Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2023 is a showcase of contemporary French film co-produced by Unifrance and Film at Lincoln Center. The country that invented cinema and whose culture led the world before New York, is working on redefining itself as a nation with a diversity of faces. The progress is uneven because France has some rather rigid social structures, and we are all still decolonizing ourselves, but the French are trying.
Film festivals offer a brief look into a nation’s soul. That’s exactly what Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2023 is about. Vive la France e bon voyage!
28th Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2023
The 28th Rendez-Vous with French Cinema film festival brings 21 French films, filmmakers and film lovers to Film at Lincoln Center; for ten days, Thursday-Sunday, March 2-12, 2023. From $17. 🇫🇷
There are free talks with some amazing filmmakers. The audience can vote for their favorite in the “Rendez-Vous Audience Award.” The “Best Emerging Filmmaker Award” will be selected by a jury of New York students of film and French studies.
The film that jumped out at us is “Neneh Superstar” by Ramzi Ben Slimen. It’s the story twelve-year-old Neneh, a Black girl who dreams of being a classical ballerina, but is confronted by the old-fashioned bias against people of color. It stars Oumy Bruni Garrel, Steve Tientcheu, and Marianne Bellage.
This could be the story of so many legendary ballet dancers.
Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre’s first Black Principal dancer, is the most famous American ballet dancer since Baryshnikov. She started late like Neneh Superstar, and along the way even fractured a leg, but she keeps dancing ~ beautifully.
Carlos Acosta, former ABT Principal and now Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, is an inspiration to all Cubans and Latin Americans.
Along the way, they were often given the feeling that there was no place for them in what used to be oh-so-white ballet. But against all odds, they never stopped dancing. They reached the top and are now inspiring others. That is the mark of true greatness.
On the journey, there is always a supportive parental figure, and a dance teacher who sees the seed of genius. Dancers got to dance. So go for it baby superstar!
“Nenah Superstar” first screens at Film at Lincoln Center, including Q&A with Director Ramzi Ben Sliman; on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 6:15pm. In French with subtitles. 🇫🇷
There are also two free school screenings of “Nenah Superstar” on March 6 and 7 with the director for middle-school, high-school and college students.
For tickets and more information, visit filmlinc.org