French Cancan (1955)

Renoir’s classic, about an impresario trying to revive the cancan in the Moulin Rouge.
Renoir’s first French film since before the War also entailed a return to the fin-de-siècle Paris of his painter father Auguste, hence the story of an impresario reviving the cancan in order to attract customers to the Moulin Rouge. The tale allows for an affectionate re-creation (complete with luscious impressionist colours) of the milieu Renoir fils knew as a child. Sheer cinematic joy.
1955 France, Italy
Directed by
Jean Renoir
Written by
Jean Renoir
Featuring
Jean Gabin, María Félix, Françoise Arnoul
Running time
97 minutes