NEW YORK, May 19, 2017—To kick off the 10th anniversary edition of Films on the Green, American comedian, writer, and actress, Wanda Sykes, guest curator for the opening screening of the free outdoor French film festival, has selected the comedy Potiche (Trophy Wife) by François Ozon (2010). She will introduce the film on Friday, June 2 at Central Park.
Potiche takes place in 1977, a time when women’s emancipation was a much-debated issue in French society. The protagonist, Suzanne, is a self-effacing, elegant housewife of a wealthy industrialist. However, when some workers go on strike and take her husband hostage, Suzanne steps in to manage the factory. To everyone’s surprise, she proves herself a competent and assertive woman of action, and progressively gains her full independence.
Directed by François Ozon (Frantz, Swimming Pool, 8 Women), the movie stars Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini, Karin Viard, Judith Godrèche, and Jérémie Renier.
Wanda Sykes on her selected film, Potiche:
“I love satire and stories with strong female leads. Catherine Deneuve goes from being a submissive trophy wife to a boss by taking over her cheating husband’s job of managing an umbrella factory” says guest curator Wanda Sykes. “It’s a hilarious take on the old saying, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” It also touches on politics, class, and sexuality. There are a lot of big laughs delivered with this great ensemble cast too.”
Wanda Sykes is one of today’s most appreciated stand-up comedians. She began as a writer and won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for her work on The Chris Rock Show. She has also acted in several television shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm and Blackis. While she continues her career as a writer and a comedian, she has expanded her repertoire to include Talk Show The Game Show—from Push It Productions, the company she founded with producer Page Hurwitz—which premiered on TruTV this spring.
The screening of Potiche (1h43, Rated R) is free and open to the public and will take place in Central Park, Cedar Hill (at 79th Street and 5th Avenue) on Friday June 2, 2017 at 8:30pm. The film will be shown in French with English subtitles.
Films on the Green
In its landmark 10th year, Films on the Green invited 10 guest curators—some of the most creative and compelling filmmakers, actors, and artists of our time–to select one film each for the summer’s program. The guest curators include: Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch, James Ivory, Saul Williams, Isabella Rossellini, Wanda Sykes, Laurie Anderson, Matthew Weiner, Matías Piñeiro, and Amy Hargreaves.
FILMS ON THE GREEN - 2017 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
All films are in French with English subtitles, except for the film that will be screened on July 12th, which is in French and English with Spanish subtitles. Screenings begin at sunset.
June 2 – Central Park (79th St & Fifth Ave): Potiche (Trophy Wife), by Ozon, selected by Wanda Sykes
June 9- Washington Sq. Park: Tey (Today) by Gomis, selected by Saul Williams
June 16 – Washington Sq. Park: La Traversée de Paris by Autant-Lara, selected by Amy Hargreaves
June 23 – Transmitter Park (Brooklyn): Mauvais Sang by Carax, selected by Wes Anderson
June 30 – Transmitter Park (Brooklyn): Contempt by Godard, selected by Jim Jarmusch
July 7 – Tompkins Sq. Park: La Cérémonie by Chabrol, selected by Matthew Weiner
July 12 – J. Hood Wright Park (West 173th St): The Science of Sleep by Gondry (2006), presented in partnership with the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York (screening in French and English with Spanish subtitles).
July 14 – Tompkins Sq. Park: Port of Shadows by Carné, selected by Laurie Anderson
July 21 – Riverside Park, Pier I (at 70th St): Lumière d’été by Grémillon, selected by Matías Piñeiro
July 28 – Riverside Park, Pier I (at 70th St): A Trip to the Moon by Méliès followed by Elena and Her Men by Renoir, selected by Isabella Rossellini
Sept. 7 – Columbia University (at 116th St): The Wild Child by Truffaut, selected by James Ivory, presented in partnership with the Columbia Maison Française
The Cultural Services of the French Embassy, FACE Foundation and NYC Parks would like to thank Films on the Green’s 2017 lead sponsor, Le Petit Marseillais™, and the festival’s 2017 official sponsors, Air France, Atout France-France Tourism Development Agency, BNP Paribas, JC Decaux, and TV5 Monde
More information: http://frenchculture.org/film-tv-and-new-media/festivals/films-green-2017
About
The Cultural Services of the French Embassy promotes the best of French arts, literature, cinema, digital innovation, language, and higher education across the US. Based in New York City, Washington D.C., and eight other cities across the country, the Cultural Services brings artists, authors, intellectuals and innovators to cities nationwide. It also builds partnerships between French and American artists, institutions and universities on both sides of the Atlantic. In New York, through its bookshop Albertine, it fosters French-American exchange around literature and the arts. www.frenchculture.org
FACE Foundation is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting French-American relations through innovative cultural and educational projects. In partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, FACE promotes artistic, literary and educational exchange and collaboration between creative professionals from both countries. With additional corporate, foundation, and individual support, FACE administers grant programs in the performing and visual arts, cinema, translation, and secondary and higher education, while providing financial sponsorship to French-American festivals and other cultural initiatives. FACE focuses on new and recent work of living artists and the promotion of bilingualism and the French language. FACE Foundation (French-American Cultural Exchange) is a 501(c)(3) organization chartered by the state of New York. www.face-foundation.org
NYC Parks is the steward of approximately 29,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 550 tennis courts, 66 public pools, 48 recreational facilities, 17 nature centers, 13 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. We look after 650,000 street trees, and two million more in parks. We are New York City’s principal providers of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals. www.nycgovparks.org
Media Contact
Camille Desprez – + 1 (212) 439-1417 camille.desprez@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Frenchculture.org – @franceinnyc – facebook.com/frenchculture
Follow Films on the Green on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
#filmsonthegreen