Arnaud Desplechin’s whirlwind dramedy doesn’t fully reject Christmas joy, but it does give the undersung holiday traditions of dysfunction and discomfort their time in the spotlight. Starring a formidable French cast, this festive film’s thorny exterior makes way for little glimmers of tender hope.

A puzzlebox neo-noir, this erotic thriller from Mathieu Amalric is one where the French actor’s filmmaking is every bit as enthralling as his performance. We hand you the keys to The Blue Room, a spiral of passion, secrets & murder brilliantly adapted to the screen from Simenon’s eponymous novel.