FICTION & NON-FICTION
Les Miserables
Victor Hugo, 1862• Chances are that you’ve seen either a film or play adaptation of this story (or both!) but did you know that these are based off of the famed novel by Victor Hugo? Set in early 19th-century Paris, Les Miserables chronicle.
Chocolat
Joanne Harris, 1999
• It tells the story of the mysterious Vianne Rocher, who arrives in the traditional and strait-laced French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, where she opens a chocolate shop that quickly becomes a focal point for resistance to the village priest, Francis Reynaud.
A Moveable Feast
Ernest Hemingway, 1964
• This highly-acclaimed autobiographical work by Ernest Hemingway, published posthumously is a fantastic window into what Paris was like during the beginning of the twentieth century in the wake of World War I.
A Year in Provence
Peter Mayle, 1989
• In this witty and warm-hearted account, Peter Mayle tells what it is like to realize a long-cherished dream & move into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the remote country of the Lubéron. The book transports us into the earthy pleasures of Provençal life at a tempo governed by seasons, not by days.
MOVIES
French Kiss
Lawrence Kasdan, 1995
• The films follows Kate whose fiancé has just declared that he has fallen in love with another woman. Whilst the story is wonderful and whimsical, the real showstopper is the scenery. With locations in Paris and Provence, viewers can enjoy lush scenes in vineyards and rustic French country homes.
Amelie
Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001
• Amelie is on a mission to find who the mystery man who abandoned a book of passport-size photos by a photo booth is. Finding him marks the beginning of romance, with motorbike rides around the city.
Julie and Julia
Nora Ephron, 2009
• In the film, Julie Powell decides to cook her way through Julia Child’s cookbook in one year. The movie beautifully presents Julia Child’s love and admiration for French food. Together with the Julias, we learn about Paris in the fifties and how to cook 365 dishes in 365 days.
Breathless
Jean-Luc Godard, 1960
• It is a great film to watch before your trip to France because it highlights the powerful French influence on cinematography. It will also leave you longing to wander down the Champs-Élysées and other Parisian landmarks that fill the scenes.
Lawrence Kasdan, 1995
• The films follows Kate whose fiancé has just declared that he has fallen in love with another woman. Whilst the story is wonderful and whimsical, the real showstopper is the scenery. With locations in Paris and Provence, viewers can enjoy lush scenes in vineyards and rustic French country homes.
Amelie
Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001
• Amelie is on a mission to find who the mystery man who abandoned a book of passport-size photos by a photo booth is. Finding him marks the beginning of romance, with motorbike rides around the city.
Julie and Julia
Nora Ephron, 2009
• In the film, Julie Powell decides to cook her way through Julia Child’s cookbook in one year. The movie beautifully presents Julia Child’s love and admiration for French food. Together with the Julias, we learn about Paris in the fifties and how to cook 365 dishes in 365 days.
Breathless
Jean-Luc Godard, 1960
• It is a great film to watch before your trip to France because it highlights the powerful French influence on cinematography. It will also leave you longing to wander down the Champs-Élysées and other Parisian landmarks that fill the scenes.
