Film News: 2015 Chicago French Film Festival Kicks Off July 31 at the Music Box Theatre with ‘Le Affaire SK1’

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CHICAGO – The 5th annual Chicago French Film Festival is six days of beret-wearing cinema, taking place July 31st-August 5th, 2015, at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago. The opening night film at 7pm is “Le Affaire SK1.”

“SK1” is French police jargon for “Serial Killer 1,” the codename given in the 1990s to a rapist and murderer who preyed on young women in eastern Paris. The culprit was not the country’s first serial killer, but he was the first to be caught via DNA analysis — even if cops had to overcome years of bureaucratic bungling and bad luck to finally get to him. The debonair Raphael Personnaz stars as an obsessive detective who finds his personal and professional lives upended by the case. “Le Affaire SK1” will be followed by “The King and the Mockingbird” at 9pm.

’Le Affaire SK1’ is the Opening Night Film at the Chicago French Film Festival
Photo credit: Chicago French Film Festival

On Saturday, August 1st, “Forbidden Games” will premiere at 11:30am. Proceeding the film’s conclusion, “Blame it on Voltaire” will play at 1:00pm. A repeat showing of “Le Affaire SK1” will show at 4:30pm, “Number One Fan” (see capsule) at 7:00pm. Day Two concludes with “Tokyo Fiancee” at 9:15pm.

”Number One Fan”

When a pop singer accidentally kills his girlfriend, he turns to his most devoted groupie to help clean up the mess in this exceptionally well-polished French thriller, which satisfyingly delves into the characters and the darkly satirical undercurrent that runs beneath the suspenseful scenario. Starring 2014 César winner Sandrine Kiberlain (nominated again for this performance) as the not-all-there beautician who would do anything for her idol (played by Laurent Lafitte). Directed by Jeanne Henry. The film will screen again at 9pm on Monday, August 3rd.

On Sunday, August 2nd, “The King and the Mockingbird” will repeat at 11:30am, “The Game of Love and Chance” will start at 1:30pm, “The Chef’s Wife” at 4:00pm, “Breathe” at 6:00pm and finally, “Black Venus” (See Capsule) at 8:00pm.

”Black Venus”

An assured adaptation of the French young-adult novel “Breathe,” the second feature by actress-turned-director Mélanie Laurent (“Inglorious Basterds”, “Beginners”) is a taut coming-of-age tale, starring talented newcomers Joséphine Japy and Lou De Laâge as two teens whose all-consuming friendship takes a dark and dangerous turn. Virginal 17-year-old Charlie is instantly attracted to wild new transfer student Sarah, who brings with her an air of boldness and danger. Also screening at 9pm on Tuesday, August 4th.

On Monday, August 3rd, “Handmade with Love in France” (See Capsule) will screen at 5:30p, with repeat sceenings of “Tokyo Fiancee” at 7pm and “Number One Fan” at 9pm.

”Handmade with Love in France”

A delightful look at a vanishing breed, this vibrant documentary, directed by Julie Bernard, affectionately celebrates the artisans who create fabulous haute-couture outfits for Dior, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent – M. Gérard Lognon, a third-generation specialist in pleat-making, M. Bruno Legeron, a designer of perfect artificial flowers whose atelier opened in 1880, and M. Lorenzo Ré, one of three remaining sculptors of wooden forms for hat-making.

NEXT WEEK: More highlights from the Chicago French Film Festival as it runs through Wednesday, August 5th, 2015.

By PATRICK McDONALD Writer, Editorial Coordinator HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com