法国可以说是人类电影艺术的摇篮。从电影诞生至今的这一百多年间，法国电影以其独特的风格和卓越的艺术成就深得全球观众的青睐，更成为了法国文化不可分割的一部分。

　　现今电影工业以美国好莱坞独占世界鳌头，但是，细看欧洲电影文化，法国始终保有其地位，相较于美国电影文化，法国电影似乎更具文化气息。法国电影一向追求格调高雅、艺术完美，特别重视影片的艺术性和视觉感受，让观众耳目一新。

　　

　　Known for their lack of action and abundance of intellectual meaning, French films have captivated audiences worldwide for decades. Many French actors and directors are internationally recognized, even though their movies usually play in independent, artsy theaters. The memorable characters and existential themes provide a welcome antidote to action-packed American flicks.

　　Here is CinemaSpot's guide to the best in French cinema. So gather some cheese, a baguette and a bottle of red wine and enjoy.

　　Directors

　　Known as a leader of the French New Wave films, Jean-Luc Godard challenged old narrative conventions in film. "Breathless," released in 1960, is widely considered to be his masterpiece. He later directed "Everything's Fine," "Masculin Feminin" and "Alphaville."

　　Francois Truffaut, a friend and contemporary of Godard, was also a master of the New Wave trend, producing hits such as "The 400 Blows," "Jules and Jim" and "The Last Metro.".

　　Also famous for French New Wave films, Louis Malle often directed films that explored the meaning of life. Malle was an underwater camera operator for Jacques Cousteau before directing "The Lovers" in 1958, which shocked Americans with its onscreen eroticism. Other well-known Malle films include "My Dinner with Andre" and "Au Revoir les Enfants," a semi-autobiographical portrayal of his childhood in a boarding school that hid Jewish students during the Second World War.

　　A master at simple storytelling that conveys complex intellectual themes, Eric Rohmer directed such classic French films as "Claire's Knee," "Chloe in the Afternoon" and "My Night at Maud's." Many of his films are part of one of three series, Moral Tales, Tales of the Four Seasons, Comedies and Proverbs.

　　Mathieu Kassovitz is an up-and-coming director of such films as "Hate" and "Café au Lait". These films explore modern French society and its problems amid the old-fashioned beauty of Paris.

　　Actors

　　Starring in classic movies as "Indochine" and "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," Catherine Deneuve is an internationally recognized film star. Her long career shows no sign of ending, with roles in recent films such as "Est-ouest" and "Place Vend?me."

　　Mention the words French actor and Gerard Depardieu immediately pops into mind. The prolific actor has appeared in 126 French and American films, including "Jean de Florette," "Germinal" and "The Return of Martin Guerre."

　　Juliette Binoche gained international attention with her emotional performance in "Blue," one of Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors series. In 1996, Binoche won an Oscar for her role in "The English Patient." She continues to dazzle international audiences in such films as "Alice and Martin" and "Chocolat.".

　　More French Favorites

　　An example of a typical French film with little action but compelling characters is "When the Cat's Away". While Chloe, the main character, searches for her lost cat, the audience enjoys a portrait of an old Paris neighborhood and its quirky inhabitants.

　　While Krzysztof Kieslowski is a Polish director, his most famous film series explores French society. Three Colors: "Blue", "White" and "Red" showed his mastery of cinematography and compelling storytelling.

　　The story of a boy who wants to be a girl, "My Life in Pink" explores gender issues in the family and society. Set in a well-manicured, modern French town, the movie makes excellent use of bright colors to portray the boy's feelings.

　　After her mother dies in a car accident, "Ponette" tries to cope with the loss. This unique and moving movie allows the viewer to experience grief through the eyes of a young child.

　　Not all French movies have heavy intellectual themes. "The Dinner Game" is the story of a man whose evening plans are fumbled by a well-meaning, if clumsy, dinner guest. "Les Enfants du Marais" explores the friendship between two men and their families living in an isolated rural area in southern France.