10 Outstanding French Films You've Probably Never Heard Of
7. Outside Satan (2011) - Bruno Dumont.
Get used to seeing the name Bruno Dumont regularly on this list, as he is undoubtedly the most gifted cinematic artist France has produced in the past 20 years. Outside Satan deals with the relationship between a lonely young woman and a hermit who spends his existence meditating and begging. In the film's opening 10 minutes, he calmly enters the girl's home after she tearfully tells him she "cannot take it anymore", take a shotgun and execute her stepfather off-screen. In a later scene, he appears to perform an exorcism on a sick young girl by savagely kissing her. While the nature of his presence and motivations remain ambiguous throughout most of the film, the hermit appears to have taken the role of the village's protector from evil forces both human and spiritual. Watching Outside Satan is like being in communion with your soul, at church or in any secluded area holding special meaning to you. Shots go on for minutes, faces remain blank and what little dialogue present is supplanted by the amplified small noises of footsteps, wind, rain and fire. It is not so much a story to listen to as it is an experience to be received.
I have been a film student for over 4 years, and an insatiable cinephile for even longer. I try to keep my mind as open as possible, so my tastes can range from mainstream masters such as Alfred Hitchcock or Steven Spielberg to independent artists such as Abbas Kiarostami and John Cassavetes. I am also a big fan of video games with customizable characters and/or dialogue choices and the ability to influence the plot by the character's decisions. As such, my favourite video games are "Saints Row 2", "Dragon Age: Origins", "Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic", "Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords" and the "Mass Effect" trilogy. Aside from that, I also enjoy "Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne" and have fond memories of "Rayman 2: The Great Escape" and the original "Tomb Raider" games.
