Movies to watch before going to Paris

If you are wondering about movies to see before going to Paris, it is because you are planning a trip to the French capital. You won't regret the call City of Light It is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is full of monuments and legendary stories that will fascinate you, but it is also a modern city that has everything you need for an unforgettable stay.

In any case, the movies to see before going to Paris that we are going to quote you will give you a different perspective of the city of the Seine. With them, you can explore it before leaving home and discover corners that, perhaps, you did not even know existed. But this is not the time to expand, without further ado, we are going to suggest you the movies to see before going to Paris.

Movies to see before going to Paris, a virtual tour of the city

Our tour of the best films set in Paris will take you to past times where you will know their history, but also to the present, so that you discover what they are those places full of charm that do not appear in the tourist guides. Let's go with the tapes that we propose.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Based on the extraordinary novel Our Lady of paris of the great Victor Hugo, more than one movie there are several. Perhaps the most popular is the animated version produced by Disney in 1996. It takes us back to medieval times to tell the story of the hunchback Quasimodo and the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda, who are involved in a plot of love, resentment and revenge.

All this with Notre Dame, the most emblematic church in Paris, as the central stage. In short, a beautiful story not without evil characters that has been brought to the big screen many times.

If you prefer to see a version with real actors, you have for example the mute Our Lady of paris, from 1923 and directed by Wallace Worsley. His interpreters were Lon chaney as Quasimodo and Patsy Ruth Miller as Esmeralda. However, if you want a sound version, we recommend the film of the same title shot in 1956 with Anthony quinn in the role of the hunchback and Gina Lollobrigida as Esmeralda. In this case, the direction was the French Jean Delannoy.

Marie Antoinette, another movie to see before going to Paris to learn its history

The story of the ill-fated wife of Louis XVI of France it has also been brought to the big screen many times. We propose you the version directed in 2006 by Sofía Coppola precisely with the title of Marie Antoinette. Although it focuses on the life of the queen, it is also a magnificent way of get to know the revolutionary Paris of the late XNUMXth century, many of whose monuments are still standing and you will be able to see them on your trip to the city.

The role of the ill-fated aristocrat is played by Kristen dunst, while that of her husband, the king, is in charge of Jason Schwartzman. Other figures such as Judy Davis, Rip Torn or Asia Argento complete the cast of a film that obtained a Oscar for the best costume design.

However, if you prefer a more classic film, we recommend the one from 1939, also titled Marie Antoinette. It was directed by Woodbridge S. Van Dyke, winner of two Oscars for The dinner of the accused y San Francisco. As for the interpreters, Norma Shearer he played the queen, while Robert Morley played Louis XVI and Tyrone Power played Axel von Fersen, the monarch's supposed lover.

The Miserables

Also based on the homonymous novel by Victor Hugo, one of the writers who best captured the Paris of his time, has been taken to film and television many times. A hit musical was even created based on the play.

The version that we bring you here is the one directed in 1978 by Glenn Jordan and starring Richard Jordan in the role of Jean Valjean, Caroline langrishe as Cosette and Anthony perkins like Javert. In the course of the film we witness episodes of Parisian history such as the Revolución de 1830 and, in general, to the daily life in the city of the Seine of that time.

However, if you want to choose as a movie what to see before going to Paris based on The Miserables another version, you can choose the one released in 1958. In this case, the director was Jean-Paul Le Chanois and the interpreters Jean Gabin, Martine Havet and Bernard Blier.

A third option is the one filmed for television as a miniseries by Josée Dayan. Jean Valjean was represented by Gérard Depardieu, while Cosette was played by Virginie Ledoyen and Javert by John Malkovich.

Moulin Rouge

If previous movies showed you historic Paris, Moulin Rouge it also introduces you to the bohemian atmosphere of the city at the end of the XNUMXth century. Above all, that of the artistic neighborhood of Montmartre, where the famous cabaret that gives the film its title still stands today.

This film was directed by Baz Luhrmann and released in 2001. It tells the story of a young English writer who moves to the city of the Seine, attracted precisely by his artistic bohemianism. At the Moulin Rouge you will meet real people like the painter Toulouse-Lautrec, but also the dancer Satine, with whom he will fall in love.

It is a musical film that will offer you essential information for you to discover the Montmartre neighborhood and what you must see there when you go to Paris. But we also advise you to pay attention to its powerful soundtrack, which includes great hits by Queen, Elton John o Nirvana.

Amelie, a classic among the movies to see before going to Paris

This film, also released in 2001, is a classic among the cinematographic recommendations to see before traveling to Paris. It is a romantic comedy directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and performed by Audrey tatoo.

She puts herself in the shoes of a waitress who works in the The Two Mills Coffee and who finds a purpose in his life when he decides to help others to make them happy. The film won four César Awards and was a candidate for several Oscars, although it did not get any. But above all, it is a delightful film that achieved enormous public success.

It is also perfect to know Montmartre, where the cafe where Amelie works is located. But, unlike the previous one, the neighborhood that we see in it is the current one. If you travel to Paris, you can also still have a drink at the Café de Los Dos Molinos.

La vie en rose

If France in general and Paris in particular have a symbol in the world of song, it is Edith Piaf, who was born in the city of the Seine. This film narrates, precisely, the life of the singer from her childhood in a poor neighborhood of the great city until her world triumph.

Directed by Olivier Dahan, it was released in 2007. But, if something stands out about it, it is the impressive performance of Marion Cotillard in the role of the singer. In fact, he got the Oscar for Best Actress for his performance, in addition to many other recognitions.

Joining her in the cast is Gerard Depardieu as Louis Leplée, the music entrepreneur who discovered Piaf; Clotilde Courau in the role of the artist's mother and Jean-Pierre Martins as boxer Marcel Cerdan, who was romantically involved with the song diva.

Ratatouille, contribution of animation to the films to see before going to Paris

As you well know, Paris has for decades been the scene of the best cuisine in the world. This is the basis of this film with which we end our tour of the films to see before going to Paris.

Remy is a rat who comes to the city of the Seine to fulfill his dream of becoming a great chef. To do this, it is introduced into the Gusteau's restaurant, his great idol. There he will collaborate with a simple dishwasher to create the most successful soup in all of Paris. Thus begins the adventures of the singular rodent.

It is a animation film produced by Pixar and released in 2007. Although its director was to be Jan Pinkava, it finally did Brad Bird and, for the dubbing, it had actors of the stature of Peter O'Toole and the comedian Patton Oswalt. Also, among many other awards, he obtained the Oscar for the best animated film. Finally it's wonderful the view of skyline from Paris that can be seen in one of his scenes.

In conclusion, we have proposed some of the movies to see before going to Paris to get to know the French capital better. However, many others are also recommended. For example, Charade, with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant strolling along the banks of the Seine; Paris, paris, whose protagonists occupy a theater in the city to stage their musical, or Untouchable, which shows us the value of friendship, but also the misery of the working-class neighborhoods of the great city. And, when you go, to move around the City of Light, you can read this article with our advice.