With Christmas less than a week away, here are some gift ideas if you have movie-loving people in your family. Beautiful books, comics, DVDs, there is something for everyone!
Christmas is coming and it’s not always easy to find the time to think about gifts. If you have a niece in your family who is a fan of cinema and manga, an uncle who is a fan of forgotten comedies from the 1970s or cousins who you want to introduce to the history of cinema, here are some gift ideas. Beautiful books, comics, DVDs, there is something for everyone!
• Behind the scenes of a Palme d’Or
Discover behind the scenes of the 2023 Palme d’Or, which became a global phenomenon before winning an Oscar and six Césars. Gallimard editions publish a unique work of its kind: the commented scenario ofAnatomy of a fall by director Justine Triet and her co-writer Arthur Harari. The book brings together unpublished working documents and filming photos, as well as a drawing by David Lynch. To be put into the hands of fans of the film, but also aspiring screenwriters.
Anatomy of a fall, Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, Gallimard, 320 pages, 25 euros.
• Le Cas Zimmerman
When he is not working for the cinema, Arthur Harari writes comics. He joined forces with his brother Lucas Harari, author of the noted comic strip The Magnet. Together, they imagined Le Cas David Zimmermanthe story of a young photographer whose identity is stolen by a woman he meets on New Year’s Eve.
Now living in the body of this woman, he follows the trail of the person he met to recover her body… A comic in the tradition of the comics of the American Daniel Clowes, which offers a reflection on the questions of gender and identity and which explores the discomfort that results from it.
The Case David Zimmerman, Lucas Harari (screenplay, drawing) Arthur Harari (screenplay), Sarbacane, 360 pages, 35 euros.
• The Splendid on the Splendid
It was Michel Blanc’s last project with his comrades from Splendid before dying. In the book The Splendid on the Splendidpublished on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the comedy troupe, its members all commented together on photos from their careers. Rare photos from their personal collections. The opportunity to discover how the Splendid made several generations of spectators roar with laughter.
The Splendid by the Splendid, we had so much fun, Le Cherche Midi, 256 pages, 26.50 euros.
• 50 years of the Caesars
As the 50th César ceremony approaches, Friday February 28, 2025, at the Olympia, take a look back at the history of French cinema awards. An always eventful history, marked by numerous coups and controversies. All illustrated and narrated by specialist journalist Thierry Lacaze. Perfect for the young film buff wanting to learn more about the history of French cinema.
50 years of the César ceremony, Thierry Lacaze, E/P/A, 240 pages, 40 euros.
• “Paris, Texas”
Wim Wenders’ best-known film, Palme d’or 1984, is being released in a restored version thanks to the publisher Carlotta, known for highlighting the classic heritage of cinema. A non-conformist road movie, carried by the captivating music of Ry Cooder and the interpretation of Harry Dean Stanton, unforgettable as a man who tries to understand the disappearance of his wife, who left by abandoning their son.
Paris, Texas, Carlotta Films, 55 euros.
• “Le Diner de cons” seen by Villeret
This is the ideal book for all fans of Dinner for idiots. The text of Francis Veber’s famous play has been republished with annotations by Jacques Villeret, interpreter of François Pignon. In this ideal work for any comedy fan, the actor underlines his lines, adds information on his movements on stage, his tone or the emotions of his character. An edition with photos of the piece.
The dinner of idiots by Jacques Villeret, Fayard, 256 pages, 24.90 euros.
• Fernandel as you’ve never seen him
Fernandel, one of the most popular comic actors of the 20th century, is honored with a box set offering three of his films in restored version: The Flying Wardrobe (1948), The heroic Monsieur Boniface (1949) et Sleepwalking Boniface (1950). The opportunity to discover another side of the interpreter of Don Camillo, particularly in The Flying Wardrobea little-known film of his career, considered one of his best, where the actor dabbles in dark humor unusual for him.
Fernandel box set, Pathé. On DVD (€24.99) and Blu-ray (€29.99).
• A manga for movie buffs in love
A romance manga for movie buffs. In Miwa’s shoes follows Miwa Kubota, a thirty-something movie buff. Fired from the video store where she works after objecting to a customer, she comes across an ad from her idol, the actor Takashi Yatsumi, to become her housekeeper. The opportunity for her to change her life. A very pleasant manga, full of movie references, True Romance has Gone with the Wind passing through Parasite by Bong Joon-ho et Life is beautiful of the Goat.
In the shoes of Miwa, Uhei Aoki (drawing & screenplay), Gaëlle Ruel (translation), Kurokawa, 7.95 euros. Three volumes available.
• Zorro before Jean Dujardin
It’s not just the series with Jean Dujardin. The publisher Urban Comics invites you to discover the comics Zorro from the 1950s, drawn by Alex Toth, considered one of the greatest comic book artists. Fast-paced stories, marked by great visual inventiveness, which have influenced the majority of contemporary adventure comics, but also the more recent versions of Zorro including the one with Antonio Banderas.
Zorro The Legend, Alex Toth, Urban Comics, 304 pages, 31 euros.
• Cult but forgotten comedies
Studio Canal exhumes cult but forgotten comedies from those years through its labels “The 70s Collection” and “The 80s Collection”. On the program for the last batch: the nostalgic teen movie To us little English girls but also I’m going to breakone of Christian Clavier’s most striking roles in a frame that will explode his dreary daily life to escape the conformism in which he has locked himself.
16.99 euros for the blu-ray.
