French cinema is a rich tapestry of artistic expression, blending unique genres, techniques, and performances. From the avant-garde nouvelle vague to modern blockbusters, French films offer a diverse range of styles and storytelling approaches.
Understanding the vocabulary of French cinema enhances appreciation of its nuances. From describing acting performances to analyzing cinematography and sound design, this language allows for deeper engagement with the artistry of French films.
Key vocabulary for French cinema
Film genres and styles
- French vocabulary for common film genres includes: comédie (comedy), drame (drama), film d'action (action movie), film d'horreur (horror movie), film de science-fiction (science fiction movie), film policier (crime movie), and documentaire (documentary)
- French terms for describing film styles and movements include: réalisme (realism), surréalisme (surrealism), nouvelle vague (French New Wave), and cinéma vérité (cinema verité)
- Additional genres and subgenres in French include: film d'aventure (adventure movie), film de guerre (war movie), film historique (historical movie), film biographique (biopic), and film d'animation (animated movie)
- French vocabulary for experimental and avant-garde cinema includes: cinéma expérimental (experimental cinema), film d'art (art film), and film d'essai (essay film)
Film techniques and aesthetics
- Essential French terms for film techniques include: plan (shot), gros plan (close-up), plan moyen (medium shot), plan d'ensemble (wide shot), fondu (fade), fondu enchaîné (dissolve), and voix off (voice-over)
- Key French vocabulary for film aesthetics includes: mise en scène (staging), cadrage (framing), éclairage (lighting), couleur (color), and composition (composition)
- Additional film techniques in French include: champ-contrechamp (shot-reverse-shot), caméra subjective (point-of-view shot), and hors-champ (off-screen space)
- French terms for describing visual style include: noir et blanc (black and white), sépia (sepia), and filtres (filters)
- Key vocabulary for film sound includes: son diégétique (diegetic sound), son extradiégétique (non-diegetic sound), and silence (silence)
Film production roles
- Important French vocabulary for film production roles includes: réalisateur/réalisatrice (director), scénariste (screenwriter), producteur/productrice (producer), directeur/directrice de la photographie (cinematographer), and monteur/monteuse (editor)
- Additional key roles in French include: acteur/actrice (actor/actress), chef décorateur/décoratrice (production designer), ingénieur(e) du son (sound engineer), and costumier/costumière (costume designer)
- French terms for executive roles include: producteur exécutif/productrice exécutive (executive producer) and directeur/directrice de production (production manager)
- Vocabulary for post-production roles includes: superviseur(e) des effets visuels (visual effects supervisor), mixeur/mixeuse son (sound mixer), and étalonneur/étalonneuse (colorist)
Analyzing acting performances in French
Describing acting performances
- French vocabulary for describing acting performances includes: interprétation (interpretation), jeu d'acteur (acting), crédibilité (credibility), émotion (emotion), and présence (presence)
- Additional terms for evaluating performances include: intensité (intensity), authenticité (authenticity), charisme (charisma), and magnétisme (magnetism)
- French vocabulary for describing an actor's preparation includes: recherche (research), immersion (immersion), and travail de caractérisation (character work)
- Terms for discussing an actor's rapport with other cast members include: alchimie (chemistry), complicité (complicity), and dynamique (dynamics)
Critiquing acting performances
- Key French terms for critiquing acting include: convaincant(e) (convincing), touchant(e) (touching), puissant(e) (powerful), subtil(e) (subtle), and mémorable (memorable)
- Additional vocabulary for critical analysis includes: nuancé(e) (nuanced), captivant(e) (captivating), saisissant(e) (striking), and bouleversant(e) (overwhelming)
- French expressions for negative critiques include: surjoué(e) (overacted), stéréotypé(e) (stereotypical), and peu crédible (unconvincing)
- Terms for discussing inconsistencies in performance include: inégal(e) (uneven), irrégulier/irrégulière (irregular), and déséquilibré(e) (unbalanced)
Character development and range
- French vocabulary for describing character development includes: évolution (evolution), profondeur (depth), complexité (complexity), and arc narratif (narrative arc)
- Essential French terms for discussing an actor's range and versatility include: polyvalence (versatility), registre (range), and capacité d'adaptation (adaptability)
- Additional vocabulary for character portrayal includes: composition (composition), incarnation (embodiment), and intériorité (inner life)
- French terms for describing character transformation include: métamorphose (metamorphosis), transformation physique (physical transformation), and changement de registre (change of register)
Physicality and voice
- French vocabulary for describing an actor's physicality and voice includes: gestuelle (body language), expression faciale (facial expression), intonation (intonation), and diction (diction)
- Additional terms for physical acting include: mouvement (movement), posture (posture), and regard (gaze)
- Vocabulary for vocal performance includes: timbre (timbre), rythme (rhythm), and respiration (breathing)
- French expressions for describing physical and vocal challenges include: contraintes physiques (physical constraints), accent (accent), and transformation vocale (vocal transformation)
Language for film analysis in French
Cinematography
- French vocabulary for analyzing cinematography includes: prise de vue (camera angle), mouvement de caméra (camera movement), profondeur de champ (depth of field), and perspective (perspective)
- Key terms for camera angles: plongée (high angle), contre-plongée (low angle), and angle neutre (eye-level angle)
- Essential terms for camera movements: panoramique (pan), travelling (tracking shot), and zoom (zoom)
- Additional vocabulary for framing and composition includes: premier plan (foreground), arrière-plan (background), symétrie (symmetry), and lignes de fuite (vanishing points)
- French expressions for describing camera techniques include: caméra à l'épaule (handheld camera), plan-séquence (long take), and caméra fixe (static camera)
Editing techniques
- French vocabulary for discussing editing techniques includes: montage (editing), rythme (pace), transition (transition), raccord (match cut), and ellipse (ellipsis)
- Additional terms for editing styles include: montage alterné (cross-cutting), montage parallèle (parallel editing), and montage en contrepoint (counterpoint editing)
- French expressions for describing editing effects include: effet de choc (shock effect), effet de surprise (surprise effect), and effet de suspense (suspense effect)
- Vocabulary for discussing continuity and discontinuity includes: raccord dans l'axe (axial cut), faux raccord (jump cut), and rupture temporelle (temporal break)
Sound design
- Key French terms for analyzing sound design include: bande-son (soundtrack), bruitage (sound effects), musique diégétique (diegetic music), musique extradiégétique (non-diegetic music), and ambiance sonore (sound atmosphere)
- Additional vocabulary for sound elements includes: dialogue (dialogue), voix off (voice-over), and silence (silence)
- French expressions for describing sound effects include: son d'ambiance (ambient sound), son synchrone (synchronous sound), and son asynchrone (asynchronous sound)
- Terms for discussing music in film include: thème musical (musical theme), leitmotiv (leitmotif), and musique originale (original score)
Visual effects
- French vocabulary for describing visual effects includes: effets spéciaux (special effects), trucage (trick photography), and infographie (computer graphics)
- Additional terms for practical effects include: maquillage (makeup), prothèses (prosthetics), and cascades (stunts)
- Vocabulary for digital effects includes: images de synthèse (computer-generated imagery), incrustation (compositing), and animation 3D (3D animation)
- French expressions for describing the impact of visual effects include: illusion (illusion), réalisme (realism), and spectaculaire (spectacular)
Opinions on French films
Expressing opinions and preferences
- French expressions for expressing opinions about films include: à mon avis (in my opinion), selon moi (in my view), je pense que (I think that), je trouve que (I find that), and j'estime que (I believe that)
- Key French vocabulary for expressing preferences includes: je préfère (I prefer), j'aime mieux (I like better), mon film préféré (my favorite film), and mon réalisateur/ma réalisatrice favori(te) (my favorite director)
- Additional expressions for personal taste include: ce n'est pas mon genre (it's not my type of film), je suis fan de (I'm a fan of), and je ne suis pas amateur/amatrice de (I'm not a fan of)
- French terms for expressing disappointment or satisfaction include: je suis déçu(e) par (I'm disappointed by), je suis agréablement surpris(e) par (I'm pleasantly surprised by), and je suis emballé(e) par (I'm thrilled by)
Recommending and comparing films
- French terms for recommending films include: je vous conseille de voir (I recommend you watch), je vous suggère de regarder (I suggest you watch), and ce film vaut la peine d'être vu (this film is worth watching)
- Additional expressions for recommendations include: à ne pas manquer (not to be missed), un must (a must-see), and un incontournable (an essential)
- Essential French expressions for comparing films include: par rapport à (compared to), contrairement à (unlike), similaire à (similar to), and tout comme (just like)
- Vocabulary for contrasting films includes: à l'opposé de (in contrast to), à la différence de (unlike), and en comparaison avec (in comparison with)
Impact and significance
- French vocabulary for describing the impact of a film includes: marquant(e) (striking), inoubliable (unforgettable), provocant(e) (thought-provoking), and bouleversant(e) (overwhelming)
- Additional terms for emotional impact include: émouvant(e) (moving), poignant(e) (poignant), and touchant(e) (touching)
- French expressions for describing a film's significance include: un film culte (a cult film), un classique (a classic), and un film de référence (a landmark film)
- Vocabulary for discussing a film's influence includes: influent(e) (influential), novateur/novatrice (innovative), and révolutionnaire (revolutionary)
- French terms for describing a film's reception include: acclamé par la critique (critically acclaimed), plébiscité par le public (praised by audiences), and controversé (controversial)