming video … interest in global cinema is growing,” Bongiorni said.
In addition to films, the Night of French Film includes a French food experience. Appetizers will be available after each film including French cheese, desserts, croissants, wine and coffee.
“Food is a big part of the event. In order to emphasize the culture even more, we had to highlight some French foods,” Jacob said.
The first film, “La Grande Vadrouille,” is a comedy about two men helping three Royal Air Force members make their way through German-occupied France.
“La Grande Illusion” is a war film directed by Jean Renoir in which two French officers attempt to escape from a German prison camp.
The third film of the night, “Les Tontons Flingueurs,” focuses on a retired gangster who is forced to come out of retirement by an old friend and, by doing so, angers other members of the gangster organization.
Rounding out the selection of films is “Le Mépris,” starring actress Brigitte Bardot and directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film tells the story of a French screenwriter who was hired by an American producer and how the opportunity affects his relationship with his wife.
Although misconceptions that European films are slow and boring exist, Bongiorni said these types of films exist in every culture and each culture should be given a fair viewing chance.
“As young people become more and more exposed to global cinema, their tastes become more global. The success of the Night of French Cinema is testimony to this,” Bongiorni said.
Jacob said a major difference in French and American films is that French films leave room for surprises while American films can be predictable.
“In America, a lot of our movies have a set format,” Jacob said. “Because these are French films, expectations are different, allowing the film to truly shine for what it is.”
Bongiorni said The Night of French Cinema exposes the Baton Rouge community to a piece of French culture, but also brings the public together.
“It is a fun event that brings the community together for a great evening of film, entertainment and food,” he said.
The Night of French Cinema begins at 6 p.m. Friday. Tickets for the event are $15 for students with proof of identification and $25 for general admission. The ticket covers admission to the four films and refreshments and can be purchased by calling the Manship Theatre ticket desk at 225-344-0334, visiting the ticket desk the night of the festival or at www.manshiptheatre.org.
“It is a fun event that brings the community together for a great evening of film, entertainment and food.”