Not very French at all

You know, in some ways I'm glad that the French go to such lengths to preserve the integrity of their film industry. But then I wonder ... The Guardian notes that the latest collaboration between Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and the director's amazing star Audrey Tautou has hit a rocky patch in La France. Seems that according to a French court, the new film, the much-anticipated A Very Long Engagement, really isn't French at all! The film, whose correct title is in fact Un long dimanche de fiancailles (Not French?) is set in France, has a French director, with French actors, all speaking French; but because they got a boatload of cash from Warner Brothers, the Court has ruled that film is in fact ... (gasp!), Americain! That means it can't grab about 3.5 million euros worth of French government funding. I don't know if that's a problem, but A Very Long Engagment is one of the most expensive French - sorry "French" - films ever made, so the producers probably could use the bucks. Thing is, the French film industry has slipped a bit in recent years - some even suggest L'exception culturelle is in crisis, as the Frenchies don't seem to be making movies that enough people want to see any more. I say, if you get a film project that's French and a potential hit (and a Jeunet-Tautou collaboration is about as bankable as you're going to get in France today) then just give them the damned money! We don't want our French stars baling out and making tracks for Hollywood, do we?