Throughout April, the international French-language network TV5 Monde offers a rich lineup of entertaining films, series, and variety shows.

Discover our round-up of the must-see programs this month below.

TV5 Monde

Films

Toto le héros – April 9 at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT

In honor of the great French actor Michel Bouquet, who died at the age of 96 in April 2022

(English ST)

When younger, Thomas was convinced that he had been swapped at birth with his neighbour Alfred. In adulthood, he still felt that Alfred enjoyed the happiness that should have been his. Now old, Thomas wonders if he has missed out on his life. He has some big decisions to take…

Director: Jaco Van Dormaël (Belgium, Germany, France, 1991)

Cast: Mireille Perrier, Michel Bouquet, Jo de Backer, Bouli Lanners

Genre: Dramedy

Awards: 1991 Best Actor European Film Award winner (Michel Bouquet), 1991Caméra d’or Cannes Film Festival Winner, 1992 César for best foreign film, 1992 BAFTA Awards nomination (best film not in the English language)

Marius – April 18 at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Marcel Pagnol’s death

Marseille. Sea and adventure have always fascinated Marius, who dreams of one day joining the crew of one of the innumerable boats in the Vieux-Port. But can he abandon his elderly father, César? And the beautiful Fanny, his childhood love who loves him so deeply? Gradually the temptation becomes unbearable…

Director: Alexander Korda (France, 1931)

Cast: Raimu, Pierre Fresnay, Orane Demazis

Genre: Dramedy

Series

Sortez-moi de moi – Wednesdays, April 17 & 24 at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT

Season 1 premiere

Also streaming on TV5MONDEplus

(French ST)

The psychological thriller takes viewers inside the world of mental health care, with Dr. Justine Mathieu following patients brought to her by emergency care front-line responders, Clara St-Amand and Gabriel Beauregard. Despite her misgivings, Dr. Mathieu is attracted to a new patient, David Ducharme, who is struggling with a bipolar episode.

In a manic psychosis, David is taken to the emergency department by a colleague where he is seen by Justine. Clara and Myriam are called out on a home visit where the situation rapidly degenerates.

Director: Alexis Durand-Brault (Canada, 2021)

Cast: Sophie Lorain, Bruno Marcil, Pascale Bussières, Sandra Dumaresq, Vincent Leclerc

Genre: Psychological thriller

Parlement – April 23 & 30 at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT

Season 1 premiere

(English ST)

Samy, a young European parliamentary assistant, arrives in Brussels a few weeks after the Brexit referendum. Lost in the meanders of the European Parliament, Samy doesn’t understand any of it. Absolutely nothing at all.

Director: Émilie Noblet, Jérémie Sein (France, 2020)

Cast: Xavier Lacaille, Liz Kingsman, Philippe Duquesne

Genre: Comedy

Documentaries

Le drôle de drame de Marcel Carné – April 8 at 3:00pm ET/12:00pm PT

(English ST)

“Le Quai des Brumes,” “Hôtel du Nord,” “Le Jour se Lève,” “Les Visiteurs du Soir,” “Les Enfants du Paradis”: each an adored masterpiece, each by a filmmaker who was himself little-loved, Marcel Carné (1906-1996). We look back over his career.

Director: François Aymé (France, 2021)

Genre: Documentary

Louis de Funès, Champion du box-office – April 15 at 3:00pm ET/12:00pm PT

(English ST)

”La Grande Vadrouille”, ”La Folie des Grandeurs”, ”Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob”… In 140 films, Louis de Funès (1914-1983) conquered an international audience. A look back at the French actor’s career and the reasons for a success that was as meteoric as it was long-lasting.

Director: Nicolas Henry (France, 2021)

Genre: Documentary

TV5 Monde Plus

Films

Les trois lascars – Streaming beginning April 3

(English ST)

Under pressure from their respective mistresses, three friends organize an extramarital trip outside Ouagadougou. A bogus mission to Abidjan is the perfect alibi. But what a nightmare when they learn that the plane they were supposed to take has crashed!

Director: Boubakar Diallo (Burkina Faso, 2021)

Cast: Issaka Sawadogo, Mahoula Kane, Dieudonne Yoda

Genre: Comedy

Series

L’œil du cyclone – Streaming Season 2 beginning April 3

Now streaming Season 1

(English ST)

At 39, Isabelle is a single mother with three children. In addition, she also must keep an eye on her newly retired mother, an energetic sister determined to find her a new man, and an ex-husband incapable of organizing anything by himself!

Director: Alain Chicoine (Canada, 2022)

Cast: Christine Beaulieu, Joey Bélanger, Lilou Roy-Lanouette, Emi Chicoine

Genre: Dramedy

Bâtards – Now streaming

(English ST)

Amongst the thousands of children abandoned in the city outskirts, twenty orphans find themselves on a reality TV show. Each challenge sees them confronting one another to try to win the prize money and the honor of being adopted by a famous couple. But the adventure is filled with surprises.

Director: Malou Briand, Raphaël Meyer (Switzerland, 2020)

Cast: Sasha Gravat Harsch, Maoro Maquart, Mila Jubelin de Meyer, Vincent Veillon

Genre: Dramedy

Les Mystères de Paris – Now streaming

(English ST)

Paris, 1840. Rodolphe de Gerolstein, prince without fear but not without reproach, investigates the disappearance of his housekeeper’s son Germain, an investigation that takes him deep into the Parisian underworld and to some of its most chic addresses, before finally revealing a dark and very personal secret… An animated series adapted from the novel by Eugène Sue in 40 three-minute episodes, created from period engravings.

Director: Véronique Puybaret (France, 2020)

Cast: Philippe Lardaud

Genre: Literary adaptation series, animation

Documentaries

L’écologie en action – Streaming Seasons 3 & 4 beginning April 3

Now streaming Season 1

(English ST)

Sancerrois, Sologne, Pays de Redon, Beauce… We discover some of the regions of France particularly important for their ecology and the wealth of their biodiversity.

Director: Romain Guenard, Emilie Darnaud (France, 2020)

Genre: Documentary series, environment

C’est plus qu’un jardin – Now streaming Seasons 1 & 2

(English ST)

With the help of Jean-Martin Fortier and Dany Bouchard, two families discover the joys and challenges of self-sufficiency.

Director: Amélie Dussault (Canada, 2020)

Genre: Documentary series, environment

TV5 Monde Cinema

Theme: Jean Yanne

Tout le monde il est beau, tout le monde il est gentil – Available beginning April 5

(English ST)

A reporter at a French radio station finds a way to meet the rebel leader at the Tupamaros. Unfortunately, he gets his tape recorder taken.

Director: Jean Yanne (1972)

Cast: Jean Yanne, Michel Serrault, Bernard Blier

Genre: Comedy

Je te tiens, tu me tiens par la barbichette – Available beginning April 5

A police detective investigates the disappearance of a star host.

Director: Jean Yanne (1979)

Cast: Jean Yanne, Mimi Coutelier, Micheline Presle

Genre: Comedy

Les Chinois à Paris – Available beginning April 5

A satirical look into what life in Paris would look like under communist Chinese rule.

Director: Jean Yanne (1974)

Cast: Jean Yanne, Nicole Calfan, Macha Méril

Genre: Comedy

Chobizenesse – Available beginning April 12

To avoid bankruptcy, a music hall manager searches for sponsors.

Director: Jean Yanne (1975)

Cast: Jean Yanne, Robert Hirsch, Catherine Rouvel

Genre: Musicalcomedy

Liberté, égalité, choucroute– Available beginning April 12

A tyrannical ruler travels to France amid the revolution to obtain a new killing machine, the guillotine.

Director: Jean Yanne (1985)

Cast: Michel Serrault, Ursula Andress, Jean Poiret

Genre: Comedy

Monsieur N – Available beginning April 19

(English ST)

How could Napoleon, the brilliant political and military strategist, agree to be locked up in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

Director: Antoine de Caunes (2003)

Cast: Philippe Torreton, Richard E. Grant, Jay Rodan

Genre: Drama

Amore Mio – Available beginning April 19

(English ST)

A widow refuses to attend her husband’s funeral and convinces her sister to take her and her son away.

Director: Guillaume Gouix (2022)

Cast: Alysson Paradis, Élodie Bouchez, Félix Maritaud

Genre: Drama

L’outsider – Available beginning April 19

(English ST)

The rise and fall of Jérôme Kerviel, the French rogue trader who was convicted and imprisoned in the 2008 Société Générale trading loss.

Director: Christophe Barratier (2016)

Cast: Arthur Dupont, François-Xavier Demaison, Sabrina Ouazani

Genre: Thriller

Guy – Available beginning April 26

(English ST)

A young journalist learns through his mother that he’s the illegitimate son of an aging French pop singer who was famous in the ’60s.

Director: Alex Lutz (2017)

Cast: Alex Lutz, Tom Dingler, Pascale Arbillot

Genre: Dramedy

L’école buissonnière– Available beginning April 26

(English ST)

A young orphan gets adopted by a couple who work for a landowner.

Director: Nicolas Vanier (2017)

Cast: François Cluzet, Jean Scandel, Éric Elmosnino

Genre: Comedy