Next month, IFC Films will be releasing via its video-on-demand platform the French box office hit Cliente / A French Gigolo (right), starring veteran Nathalie Baye, on November 4, and Canada's submission for the 2009 best foreign language film Oscar, The Necessities of Life, on November 11. These films are part of the "IFC Festival Direct" program, an electronic film festival available "at the touch of a remote control button." Each month, viewers can choose from six new films that have premiered at major film festivals from around the world.
The film information below is the the IFC press release:
A French Gigolo, the French box office hit, continues the long tradition of exploring female desire and sexuality with sharp wit and insight. The film caused much discussion in France for its frank depiction of female sexuality in a country that's never been shy on the matter. Directed, written and co-starring Josiane Balasko (French Twist), the film stars Nathalie Baye (Venus Beauty Institute, Tell No One) and Eric Caravaca (Monsieur Ibrahim) and premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival.
Baye stars as an elegant and mature TV personality who believes she's found a way to have a satisfying sexual life amidst her chaotic professional life: instead of messy relationships, she opts instead for straightforward sexual servicing through a series of male escorts she chooses on the internet. Her sister Irene (Balasko) and next-door neighbor couldn't disagree more, but Judith is adamant this laissez-faire arrangement works. And it does work for her until unconventional and handsome escort Patrick (Eric Caravaca) enters her life.
As their arrangement escalates, Judith's frozen emotional state begins to thaw, but all is thrown into chaos when Patrick's wife discovers that his days are not spent on a construction site. A French Gigolo is a classy, thoroughly enjoyable film with terrific performances. Lisa Nesselson of Screen International called it "engaging and intelligent with a classy, nuanced performances."
The Necessities of Life, is a profound story of culture shock and barrier-transcending human connections starring Natar Ungalaaq from Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner. Shortlisted for a 2008 Academy Award as Canada's official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film, The Necessities of Life premiered in August of last year at the Montreal World Film Festival where it received numerous awards including the Grand Jury Prize.
From the acclaimed Canadian filmmaker and renowned documentarian Benoît Pilon, Necessities of Life is a heartwarming and life-affirming drama about Tivii (Ungalaaq) an ailing Inuit hunter diagnosed with tuberculosis by Canadian authorities and forcibly removed from his family and quarantined in a Quebec City sanitarium. For Tivii, everything seems alien and he slides into a deep depression as he realizes his treatment might last up to two years, until finding hope again when he forges an unlikely friendship with a young boy.
Sylvain Verstricht from indieWIRE said "The Necessities of Life is a touching film with great performances from its two lead actors." Daniel Harvey from Variety called the film "a model of delicate emotional restraint."
A French Gigolo and The Necessities of Life will be available for three months on demand.