5 films and series to watch to improve your French in June

June is a good month for film enthusiasts in France.

The Cannes film festival has recently ended, giving a taste of what films to look forward to later in the year, and the start of warmer weather means some traditionally ‘summer’ films become more appealing to watch.

Whilst you may have to wait to see some of the films debuted at Cannes, there are plenty of new releases and classics to sink your teeth into, either at the cinema or through a number of online streaming services.

Films and TV shows are a great tool for improving your language skills; not only does it train your ear to hearing how words and sounds are pronounced but it opens your eyes to more colloquial French and how different phrases are used. 

As always, the best way to watch these shows is in French with French subtitles.

Connasse 

Starring Camille Cottin, the master of ceremonies at this year’s Cannes festival, Connasse is a comedy mini-series with a cult following in France.

The story revolves around a 30-year-old obnoxious and rude French woman who cannot keep her mouth shut in whichever social situation she finds herself in. 

The series is filmed with hidden cameras with real people who don’t know that Camille is an actress portraying a character.

Each episode only lasts a couple of minutes which makes it a great option if you have a short break and want to do some quick practice. 

It is available on Canal+, and there is also a film called Connasse, princesse des coeurs. 

The show is a few years old now, but has a cult following. 

Les Rois de L'arnaque 

For documentary lovers, Les Rois de L'arnaque (Lords of Scam) tells the story of a €283 million fraud carried out in France. 

The documentary explains how the scammers identified and took advantage of a loophole in the European Union’s Emissions Trading System to make their fortune.

The film features one of the men involved in the scandal, Marco Mouly, fresh from a seven-year stint in jail, giving an even closer insight into the personalities of those behind one of France’s biggest scandals in history. 

It is available to watch on Netflix.

Tour de France: Unchained season 2 

As France prepares for its summer of sport, now is the perfect time to start getting ready with some related TV content.

This show, about the Tour de France, will drop its second season on June 11. 

It offers a behind-the-scenes look at renowned cycling tour, including all the grisly details you may not see watching the race on its own. 

The emotional and physical toil from the race is highlighted in particular, meaning the faint-of-heart should avoid this show.

You can catch up on season one on Netflix before season two starts.

Terminal 

For fans of comedy giant Ramzy Bedia, Canal+’s new series Terminal will be right up your alley. 

Starring numerous French household names, the series focuses on the dysfunctional staff at budget airline ‘Flywingz’, where things always seem to go wrong.

Problems in employees’ personal lives, difficult passengers and tension between staff members leads to a chain of hilarious situations which leaves the company in trouble as it struggles to compete in an ever-growing market. 

It is available on Canal+, and features cameos from some of France's most famous faces.

Un p’tit truc en plus 

Following its red carpet showing at the Cannes film festival, Un p’tit truc en plus sees a father and son fleeing the police when they find themselves in a holiday camp for young people with disabilities. 

In order to remain undercover, the pair pose as a pensioner and his carer. What begins as a ploy to escape justice becomes a heart-warming and life changing experience as they live with and learn from everyone at the camp. 

It is currently available to watch in cinemas and has garnered rave reviews from the press and public alike, becoming one of the most successful films of the year so far in France.