Top 5 Films And Series Set In France In Preparation For The 2024 Olympics
The 2024 Olympic Games is set in Paris, where numerous sports such as running, swimming and skateboarding are cast into the spotlight. However, this worldwide event also advertises the city that hosts the games, which this year is Paris.
Paris is one of Europe’s (and arguably even one of the world’s) most famous capital cities, with landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe which work their way into every travel photo. Despite this already-established fame, the Olympics is a great opportunity to further delve into France’s culture and media, beyond the obvious tourist sights.
Therefore, here are 5 recommendations of films set in France to watch ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games:
Emily in Paris
- Key actors: Lily Collins, Lucas Bravo, Ashley Park
- Director: Andrew Fleming
- Number of seasons: 3 (with an upcoming 4th season)
Emily in Paris follows a young marketing executive (played by Lily Collins) who is suddenly and unexpectedly sent to Paris by her employer (who was due to go herself before her unexpected pregnancy). The series follows Emily in Paris as she navigates her job in a new city as well as her personal life, juggling her boyfriend back in Chicago and the new people she meets.
This series is perfect to watch before the Olympic Games as it shows the setting of Paris in a fun and engaging series. For example, we see her new apartment with its balcony overlooking a quintessential Parisian road. The fourth season is also set to be released soon in August, so this is the best time to catch up on the previous seasons while immersing yourself in Paris.
Ratatouille
- Key actors: Patton Oswalt, Lou Romano, Ian Holm
- Director: Brad Bird
- Run time: 1h 51m
This universal favourite animated Disney classic makes its way onto this list due to its immersion into French cuisine. In case you have not watched this movie before, Ratatouille follows Remy, an aspiring chef in Paris, whose greatest problem getting a culinary job is the fact that he is a rat. However, Remy finds a way to follow his passion for cooking by helping Linguini (a kitchen boy) cook in a prestigious restaurant, but eventually, the truth comes out and more secrets are revealed.
Ratatouille is an iconic film that everyone needs to watch at least once. This movie is different from other quintessential Disney movies, as it focuses on following passions in the heart of Paris. The settings shown in this animation are Parisian backstreets and French restaurants, which highlight a different perspective of the city than what is normally portrayed in media.
Amelie
- Key actors: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Lorella Cravotta
- Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Run time: 2h 2m
Amelie (played by Audrey Tatutou) follows the story of an isolated young waitress living in Montmartre, Paris. She comes across a box hidden in the wall of her bathroom full of childhood memories, which begins her secret mission to complete good deeds, not only for her friends but also for strangers.
This movie is spoken in French with English subtitles, immersing the reader into the French language, culture, and the Parisian setting. The fun but slightly odd aesthetic of the film and its interesting, lovable characters make the film engaging to watch and a lasting favourite. This movie is great to watch in recognition of Paris for the Olympic Games as it is uplifting and entertaining.
Phantom of the Opera
- Key actors: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson
- Director: Joel Schumacher
- Run time: 2h 23m
The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most famous musicals worldwide. While nothing can beat seeing musicals performed live in theatres, this adaptation still transports you into the story from the comfort of your own home.
The Phantom of the Opera follows a disfigured musician and composer called Erik (played by Gerard Butler) who lives in the depths of the Paris Opera House. His obsession with an opera singer called Christine (Emmy Rossum) becomes dangerous as he lures her into his underground home when she expresses interest in another man, Raoul (Patrick Wilson).
This film is ideal to watch in recognition of the Paris Olympic Games as it showcases the opera scene in Paris in an intense and thrilling musical.
Anatomy of a Fall
- Key actors: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner
- Director: Justine Triet
- Run time: 2h 31m
Anatomy of a Fall is a movie which revolves around the suspicious death of Samuel Maleski (played by Samuel Theis). Due to these circumstances, his wife, Sandra (played by Sandra Hüller) is put on trial and her blind son (played by Milo Machado-Graner) is made a witness to the events. This emotional film shows the life behind the accused mother and the isolation which comes along with everyone’s judgement of what they think occurred that day.
The film is predominantly in French but also has some English language elements which all seamlessly tie together. Anatomy of a Fall is perfect to watch ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics due to the French snowy countryside setting which is vital to the plot. The film also gives an insight into the French judicial system which is interesting and educational, as well as overall being a gripping film.
