Paris in Miami

French language filled the air at the Grove’s MDC Tower Theater for the opening of the 7th annual France Cinema Floride, a weeklong celebration of French film.
Families and friends packed the seats for the premier movie, RIF (Recherche dans I’nteret des families). The 90-minute opening thriller, whose title in English is “Missing People’s Research,” featured a Parisian police officer, Monnereau, whose wife gets abducted while on summer vacation with their son, but who is targeted as his wife’s killer. The movie follows Monnereau’s desperate search to find his wife and prove his innocence.
After the showing, the film’s producer, Patrick Gimenez, and actor Pascal Elbe who played an officer investigating the abduction of Monnereau’s wife, answered questions from the audience.
Gimenez was asked why he helped produce a movie like this and if he was trying to send a message. He explained that people go missing all the time in France and he wanted to show the struggles of a husband trying to find his love.
Elbe discussed Monnereau’s character and how he portrayed his role as the investigator.
“I tried to put myself into his position,” Elbe explained.
The movie shows how times have changed. People cannot be out alone anymore, said Elbe. He referred to it as the end of an era.
A moviegoer originally from Haiti commented on how much she enjoyed watching films in her native language and the influence that the festival has on Miami.
“I think it is very representative of the French culture and I do enjoy it a lot, I wish there were more activities around here of this sort,” she said.
Gimenez has produced 18 movies in French and co-produced six in English. He started the French Film Festival in 2005, one of four that he organizes. The first festival starts in Boca Raton. Miami hosts its festival during the first week of November. The festival moves to New York in December, and finishes in Connecticut.
Gimenez brings about 30 to 35 new films to the festivals each year. With his many years of experience, he knows how to choose the right ones. He loves French movies and knows the people who made them. He prefers bringing films to Miami over other places because Miami is “a very open-minded and a freer city,” he said.
With such a large Hispanic culture in Miami, it is hard to imagine that a French film festival would be popular. However, Gimenez researched his audiences and learned that 30 percent were French locals and 70 percent American and Spanish. He enjoys the diverse Miami crowd.
From the time the festival began six years ago, Gimenez said attendance has grown. In 2005, the crowd was around 1,900 to 2,000. For 2011, the festival brought in 6,000 people for the weekend.
“It is about the pleasure,” he said. “My target is when people come and talk about movies they do not know.”
He enjoys the thought of helping people think outside the box and discussing with them why he chose the movie. He brings French actors, producers and directors to the festival and loves being part of the conversations with the audience and crew.
He isn’t offended when some don’t like the movies he chooses, because it gives people something new to discuss and learn.
“Everything is a pleasure, it is not a question of ego or money,” he said. He would rather see ten people happy with the movies than 6,000 unhappy people just to make money.
As the French Film Festival continued through the weekend, Gimenez encouraged people to come out next year. His favorite thing about the festival:
“Seeing people exit the theater with a smile on their face,” he said.