Melville Film Series: discuss bob le flambeur on december 18 

One Film One Federation (OFOF), in partnership with the Jean- Pierre Melville Foundation, celebrates the Jean-Pierre Melville Centennial with a curated selection of four films from Sept. – Dec. 2023. AF Chapter members worldwide can enjoy the monthly selection on specified streaming platforms followed by a Q & A with experts on Melville. The Jean-Pierre Melville Foundation has generously offered four speakers and experts on the cinema of Melville who will discuss each film on line via zoom.

Monday, December 18, 2023
1pm PT/2pm MT/3pm CT/ 4pm ET/10pm CET (France)
Federation of Alliances Françaises USA
In English

The Federation of AF USA’s One Film One Federation program is pleased to announce a series of film discussions this fall in partnership with the Jean-Pierre Melville Foundation centered around four films by the famous French director, Jean-Pierre Melville. Participants are encouraged to watch the films via streaming before each discussion. Discussions will be held via Zoom on the 4th Monday of the month (except for December, which will be the 3rd Monday.)

Click here for a conversation with Peter Debruge, Chief Film Critic of Variety, with Melville’s living nephews and film makers, Laurent Grousset and Remy Grumbach, on legacy of of Jean- Pierre Melville.

December: Bob le flambeur (1956)
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville
Starring: Roger Duchesne, Isabelle Corey, Daniel Cauchy, André Garet
Watch on: Amazon, AppleTV, Google Play, Kanopy, Kino Now, YouTube

In Paris, Bob Montagne is practically synonymous with gambling — and winning. However, when Bob’s luck turns sour, he begins to lose friends and makes the most desperate gamble of his life: to rob the Deauville casino during Grand Prix weekend, when the vaults are full.

The Foundation
In the scope of Jean-Pierre Melville’s centennial anniversary, at a time when his international appeal remains unequivocal, Laurent Grousset and Remy Grumbach, his nephews and guardians of his legacy, decided to create the Jean-Pierre Melville Foundation for the preservation of genre cinema. The extensive work of the Foundation encompasses two distinct and yet complimentary missions: to preserve the Melvillian cinematic heritage, as well as ignite and kindle a passion for cinema in a new generation of moviegoers and future filmmakers in their own right.

The Speakers
Laurent Grousset – President
A prominent director, and producer of over 1,100 commercials in Europe, America and Asia, Laurent Grousset received many awards for his work at international festivals such as New-York, Paris, Cannes, Venice, or London. Laurent Grousset directed episodes of well-known TV series like “Les Chevaliers du Ciel” (The Aeronauts), as well as various short films. He is the owner and CEO of several production companies in France, Bulgaria and Spain. He is an acknowledged expert on advertising production practice and cost management throughout Europe and Middle East. Laurent Grousset is also a writer.

Remy Grumbach – Vice President
Rémy Grumbach is a famous French director and producer, known for Les Rendez-Vous du Dimanche, a weekly TV show he directed for 10 years, and that was presented by star host Michel Druker. Rémy Grumbach also directed Avis de Recherche and Le Jeu de la Vérité, presented by Patrick Sabatier. Rémy Grumbach directed many special awards TV shows such as the prestigious Victoires de la Musique, Molières, Cannes Film Festival, MIDEM, or 7 d’Or ceremonies. In 1980, Rémy Grumbach became a SACEM member. Member of the SACEM Directors Commission since 1984, he was President of the organization from 2000 to 2003. Since then, he has been one of the company’s administrators. Among the many awards he received during his career, Rémy Grumbach was recipient of the Audiovisual Author-Director Grand Prix in 2006.

Peter Debruge – Chief Film Critic, Variety
variety.com/author/peter-debruge/ 

Participants should watch the films via streaming before attending the discussion. 

This event will be on Zoom and is free for all Alliance Française members. Non-members or persons who have no AF chapter nearby can purchase tickets ($10).