Dir. Jean Cocteau, 1946, France, 93 min, 35mm, Black & White
With Jean Marais, Josette Day, Mila Parély, Nane Germon
In French with English subtitles

Recognized as a landmark surreal fantasy in the motion picture canon, Jean Cocteau’s adaptation of the classic fairy tale is a visual masterpiece, depicting a girl’s pure love, the transformation of a feral beast, and the family drama that brings them together. With Jean Marais (the beast) and Josette Day (the beauty) in unforgettably romantic performances, the film’s masterful, dreamlike journey is foreshadowed in Cocteau’s introduction: “We begin our story with a phrase that is like a time machine for children: Once Upon a Time.”

Join us for a Happy Hour from 5:30–7:30pm! Mix, mingle, and enjoy a glass of wine. Open to attendees of both screenings.

After the 7:30pm screening, stay for a Q&A with Dr David Haziza (co-curator of this series) and Chloë Cassens (representative of the Severin Wunderman Collection), moderated by Delphine Selles-Alvarez (FIAF Film Curator).

“Astonishingly beautiful.” – New York Times

“One of the most magical of all films.” – Robert Ebert