Sapphire Mediterranean Sea, palm-fringed beaches, grand boulevards lined with designer boutiques, days spent on superyachts, and late-night parties. This is how cinema has portrayed the French Riviera for decades. This coastline has captivated travelers from all over the world since the 1920s. It stretches from the casinos of Monte Carlo to the beach clubs of Saint-Tropez. Cinema has long transformed the Côte d’Azur into a distinct dream. One only needs to recall Grace Kelly driving Cary Grant to a picnic on a picturesque hill in “To Catch a Thief.” Or Jane Birkin basking in the sun in the iconic film “La Piscine.” Or Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina kissing in “Pierrot le Fou.”
“To Catch a Thief,” 1955
Реклама.
Perhaps no film captures the glamour, heat, and intrigue of the South of France as well as Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief.” It’s a sun-drenched tale about a charismatic jewel thief, played by Cary Grant, who is suspected of a series of Riviera heists. However, he has long left his criminal past behind. The real culprit is an agile imitator. To catch the imposter red-handed, the protagonist devises a complex plan. He befriends a wealthy widow, portrayed by Jessie Royce Landis, and her sharp-tongued daughter, played by Grace Kelly. Her character wears chiffon ball gowns and black-and-white linen ensembles. She frequents lavish restaurants, sunbathes, swims, attends grand balls, and speeds along mountain roads in a convertible.
“And God Created Woman,” 1956
This very film established Brigitte Bardot as the ultimate sex symbol of her era. In Roger Vadim’s provocative work, she plays a free-spirited young woman with a feline gaze, tousled hair, and an insatiable sexual appetite. Her character breaks hearts and turns the life of Saint-Tropez upside down. The movie is worth watching at least for the famous dance scene, but not only for that. It features bicycle rides through picturesque ports, scenes on pristine beaches, and strolls through old cobblestone streets. These very shots helped transform what was once a quiet fishing village into one of the world’s most renowned resorts.
“Bonjour Tristesse,” 1958
In “Bonjour Tristesse,” Jean Seberg’s character lives as if the summer on the French Riviera will last forever. This elegant adaptation of Françoise Sagan’s novel was directed by Otto Preminger. Cécile is a mischievous teenager with a short, boyish haircut and a flawless vacation wardrobe. She wears boat-neck tops, linen shorts, and starched shirts with rolled-up sleeves. Cécile often ties them at the waist over her swimsuits. Her days are spent by the sea, at a luxurious villa, and in a summer romance. However, this carefree rhythm is disrupted by her carefree father’s new lover, played by Deborah Kerr, who was portrayed by David Niven. This sophisticated, experienced, and elegant woman threatens to completely change Cécile’s life. The landscapes of green hills and shimmering water are captured in rich color here. Cécile’s melancholic life in Paris a year later is depicted in a restrained black-and-white palette. This is a very precise choice. After the Azure Coast, everything else truly seems duller.
“Pierrot le Fou,” 1965
In Jean-Luc Godard’s film “Pierrot le Fou,” the French Riviera becomes a place of escape. This wild road movie has long been a classic of the French New Wave. Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina play reckless lovers fleeing Paris for the Mediterranean coast. They leave behind the dull cocktail parties and mindless consumerism of the capital. Ahead lies the wild, almost lawless freedom of the coastline. The film features expansive landscapes, sharp satire, and Anna Karina’s incredible wardrobe. Her cherry-red dresses and sky-blue knitwear are a joy to behold. This is one of those films about the French Riviera where not only the plot and characters are important. The very feeling of summer, the journey, the sea, and the escape from ordinary life are what matter.
“Two for the Road,” 1967
In the film “Two for the Road,” several trips to the South of France weave together the story of one marriage. Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney play a married couple with a complicated relationship. Their memories of journeys over ten years intertwine in Stanley Donen’s melancholic and bittersweet romantic comedy. Their relationship is born, deteriorates, collapses, and then is rebuilt. There is a vibrant chemistry between the characters, and the film is full of humor. However, the costumes deserve special attention. The film is worth watching at least for the dazzling sequined mini-dress by Paco Rabanne. And then stay for Audrey Hepburn’s vinyl suit, the psychedelic prints, and the space-age sunglasses.
“La Piscine,” 1969
“La Piscine” by Jacques Deray is one of the quintessential films about summer, jealousy, desire, and the French Riviera. It contains everything you need for vacation wardrobe inspiration: Jane Birkin’s casual shirts, plaid miniskirts, knitwear, woven baskets, Romy Schneider’s striking swimsuits, and printed cocktail dresses. This sultry thriller can truly be watched as a style masterclass. At the heart of the story is a stylish couple, played by Romy Schneider and Alain Delon, vacationing at a villa near Saint-Tropez. However, their tranquility is disturbed by an old acquaintance, played by Maurice Ronet, who arrives with his young daughter, portrayed by Jane Birkin. She is always impeccably dressed. What follows are scenes of jealousy, obsession, lavish parties, and endless inspiration.
“Heartbreaker,” 2006
In the film “Heartbreaker,” Audrey Tautou leaves behind Amélie’s severe bob, her quirky outfits, and her childlike wonder at the world. Instead, she appears in low-cut dresses and high heels. In this romantic comedy by Pierre Salvadori, the actress plays a jaded woman who hunts wealthy men. She smokes a lot, drinks cocktails, and knows the rules of luxury hotels well. Her character mistakenly identifies a modest bartender, played by Gad Elmaleh, as a millionaire at a hotel in Biarritz. They spend a night together. When the truth is revealed, she flees to the Riviera. He follows her, wanting to fix things. What unfolds are dazzling parties, exquisite dinners, and poolside flirtations. Eventually, animosity gives way to friendship, and then to love.