French Film Festival: Films On The Green

Chicago Park District, our annual summer series Films on the Green returns to parks across Chicago, showcasing the elegance and style of French fashion through four iconic films.

The series opens with the timeless elegance of Coco Before Chanel, unfolding the inspiring story of a visionary who forever changed the world of fashion. Next, The Young Girls of Rochefort dazzles with its vibrant, pastel-colored charm—an exuberant musical celebrating 1960s style and the joy of youth. In Haute Couture, a young thief and a retired Dior seamstress forge an unexpected yet powerful bond, united by their shared love of fashion. The series wraps up with How to Be a Good Wife, a thought-provoking exploration of a woman’s awakening to her place in society amidst the 1968 feminist movement in France.

Experience the world of haute couture and iconic French style in this outdoor film series set in Chicago’s scenic parks.

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed).

Films begin at sunset. All films have English subtitles.

Schedule

8:30pm: Coco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel)

Coco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel)
Directed by Anne Fontaine
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
With Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain, and Emmanuelle Devos
2009, History-Drama, 1h50, France-Belgium, PG-13

Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, Amélie) shines in this intriguing portrait of the early life of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, the orphan who would build a fashion empire and be known universally by her nickname, Coco. She journeys from a mundane seamstress job to boisterous cabarets to the opulent French countryside, possessing little more than her unwavering determination, unique style and visionary talent. Also starring Benoît Poelvoorde (In His Hands) and Alessandro Nivola (Junebug). Featuring lush settings and stunning costume design, Coco Before Chanel is the gripping and dramatic story of an icon who defied convention and defined the modern woman. Film in French with English subtitles.

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed) | Bring your own chair or blanket and join us at dusk!

Click here for Tickets