The Film Society of Lincoln Center continues Family Films series for March and April with a French twist, showcasing kid-friendly films from France and classic musicals set in Paris.

New international blockbusters to debut stateside for special Spring Break edition.

New York, NY (February 17, 2012) — Families can continue to enjoy kid-friendly films with The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s delightful Family Films matinee series. The lineup for March and April includes films with an international twist!

To coincide with the annual upcoming program Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, the series will have a decidedly French point of view for the March and April lineup as it moves from winter to spring. With colorful films from France as well as some lively American musicals set in Paris there will be laughs, music and merriment.

For the month of April, families can take a cinematic excursion and globe trot around the world to Russia, Belgium, The Netherlands and Kenya during the Spring Break Special with four new flicks for kids.

To make the foreign selections more interactive and “story book” format friendly for the young ones, subtitles will be read aloud, in addition to being shown in English on the screen.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Family Films are an ongoing weekend film series presented in the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center’s Amphitheater. The series is programmed by Isa Cucinotta and Marcela Goglio.

The colorful, roomy theater was recently bestowed the honor of being one of New York’s newest “classic” places to visit by Time Out New York and boasts the largest plasma screen in the world!

With a special ticket price of $6.00 (aside from ZARAFA and THE PAINTING playing in conjunction with Rendez-Vous with French Cinema), and Indie Food & Wine’s $6.00 “Indie Lunch Box” featuring NY State cheddar grilled cheese with apples and house made hot chocolate, the entire family can embark on this perfect budget-friendly joyride every weekend!

Following is FSLC’s Family Films schedule for March and April:

FAMILY FILMS: A TRIP TO FRANCE
March 4 – April 29

Playing in conjunction with Rendez-Vous with French Cinema.
Zarafa
Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie, 2011, France; 78m
An old man gathers his grandchildren to tell them the story of 10-year-old Maki, who is kidnapped by slave traders. He quickly escapes to find himself on an epic journey. Maki is determined to rescue his new friend, the orphaned giraffe Zarafa, from the Bedouin prince who is taking her to France as a gift to the King. Stowing away on the journey, he looks for opportunities to escape with her. Their travels take them to Alexandria, Marseille and Paris. But the slave trader is on the same route and he is still angry about losing Maki and wants him back!
For ages 7 and older.
In French with English subtitles.
March 4: 1:15pm
March 11: 10am

NOTE: Ticket price is $13 each.

Presented in collaboration with the New York International Children’s Film Festival. Playing in conjunction with Rendez-Vous with French Cinema.

The Painting (Le tableau)
Jean-François Laguionie, 2011, France, 35mm; 76m
A touching, wonderfully inventive animated fable, The Painting is largely set within the borders of a canvas temporarily residing in the lush garden of an old chateau. In that canvas’s world uncomfortably co-exist three types of creatures: the fully drawn and colored Alldunns; the partially completed Halfies; and the Sketchies, which exist as only rough designs. The Alldunns lord it over the others, until one of their number, Ramo, starts to wonder if this is indeed the way things are meant to be—or if someday the others will be completed. Together with his beloved Claire (a Halfie, and thus off-limits for him), Ramo sets off to see if he can somehow contact that mysterious Painter who started all the trouble in the first place. Full of visual wit and sly humor, The Painting is a sheer delight for young people of all ages.
All ages.
March 3: 1:15pm

Note: Ticket price is $13.

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot)
Jacques Tati, 1953, France, DVD; 114m
Pipe-smoking Monsieur Hulot, Jacques Tati’s endearing clown, takes a holiday at a seaside resort where his presence provokes one catastrophe after another. Tati’s wildly funny satire of vacationers determined to enjoy themselves includes a series of precisely choreographed sight gags involving dogs, boats, and firecrackers. The first entry in the Hulot series is a masterpiece of gentle slapstick. The soundtrack in Holiday instead is filled with a breezy jazz that perfectly captures the fleeting pleasures of a summer vacation, abetted magnificently by its sunny black-and-white cinematography. It's a one-of-a-kind film, a testament to transient joys that a perfect summer's holiday embody. And, despite its Palme d'or win at Cannes and its stateside Oscar nomination for best foreign film, the retro feel that the passing decades have bestowed upon it may make it even more enjoyable today than it was in 1953.
Ages 6 and up.
March 10, 17: 2:00pm

An American in Paris
Vincente Minnelli, 1951, USA, Blu Ray; 113m
It is the end of World War II and American artist Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) decides to stay behind in Paris to paint. One day he meets an American millionaire who shows interest in him and wants to promote his work. But things get complicated as Jerry falls for a pretty salesgirl (Leslie Caron), who turns out to be in love with one of his close friends. Shot in lush technicolor, Minnelli’s beloved musical comedy boasts a George Gershwin score that includes such iconic songs as “I Got Rhythm,” “I'll Build A Stairway to Paradise,” “‘'S Wonderful” and “Our Love is Here to Stay,” and dances choreographed by Gene Kelly.
All ages.
March 18, 24: 2:00pm

On the Sly (A pas de loup)
Oliver Ringer, 2011, Belgium/France, DVD; 77m
Six-year-old Cathy believes her parents don’t even notice her anymore. She decides to test them on a weekend trip to their country house and disappears into the woods. Alone, she evades the police who are looking for her and sets up a new home. She has a pet fish and some seedlings to take care of while she contemplates life on her own. With a fairy tale-like setting and told in voiceover from Cathy’s point-of-view, the film opens a door into a little girl’s private world. The director’s own daughter is cast as Cathy.
Winner of  the European Children's Film Association Award 2012 for the Best European ChildrenÂčs Film 2011
Ages 8 and older.
In French with English subtitles.
March 25, 31: 2:00pm

Silk Stockings
Rouben Mamoulian, 1957, USA, DVD; 117m
This musical remake of the 1939 Greta Garbo film Ninotchka boasts an unforgettable score by Cole Porter and spectacular widescreeen, color cinematography. Starring Fred Astaire as a movie producer and Cyd Charisse as a communist agent on a mission to retrieve the straying Soviet composer who is working with him in Paris.
All ages.
April 1, 7: 2:00pm

Wolf (Loup)
Nicolas Vanier, 2009, France, Digibeta; 102m
Sixteen-year-old Sergei is the son of the chief of the Batagi clan of reindeer herders. The herd is the tribe’s wealth and livelihood, so when Sergei is earns the title of herdsmen he is responsible for protecting them from their only enemy: the wolf. On their drive to the summer pastures in the Siberian mountains, Sergei comes face to face with an aggressive wolf and is ready to shoot until he notices she is only protecting her cubs. He cannot kill her. He is banished from the clan as a result but discovers a world of friendship and loyalty with the wolves.
Ages 8 and up.
In French with English subtitles.
April 8, 21: 2:00pm

Earth Day!
World Without Sun (Le monde sans soleil)
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, 1964, France, Blu Ray; 93m
Join Commander Cousteau at the underwater Continental Shelf Station Two–the world’s first attempt at undersea living. For one month, 6 “oceanauts” live on the floor of the Red Sea in an experimental starfish-shaped home. Explore undersea caverns! See plant-like animals and animal-like plants! Ride in a two-person “diving saucer” to depths of 1000 feet!
Oscar winner for best documentary in 1965.
In French with English subtitles.
April 22: 2:00pm

Gigi
Vincente Minnelli, 1958, USA, Blu Ray; 113m
Young and wealthy, Gaston (Louis Jourdan) is bored by 1800s Paris society life, but he does enjoy spending time with Madame Alvarez (Hermione Gingold) and her tomboy granddaughter, Gigi (Leslie Caron.) Meanwhile, Gigi’s aunt is trying to teach the girl etiquette and grace so she will be a suitable mistress for such a wealthy man as he. Only while on a seaside holiday do Gaston and Gigi slowly realize their feelings for each other have grown-up. But Gigi rejects the notion of being a mistress and Gaston is uncertain he is ready to give up his womanizing ways. Afterall, his Uncle HonorĂ© (Maurice Chevalier) has never married. HonorĂ© frames the story with his observations on men, women and marriage, and sings his classic “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.” Gigi swept the Oscars in 1959.
All ages.
April 28, 29: 2:00pm

FAMILY FILMS: SPRING BREAK SPECIAL
April 9 – 15

The Ugly Duckling (Gadki utenok)
Garri Bardin, 2010, Russia, Digibeta; 76m
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale and set to the rhythm of Tchaikovsky, this clay and feather puppet animation takes place in a farm full of geese, roosters, hens and ducks. Snuck into the pen by a rooster while still in his egg, once born the endearing duckling is pushed away and laughed at by all the other birds for being so different. Displaying amazing resilience, he never loses hope, and in the end he becomes a magnificent white swan.
In Russian with English and French subtitles.
Ages 5 and up.
April 9 – 13: 11:00am

Eep! (Iep!)
Rita Horst, 2010, The Netherlands, DVD; 82m
Birdie is a tiny enchanting girl born with wings instead of arms. A kindly birdwatcher finds her in the woods and takes her home, where he and his wife decide to raise her as their own.  But Birdie realizes that she wants to fly South and so, without knowing it, embarks on the most exciting adventure. Iep! turned little Kenadie Jourdin into a big star in Holland and has won multiple prizes on the children's festival circuit.
In Dutch with English subtitles.
Ages 7 and up.
April 9 – 13: 1:00pm

The Magicians (Het geheim)
Joram LĂŒrsen, 2010, The Netherlands, DVD; 94m
In this delightful, action packed and suspenseful film, eight year old Ben and his father are aspiring magicians with a show that is a big success in their town.  But one day they attempt a trick they aren't ready for and their assistant Sylvie disappears! As Ben devises a plan to find her, he discovers what is and isn’t real in the crazy world of grown-ups.
In Dutch with English subtitles.
Ages 8 and up.
April 9 – 13: 3:00pm

Lost in Africa (Kidnappet)
Vibeke Muasya, 2010, Denmark/Kenya, Digibeta; 92m
Eleven-year-old Simon’s life in Denmark is all about soccer. Despite his reluctance, his adoptive mother takes him on a trip to Kenya, the country of his birth. One day while playing soccer with other tourists at a resort he looses his autographed soccer ball. While chasing the kids who found it, he gets lost in the sprawling Nairobi shantytown of Kibera. Only with the help of new friends does he have a chance to get back. An exciting adventure film, Lost in Africa was a favorite at children’s film festivals around the world.
In Danish with English subtitles.
April 14, 15: 2:00pm

Film Society of Lincoln Center
Under the leadership of Rose Kuo, Executive Director, and Richard Peña, Program Director, the Film Society of Lincoln Center offers the best in international, classic and cutting-edge independent cinema. The Film Society presents two film festivals that attract global attention: the New York Film Festival, currently planning its 50th edition, and New Directors/New Films which, since its founding in 1972, has been produced in collaboration with MoMA. The Film Society also publishes the award-winning Film Comment Magazine, and for over three decades has given an annual award—now named “The Chaplin Award”—to a major figure in world cinema. Past recipients of this award include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, and Tom Hanks. The Film Society presents a year-round calendar of programming, panels, lectures, educational programs and specialty film releases at its Walter Reade Theater and the new state-of-the-art Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center.

The Film Society receives generous, year-round support from Royal Bank of Canada, 42BELOW, American Airlines, The New York Times, Stella Artois, the National Endowment for the Arts, WNET New York Public Media, the National Endowment for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts. For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com

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