Films and series to watch to improve your French in the New Year

Learning French as a New Year’s resolution does not have to be a daunting prospect or even particularly hard work - at least not all the time.

Some of the most effective learning can be made through more passive engagement, rather than sitting down with a textbook. 

Watching television in French is one such an accessible way of training one - or even two - of the key language skills: listening (and reading if you use subtitles). 

Keeping both the audio and subtitles in French is an effective way to consolidate what you think you hear, and it can also give you a better idea of how words you see written down are pronounced. 

It can also help build up your cultural references, giving you something to talk about that is familiar to French people.

Fortunately, France’s TV and cinema scene has a lot to offer, so it is never too hard to find something you want to watch, regardless of your interests.

Read more: Comedian who found fame in France talks multicultural comedy

Les 7 Vies de Léa 

Les 7 Vies de Léa is a supernatural drama set in the South of France and available on Netflix. 

Léa, a rebellious teenager, stumbles upon the remains of a boy who disappeared 30 years earlier. 

After this discovery, she wakes up each morning in the body of a different person from the 1990s, reliving key moments leading up to the boy's disappearance. 

Léa must navigate these time jumps, uncover the truth behind the mystery, and potentially change the course of events.

The southern background offers beautiful scenery and a change from the often Paris centric films and shows available. 

Read more: Five Anglophone actors who speak French well

Baron Noir 

Have you ever felt confused by the French political system? If so, Baron Noir is a good explainer as it delves into the opaque politics of Marseille. 

The political drama is known for its gripping storylines, which is often compared to shows like House of Cards for its intensity and exploration of power dynamics.

The show, which is available on Canal+, provides key insight into the mechanics of French politics, including elections, party alliances, and media influence. 

Nox

Crime dramas are all the rage, and Nox fits the bill perfectly. 

The story follows retired police officer Catherine Suzini who is drawn back into action when her daughter, Julie, a police officer, goes missing during an investigation. 

Along with Julie’s partner, Raphaël, Catherine embarks on a desperate search through the Parisian catacombs and sewer systems, uncovering a web of secrets, corruption, and danger.

This series is available on Canal+. 

Kaizen - Un an pour gravir l’Everest (YouTube)

This documentary follows the story of a 21-year-old YouTuber - who is not particularly athletic - as he attempts to get in shape to climb Everest across the course of a year. 

The documentary accompanies the young man through all the changes he makes to his life as he attempts to achieve this ambitious goal. 

He uses the Kaizen philosophy, which is the idea of continuous progression day by day, with the overall goal of bettering oneself. 

The film is long, but makes easy viewing.

Read more: Comment: French YouTuber's Everest ascent is problematic but inspiring

MyFrenchFilmFestival

From January 17 to February 17, the 15th instalment of the annual MyFrenchFilmFestival will take place online. 

The festival allows people from all around the world to sink their teeth into French cinema, which showcases a selection of 20 films, with the line-up set to be revealed on January 17. 

Viewers can tune in to the 10 feature films and 10 short-films for free from many countries, allowing both upcoming filmmakers to showcase their work on the global platform and French learners to engage with new work coming out of France. 

More information can be found on https://en.unifrance.org/.