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X2000 (François Ozon, 1998)
Jan
1
2000
A young, naked man holding a drink observes two men asleep in a sleeping bag on the floor. On the wall behind them the text “2000” spelled out with tinsel garlands. DP: Pierre Stoeber.
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The Book of Life (Hal Hartley, 1998)
Dec
31
1999
The “New York News” of December 31, 1999. The headline reads LAST DAY OF CENTURY BELIEVERS PRAY FOR END. DP: Jim Denault.
“It was the morning of December 31, 1999 when I returned, at last, to judge the living and the dead. Though still, and perhaps always, I had my doubts.”
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Les abysses [The Depths] (Nikos Papatakis, 1963)
Dec
2
sister's birthday
Michèle and Marie-Louise (real-life sisters Francine and Colette Bergé) as the real-life Papin sisters in their shared bedroom. DP: Jean-Michel Boussaguet.
Sisters for [OP's] sister's birthday.
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Touche pas à la femme blanche [Don't Touch the White Woman!] (Marco Ferreri, 1974)
Nov
23
potato chips
“Whoever dies for the country hasn't lived in vain. I, on the contrary, will live for the country because I'm not that stupid.”
– George A. Custer
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Mélodie en sous-sol [Any Number Can Win] (Henri Verneuil, 1963)
Nov
22
banquet
Backstage at the Cannes casino, stars and stagehands enjoy their well-deserved end-of-season banquet. Just walking in front of the showgirls is piano player Sam (Jimmy Davis). DP: Louis Page.
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Compartiment tueurs [The Sleeping Car Murder] (Costa-Gavras, 1965)
Nov
8
Eliane Darrès (Simone Signoret) – comédienne, by herself – takes a long hard look at her table-set-for-two. DP: Jean Tournier.
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La horse [Horse] (Pierre Granier-Deferre, 1970)
Aug
23
baguette
Auguste Maroilleur (Jean Gabin) at the head of a long table, covered in Good Things (wine, butter, coffee, and fresh milk). He cuts a baguette with his pocketknife. DP: Walter Wottitz.
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Simone Barbès ou la vertu (Marie-Claude Treilhou, 1980)
Jun
19
pâté
Two female porn theatre ushers (Ingrid Bourgoin and Martine Simonet) looking bored. They sit under two large eye-shaped neon lights. Between them a small table with various half-consumed items, including part of a baguette with pâté. DP: Jean-Yves Escoffier.
– Ah, regarde, c'est Tati !
– Tati qui?
– Tati, comme Mon Oncle.
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Plein soleil [Purple Noon] (René Clément, 1960)
Jun
15
croissants
Tom Ripley (Alain Delon) going though his passport over breakfast. Multiple passport photos, a fountain pen, and a magnifying glass take precedence over his fresh croissants. DP: Henri Decaë.
“Why bother having money when you can spend other people's?”
– Philippe Greenleaf
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Série noire (Alain Corneau, 1979)
Apr
9
canned pilchards
Franck Poupart (Patrick Dewaere) about to dig into a can of pilchards. A pile of French women's magazine “marie claire” is next to him on an otherwise bare coffee table. DP: Pierre-William Glenn.
