Our 15th edition of Films on the Green brought French and international cinema to Manhattan and Brooklyn’s parks from June 2 to September 8. The 2023 edition celebrated the art of dance in film with a lineup of 12 stunning features that highlight the beauty, rhythm, and emotion of dance.
Check our 2023 Festival booklet:
All the screenings were free and open to the public. All films were shown with English subtitles.Curated by Nathalie Charles, Program Officer, in charge of Films on the Green.
Friday June 2 | Central Park (Canceled because of rain)THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort)By Jacques DemyWith Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, Gene Kelly, Michel Piccoli, George Chakiris, Grover Dal In the picturesque port town of Rochefort, the spirited Garnier twins, Delphine and Solange, share a strong bond and similar aspirations, despite their contrasting looks. Delphine, the celestial blonde, is a ballet teacher and dancer, while Solange, the fiery redhead, is a singer and composer. Together, they light up the town, imparting music and dance lessons with dreams of finding true love and pursuing their passions in the magical city of Paris.
Sunday June 11 (rain date) | Washington Square ParkTHE TANGO LESSON (La Leçon de tango)By Sally Potter With Sally Potter, Pablo Verón, Carlos Copello, Carolina LottiDissatisfied with her latest Hollywood screenplay, filmmaker Sally finds solace in tango lessons with Pablo, an Argentinean dancer living in Paris. As their relationship deepens, they strike a deal: if he teaches her to tango, she will make him a movie star. As they work together to make a movie in Buenos Aires, they confront the complexities of their love and conflicting desires.
Saturday June 17 (Rain date) | Washington Square ParkHEARTBREAKER (L’Arnacœur)By Pascal Chaumeil With Vanessa Paradis, Romain Duris, Andrew LincolnAlex is a professional heartbreaker, but when he is hired to break the engagement between heiress Juliette and the man of her dreams, he finds himself facing his toughest challenge yet. With only ten days to succeed, Alex must use all his skills to accomplish his assignment, even if it means stepping outside his comfort zone. Inspired by the iconic film “Dirty Dancing,” he learns to dance like Patrick Swayze and uses all his charms and wit to break down Juliette’s defense and win her heart.
Friday June 23 | Transmitter Park, BrooklynLA FEMME ET LE PANTINBy Julien Duvivier With Brigitte Bardot, António Vilar, Michel Roux, Darío MorenoAt the traditional Seville feria, Eva dances the fandango and captures the attention of the wealthy and powerful Matteo Diaz, a bull breeder who finds it difficult to resist her charms. As their passions intertwine, Eva toys with Matteo’s affections, challenging his self-esteem and leading him on a quest to win her heart.
Friday June 30 | Tompkins Square ParkTHREE NIGHTS A WEEK (Trois nuits par semaine)By Florent GouëlouWith Pablo Pauly, Romain Eck, Hafsia HerziBaptiste’s world is turned upside down when he meets the enigmatic drag queen, Cookie Kunty, and falls headfirst into the dazzling and vibrant world of drag. Initially drawn in by a photography project, he finds himself completely immersed in this new Parisian scene, leading to a passionate and tumultuous relationship with Quentin, the man behind the captivating persona.
Friday July 7 | Seward ParkCASABLANCA BEATS (Haut et fort)By Nabil AyouchWith Anas Basbousi, Ismail Adouab, Nouhaila Arif, Zineb BoujemaaAnas, a former rapper, is hired to teach hip hop at a cultural center in an underprivileged neighborhood of Casablanca. Amidst the challenges of restrictive traditions and issues of identity, religion, and politics, Anas manages to inspire his students, fostering unity and self-expression through the transformative power of hip hop culture.
Wednesday, July 12 | J. Hood Wright ParkNENEH SUPERSTARBy Ramzi Ben SlimanWith Oumy Bruni Garrel, Aïssa Maïga, Maiwenn, Steve Tientcheu At just twelve years old, Neneh is destined to dance and earns a coveted spot at the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School. Fueled by passion and determination, she must work twice as hard to overcome her challenging circumstances and earn the approval of the school’s director, Marianne Belage. Guarding a secret that connects her to Neneh, Marianne is put in a difficult position and becomes an unwavering protector of the school’s long-held traditions, leading Neneh to question whether she must choose between her dreams and her identity.
Friday July 14 | Seward ParkFRENCH CANCANBy Jean RenoirWith Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, María Félix Set in the vibrant Belle Epoque, live entertainment entrepreneur Henri Danglard undertakes the renovation of a historic Parisian cabaret, the Moulin Rouge. Betting on the revival of the cancan dance, he turns young washerwoman Nini into a star dancer. Along the way, Danglard confronts the jealousy of his lover Lola, the fickleness of his sponsors, and the fierce competition of the Montmartre scene.
Friday July 21 | Riverside Park, Pier IPOLINA (Polina, danser sa vie)By Valérie Müller & Angelin PreljocajWith Anastasia Shevtsova, Juliette Binoche, Niels Schneider, Jérémie Bélingard As a promising classical ballet dancer, Polina is on the verge of joining the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet when she discovers contemporary dance, a revelation that upends her plans. Choosing a new path, she leaves Russia to move to France. Under the guidance of renowned choreographer Liria Elsaj, Polina grapples with finding her artistic voice and forging a new life in the world of dance.
Friday July 28 | Riverside Park Pier INHA FALA (My Voice)By Flora GomesWith Fatou N’Diaye, Jean-Christophe Dollé, Angelo Torres, Naka RamiroIn Cabo Verde, singing and dancing is at the heart of social life, but young Vita is forbidden to sing due to an ancestral family curse. During her time in Paris, she meets Pierre, a musician who uncovers her beautiful voice and persuades her to record a song. Terrified of the consequences, Vita returns home to confront her fears and face tradition.
Wednesday, September 6 | Columbia UniversityDANCING THE TWIST IN BAMAKO (Twist à Bamako)By Robert GuédiguianWith Stéphane Bak, Alicia Da Luz Gomes, Saabo Balde, Bakary DiomberaIn 1960s Mali, the youth of Bamako embrace the twist dance and rock and roll imported from the West as they dream of political change. Amidst this atmosphere of hope, young socialist Samba encounters the spirited Lara during a political mission to the bush. As their love story unfolds, they face the challenges of revolution and strive to achieve their dreams for a brighter future.
Friday, September 8 | McGolrick Park, BrooklynLEAP! (Ballerina)By Eric Summer & Eric WarinFélicie, a spirited orphan from Brittany, yearns to dance her way to stardom at the prestigious Paris Opera, and with her inventive friend Victor, they hatch a daring plan to escape their orphanage and head for Paris. In the bustling and vibrant city, with the Eiffel Tower rising in the distance, Félicie discovers the transformative power of dance, and with determination and resilience, she learns to overcome the odds and pursue her passion.
FILMS ON THE GREEN is a free French film festival in New York City parks produced by Villa Albertine, the French Embassy, NYC Parks and FACE Foundation.
OFFICIAL SPONSORSBNP ParibasJCDecauxTV5 Monde
FESTIVAL FRIENDSagnès bMaman NYCColumbia Maison FrancaiseNorth Brooklyn Parks AllianceQuébec Government Office in New YorkPommery, Nora Coblence, & Frederic C. Weiss.
PARTNERSConsulate General of Argentina in New YorkMexican Cultural Institute in New YorkAfrican Film Festival, Cinema TropicalPS110 The Monitor SchoolSeward Park ConservancySummer on the HudsonWashington Square Park Conservancy