SAN JOSE – Beginning in Barrio Amon and at the Cine Magaly in Barrio La California today, the French Alliance in Costa Rica will present the ninth edition of its traditional European Film Festival. This year the French Alliance will screen ten feature films and one documentary; all productions have been carefully selected by the different embassies of the European Union member nations in Costa Rica, the European diplomatic corps and the Austrian Consulate.

All the films that will be shown during the festival are centered around the universal themes of love, human rights, and environmental protection. All movies will be played in their original audio soundtrack with subtitles in Spanish. Some screenings will be in the traditional 35 mm format, while others will be projected from a digital format.

Today’s screenings at the French Alliance in Barrio Amon, located 200 meters from the large INS building on 7^th Avenue and 5^th Street include:

• The Red Ballon (1956, the classic film for the whole family by Albert Lamorisse). Playing at 4:00 pm.
• Gainsbourg, vie héroïque (2010, about the life of the artist Serge Gainsbourg). Playing at 6:00 pm.

The two films above are free. Just remember to tell the French Alliance: merci!

Some of the other movies that are part of the European Film Festival include:

• Almanya – Willkommen in Deutschland (2011, Germany – comedy)
• Pauline & Paulette (2001, Belgium – comedy)
• Klimt (Starring John Malkovich. 2006, Austria – historical drama)
• Tambien la lluvia (Starring Gael Garcia Bernal. 2010, Spain – historical drama)
• Intouchables (2011, France – comedy and drama) [not to be missed]
• Sonny Boy (2011, The Netherlands – drama)
• Generazione 1000 Euros (2009, Italy – romantic comedy)
• Up in Smoke (2011, United Kingdom – documentary)

Tickets are priced at 1,800 colones (about $4). Senior citizens and students pay just $2.

For more information on screening times of the films above and other, please visit the French Alliance home on the web or its Facebook Timeline, or call 2222-2283.