VCU French Film Festival

Films to be screened during the 1999 festival:

• "Lautrec." ("Lautrec.") Actor Règis Royer will present this film tracing the love story between Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, perhaps the best-known French painter, and Suzanne Valadon, model and painter. Royer stars as Lautrec. The film also features Elsa Zylberstein, AnŽmone and Claude Rich. Roger Planchon directed "Lautrec." 11 a.m. March 27.
  
• "Mère agitée." ("Full-Time Job.") Director Guila Braoudé and actors Patrick Braoudé and Elsa Zylberstein will present this comedy. The film is the first feature-length work for director Guila Braoudé, who has served as assistant director to husband Patrick on three films featured at previous VCU French Film Festivals. "Mère agitce" follows Eva, a 24-year-old architect on the fast track with no time for a husband or family. After collapsing at the juried design competition for a new hospital in Strasbourg, Eva finds herself caught between family and career when the project begins after a five-year funding delay. 2 p.m. March 27.
  
• "Les Palmes de. M. Schutz." ("Pierre and Marie Curie.") Director Claude Pinoteau will present his story of Marie and Pierre Curie's Nobel Prize-winning struggle to isolate radium, a new metal. The film features Philippe Noiret, whose acting credentials include more than 100 films; Isabelle Huppert; and Charles Berling. This is Pinoteau's 10th major production. 4:15 p.m. March 27.
  
• "Marseille sans soleil." ("Sunless Marseilles.") The French landmark is seen through the eyes of a trio of filmmakers in this 17-minute short film. Drafted into military service, Jean-Pierre will never see his film, which was to be completed by his two friends. The director is Paul Carpita. 11 a.m. March 28.
  
• "Haut Bas Fragile." ("Up/Down/Fragile.") Presented by French film critic Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues and American director Robert Tregenza, "Haut Bas Fragile" follows three modern Parisian women one summer. Directed by Jacques Rivette, this epic musical comedy traces the predestined path of each woman. 11:20 a.m. March 28.
  
• "Classe de neige." ("Class Trip.") Winner of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 1998. Producer Annie Miller will present this film, directed by Claude Miller. Timid Nicolas, 12, dreams of terrifying tales. During a ski school trip, he learns that a child has vanished from a nearby village. Nicolas leads his roommate on a tour in which his fears become realities. 2:30 p.m. March 28.
  
• "Je suis vivante et je vous aime." ("I Am Alive and I Love You.") Director Roger Kahane and producer Gabriel Auer will present this winner of the Prix du Public au Forum winner from the Cannes Film Festival 1998. In 1944, railroad worker Julien sees a message falling out of a train of deportees: "I am alive and I love you. Sarah." Julien finds her 4-year-old son and begins a journey to find a woman he now loves but has yet to meet. The film stars Jérôme Deschamps and Agnès Soral. 4:45 p.m. March 28.

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