During the college’s recent spring break, Randolph-Macon College students Madeline Smith ’17 and Sarena Tien ’16 attended the French Film Festival in Richmond, Virginia. The festival, created by professors at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond, is a tradition that stretches back to 1993. French directors, actors and producers present a variety of award-winning films and then hold Q & A sessions, thus granting attendees an invaluable opportunity to experience French cinema, language and culture.

Très Magnifique
French flags lined the streets of Carytown, contributing to the lively atmosphere within Byrd Theatre, where the festival was held. Smith and Tien attended the Q & A session with Félix Bousset, who starred in the film Belle et Sébastien. Shortly afterwards, director and scriptwriter Eric Besnard presented his film Le goût des merveilles. Set in rural France, the movie follows the intertwining storylines of Louise, a widower struggling to support her children and her farm, and Pierre, a brilliant man with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Smith, a sociology major and women’s studies minor, loves French culture. About the film, she says, “The cinematography was absolutely beautiful, and the acting was equally lovely. Overall, I thought that the movie was a wonderful expression of French culture. Sarena and I were worried that we’d start crying during the movie, because French cinema is often stereotyped as ending in tragedy. But the film defied expectations with its wonderful sense of humor.”

Tien, a French major and English/writing minor, was also captivated by the wit and charm of the film.

“However, the setting got a little emotional for me,” she admits. “I spent a year abroad in the region of Provence, where the movie was filmed.” Homesickness aside, Tien says, “Being able to use my French skills outside of a classroom setting was really refreshing, especially here in America, even if I got confused by the differences between the French dialogue and the English subtitles.” RMC Assistant Professor of French Nathan Brown, who also serves as faculty advisor to the French Club, encouraged Smith and Tien to attend the event.

“The French Film Festival is an excellent opportunity for students to interact with French-speaking culture outside of the classroom,” says Brown. “It’s one of the great things about Randolph-Macon—we’re ideally situated geographically to take part in these activities. The French Club, with generous support from the Provost’s Office, was happy to help subsidize tickets to the festival.”

The RMC French Club
The French Club offers cultural and culinary opportunities for Francophones (French speakers) and Francophiles (those with an affinity for all things French) alike. The club comes together several times a year to organize various events, including fondue and crêpe parties, a recent visit to the Rodin exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the upcoming French Food Festival in Richmond.