14th Annual Robert Classic French Film Festival Honors Josephine Baker With Screening Of Siren of the Tropics

The 14th Annual Robert Classic French Film Festival — sponsored by Jane M. & Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation — celebrates St. Louis’ Gallic heritage and France’s cinematic legacy. This year’s featured films span the decades from the 1920s through the 1990s, offering a revealing overview of French cinema.

The festival takes place Aug. 5-7, 12-14, and 19-21. It is co-presented by the Webster University Film Series and Cinema St. Louis.

The fest annually includes significant restorations, and this year features seven such works, including a brand-new restoration of Luis Bunuel’s “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie,” which is part of our year-long Golden Anniversaries programming, which features films celebrating their 50th anniversaries.

In honor of St. Louis’ own Josephine Baker and her installation in France’s Panthéon on Nov. 30 of last year, the fest will present her silent film debut, “Siren of the Tropics,” with an original score and live accompaniment by the Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra.

https://www.cinemastlouis.org/siren-tropics

Every program features introductions and discussions by film or French scholars and critics. All films are in French with English subtitles.

The Jane M. & Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation is the event’s title sponsor.

FILM SCHEDULE

https://www.cinemastlouis.org/robert-classic-french-film-festival

7:30 PM FRIDAY, AUG. 5

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie/Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie

Luis Buñuel, France, 1972, 102 min., color, French, Latin & Spanish, restoration, DCP

Intro and discussion by Cliff Froehlich, former executive director of Cinema St. Louis and adjunct professor of film studies at Webster University.

7:30 PM SATURDAY, AUG. 6

Siren of the Tropics/La sirène des tropiques

Henri Étiévant & Mario Nalpas (uncredited), France, 1927, 86 min., black-and-white, silent, DVD

With live accompaniment by the Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra

Intro and discussion by Pier Marton, video artist and self-described “Unlearning Specialist at the School of No Media.”

7:30 PM SUNDAY, AUG. 7

Beau travail

Claire Denis, Djibouti/France, 1992, 99 min., color, French, Italian & Russian, restoration, DCP

Intro and discussion by Diane Carson, professor emerita of film at St. Louis Community College at Meramec and film critic for KDHX (88.1 FM).

7:30 PM FRIDAY, AUG. 12

Fantastic Planet/La planète sauvage

René Laloux, Czechoslovakia/France, 1973, 72 min., color, French, restoration, DCP

Intro and discussion by Andrew Wyatt, editor of and film critic for Cinema St. Louis’ The Lens blog.

7:30 PM SATURDAY, AUG. 13

Breathless/À bout de souffle

Jean-Luc Godard, France, 1960, 90 min., black-and-white, English & French, restoration, DCP

Intro and discussion by Kathy Corley, documentary filmmaker and professor emerita of film at Webster University.

7:30 PM SUNDAY, AUG. 14

Amélie/Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain

Jean-Pierre Jeunet, France, 2001, 122 min., color, French, DCP

Intro and discussion by Jean-Louis Pautrot, professor of French and International Studies in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Saint Louis University.

7:30 PM FRIDAY, AUG. 19

The Battle of Algiers/La battaglia di Algeri

Gillo Pontecorvo, Algeria/Italy, 1966, 121 min., black-and-white, Arabic & French, Blu-ray

Intro and discussion by Salim Ayoub, Bruce P. Robert Endowed Professor in French and Francophone Studies and director of the Centre Francophone at Webster University.

7:30 PM SATURDAY, AUG. 20

Le cercle rouge

Jean-Pierre Melville, France, 1970, 140 min., color, French, restoration, DCP

Intro and discussion by Robert Garrick, attorney, former contributor to the davekehr.com film blog, and contributor to Cinema St. Louis’ The Lens blog.

7:30 PM SUNDAY, AUG. 21

Irma Vep

Olivier Assayas, France, 1996, 99 min., color, English & French, restoration, DCP

Intro and discussion by Joshua Ray, film critic for Cinema St. Louis’ The Lens blog and host of The Lens podcast.

Venue: Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium in Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Ave.

Tickets: Tickets are $15 for general admission; $12 for students and Cinema St. Louis members. Webster U. students are admitted free. Advance tickets can be purchased through the Cinema St. Louis website.

Passes: Two types of passes are available: Five-Film Passes are $65, $50 for CSL members; All-Access Passes are $120, and $95 for CSL members.

More Info: 314-289-4150, cinemastlouis.org