Rendez-Vous with a lush, languid Renoir

Vincent Rottiers as Jean Renoir and Christa Theret as Andree Heuschling.

French cinema fest a state-of-the-art survey of Gallic film

BY RANIA RICHARDSON | “Renoir,” a lush, languid film that follows the aging impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir and his son, legendary filmmaker Jean, is a highlight in Rendez-Vous with French Cinema — the annual state-of-the-art survey of Gallic film.

Now in its 18th year, Rendez-Vous will show 26 films at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the IFC Center and BAMcinematek, February 28 to March 10, and will feature work by emerging filmmakers as well as auteurs.

In a tribute to Jean Renoir, three of his masterworks will screen — including “Boudu Saved from Drowning,” an early film that satirizes the bourgeoisie. Among the notable guests in attendance at the festival will be “Renoir” director Gilles Bourdos.

Beloved, prolific director Francois Ozon will be on hand with “In the House,” the comic tale of a high school writing teacher (Fabrice Luchini) who becomes personally involved in the stories of one of his students, along with his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas), a provocative gallery owner.

“Therese Desqueyroux,” the final film of Claude Miller (who passed away last year) will be accompanied by Annie Miller, his producing partner and widow, and star Audrey Tautou, who plays the disturbed, titular heroine in a modern remake of the 1962 Georges Franju film of the same name, which will also screen in the festival.