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1. La Môme (2007)

English Title: La Vie en Rose
Genre: Biographical Drama, Music
IMDb: 7.6 / 10

This is the tragic life story of Edith Piaf. From being abandoned by her mother, to being raised in her grandmother’s brothel, to becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol, her short life (she died aged 47) was marked by suffering and loss.

A very sad story about a woman who, against all odds, fought for love and happiness. You will never listen to “La vie en Rose” the same way again.

2. Coco Avant Chanel (2009)

English Title: Coco Before Chanel
Genre: Biographical Drama
IMDb: 6.7 / 10

This movie is a biopic about Coco Chanel, the French fashion designer and founder of the luxury brand Chanel.

3. Chocolat (2016)

English Title: All Out
Genre: Biographical Drama
IMDb: 7.0 / 10

This is a movie inspired by the interesting story of Rafael Padilla, a black slave who went from Spain to France and joined a British clown to form the first comic clown duo (the smart clown and the stupid clown).

It’s a fascinating and simultaneously tragic journey as the clown Chocolat rises to fame yet still has to deal with racism and humiliation until he has to make a choice: ignore it to preserve his fame and fortune or defend his honor to the peril of his career.

Great performance by Omar Sy.

4. Séraphine (2008)

English Title: Séraphine
Genre: Biographical Drama
IMDb: 7.4 / 10

This is the fascinating yet troubling story of Séraphine Louis – also called Séraphine de Senlis – a poor and strange maid with a great painting talent. She is discovered by a gay German art collector who wants to buy and expose her work – until World War I destroys those plans.

The movie depicts the fine line between genius and insanity. Amazing performance by the lead actress, Yolande Moreau.

5. Marie Heurtin (2014)

English Title: Marie’s Story
Genre: Biographical Drama
IMDb: 7.5 / 10

This is the extraordinary story of Marie Heurtin, a blind, deaf and dumb young girl, imprisoned in her dark and silent world, and who is taught sign language in the hand by a nun after many months of struggle.

Amazing performance by Ariana Rivoire, a deaf French actress.

6. La Promesse de l’Aube (2017)

English Title: Promise at Dawn
Genre: Biographical Drama
IMDb: 7.2 / 10

This is the unbelievable story of Romain Gary, a French Jew of Polish origins whose mother has such big dreams for him that he ends up fulfilling all of them – out of love for her. It’s worth reading his bio on Wikipedia after watching the movie that is based on his autobiography with the same name.

(Warning: Unfortunately, the movie contains a few very graphic nude scenes.)

7. Django (2017)

English Title: Django
Genre: Biographical Drama, Music
IMDb: 6.3 / 10

Django Reinhardt was a very talented jazz guitarist of Romani-French origins. The movie shows how he coped during WWII in occupied French territory where gypsies were being persecuted and thrown into labor and death camps along with the Jews.

A lot of good music and some local language make this a culturally enriching movie despite the terrible circumstances. Django chose music as his weapon and means of encouraging and uplifting people’s spirits during those difficult years.

8. L’Odyssée (2016)

English Title: The Odyssey
Genre: Biographical Drama, Adventure
IMDb: 6.6 / 10

This story retraces the life and life work of Jacques-Yves Cousteau a French explorer. After the money for exploring starts running out, he teams up with filmmakers who document his travels and findings in order to keep funding his life’s mission, whereas his son is more concerned about the environmental impact of his father’s work.

The story itself is not very riveting but there are many beautiful shots of nature. The movie also raises questions around the conflict between the need for discoveries and the harmful impact making these discoveries has on the environment.

9. Fahim (2019)

English Title: Fahim, the Little Chess Prince
Genre: Biographical Dramedy
IMDb: 6.8 / 10

This is the incredible story of a young boy from Bangladesh who is a great chess player and who illegally comes to France with his father in the hope of being coached by a great chess master, in order to win France’s Junior Championship.

10. La Gloire de mon Père (1990)

English Title: My Father’s Glory
Genre: Biographical Drama, Adventure
IMDb: 7.6 / 10

A classic by Marcel Pagnol, a famous French writer of the early 20th century. The movies are based on his autobiographical books where he retraces his childhood holidays in the South of France. (Heavy Southern French accent included!)

The movie has a sequel called “Le Château de ma mère”. Perhaps not as fun and lighthearted as the first but still worth watching. Both movies are very child-friendly and can be watched as a family.