Film Screening: The French

Célébrons la saison sur terre battue !

In celebration of clay season, please join us for a special screening of The French, a film by William Klein, presented by filmmaker Wes Anderson.

William Klein, the legendary American photographer and filmmaker, has put together a body of work as thrillingly eclectic as any living artist. In his 1969 film Muhammad Ali, the Greatest, Klein found a subject that combined his interest in sport and social criticism, and much the same combination can be seen at work, in a very different cultural context, in The French. Klein was the first person to be granted full, exclusive access to the tournament in its 90-year history, and using that doorway into locker rooms, TV studios, and players’ boxes, he shot the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at the 1981 French Open—a crucial moment in a crucial year in the history of a game, and its iconic players Björn Borg, John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Yannick Noah, and Ivan Lendl. With Klein’s customary eagle eye and whirlwind energy, The French captures the noisy bedlam that accompanies any major sporting event, while also revealing a level of candor from his subjects that is impossible to imagine in today’s secretive media-trained world.

Note: While Anderson is not featured in the film, he played a significant role in its 2021 re-release by presenting the restored version through Metrograph Pictures. His involvement was as a curator and advocate, expressing his admiration for the documentary’s portrayal of tennis during that era.

Guests will also enjoy a post-screening reception featuring complimentary French wine.

Anderson will not be present at the Alliance Française de Chicago.