Throughout March, 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

Specials

Les Magritte du Cinéma – March 14 at 12:30am ET/9:30pm PT

Awarded by the André Delvaux Academy, the Magritte du Cinéma ceremony honors the most noteworthy films and professionals of Belgian cinema in 2023.

Presenters: TBA (Belgium, 2024)

Genre: Award show

Les Prix du Cinéma Suisse 2024 – March 28 at 11:00pm ET/8:00pm PT

Each year the Swiss Film Awards honor the best of Swiss cinema. We look back at the 2024 ceremony, capturing the candid reactions of the prize winners.

Presenters: Julie Évard, Wasiliki Goutziomitros, Debora Gabaglio (Switzerland, 2024)

Genre: Award show

Films

Souterrain – March 7 at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT

In celebration of Francophonie Month

Also streaming on TV5MONDEplus

(English ST)

Consumed by guilt since the death of his friend Julien, Maxime works down the mine alongside Mario, Julien’s father. When there is an explosion, Maxime, a qualified first-aider, descends to rescue his injured colleagues, unaware that Mario is amongst them. It is his chance for redemption.

Director: Sophie Dupuis (Canada, 2020)

Cast: Joakim Robillard, Théodore Pellerin, James Hyndman

Genre: Drama

Noces – March 14 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

In celebration of Les Magritte du Cinéma

Also streaming on TV5MONDEplus beginning on March 6

(English ST)

Zahira, an eighteen-year-old Belgian-Pakistani girl, is very close to her family until they day they try to impose a traditional marriage. Torn between her parents’ demands and her desire for freedom, the young girl relies on the help of her older brother and confidant, Amir.

Director: Stephan Streker (Belgium/France/Luxembourg, 2016)

Cast: Lina El Arabi, Sébastien Houbani, Olivier Gourmet, Alice de Lencquesaing

Genre: Drama

Awards: Official selection (2018 César Awards, 2016 TIFF Toronto); Best Actress and Best Actor (Angoulême 2016); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Aurora Marion) and Best Costume Design (2018 Magritte Awards)

Suzanna Andler – March 17 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

Also streaming on TV5MONDEplus beginning on March 6

(English ST)

The 1960s. A seaside holiday villa, out of season. Suzanna Andler, age 40, married, is there with her young lover, Michel. A story that reveals solitude, doubts, a desire for freedom, and the choices we make in life… and love.

Director: Benoît Jacquot (France, 2020)

Cast: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Niels Schneider, Nathan Willcocks

Genre: Drama

Ma Nuit – March 21 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

In celebration of Francophonie Month

(English ST)

Fleeing the family apartment and her sister’s death anniversary, 18-year-old Marion meets Alex, an impulsive young man and free spirit. United in their personal solitude, they travel the streets of Paris until dawn’s early light.

Director: Antoinette Boulat (France, 2020)

Cast: Lou Lampros, Tom Mercier, Carmen Kassovitz, Emmanuelle Bercot

Genre: Drama

Awards: Official selection (TIFF 2021, Venice 2021)

Olga – March 28 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

In celebration of Les Prix du Cinéma Suisse

(English ST)

In 2013, 15-year-old Olga, a gymnast preparing for the European Championships, must leave Ukraine in a hurry when her mother, a political journalist, receives a death threat. But as she tries to settle in Switzerland, her father’s country, the Maidan Uprising erupts in Kiev, involving others close to her…

Director: Elie Grappe (Switzerland/France, 2021)

Cast: Anastasia Budiashkina, Caterina Barloggio, Jérôme Martin

Genre: Drama

Awards: Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Sound (Swiss Cinema Awards 2022), SACD Award (International Critics’ Week Cannes 2021)

Series

Discussion avec mes parents – Wednesdays, starting March 6 at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT

Also streaming on TV5MONDEplus

(French ST)

François Morency shares the particularly colorful discussions he has with his parents, siblings, and all their nearest and dearest during his visits to their family home in the Saint-Sacrement district of Quebec.

Director: Pascal L’Heureux (Canada, 2018)

Cast: François Morency, Vincent Bilodeau, Marie-Ginette Guay, Blaise Tardif

Genre: Comedy

Documentaries

Tabous et interdits – Thursdays, starting March 7 at 3:00pm ET/12:00pm PT

Season 2

Also streaming on TV5MONDEplus

(English ST)

Sometimes outdated, sometimes shocking or comical, taboos and laws have shaped the face of our world. Christian Laurence paints a humorous and unusual portrait of the world’s peoples, examining the rules by which they live.

In Iceland, humans coexist with mythological creatures who remain the subject of certain taboos. The Lutheran Church also influences Icelandic society by imposing its laws. Ignoring the taboos of international opinion, the Icelanders still hunt whales, while their sexual taboos can also be surprising.

Director: François Normandin (Canada, 2015)

Genre: Documentary series

Debout les femmes ! – March 10 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

In celebration of International Women’s Day

(English ST)

François Ruffin and Bruno Perret embark across France to meet caretakers at the front lines of the Covid-19 crisis.

Presenter: Gilles Perret, François Ruffin (France, 2020)

Genre: Documentary

Awards: Best Documentary Film nominee (2022 César Awards)

Sur le front – Mondays, starting March 11 at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT

Also streaming on TV5MONDEplus

(English ST)

Hugo Clément takes us to meet the men and women fighting to defend the planet, in places where it is most urgent. A program in three episodes to discover those devoting their lives to protecting the world’s ecosystems.

10% of France’s territory will be given reinforced protection. But what is the reality of the situation? In 2000 classified areas, pesticides can still be used; in Marseille, the city’s sewers flow into the Calanques… Sur le front is an investigation into the convenient compromises and concessions used to get around the regulations.

Presenter: Hugo Clément (France, 2023)

Genre: Documentary series

Par coeur – March 24 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT

(English ST)

The Avignon Festival, summer 2021. Two actors confront their roles and texts, immediately before going on stage. Benoît Jacquot’s documentary follows Isabelle Huppert and Fabrice Luchini, amid rehearsals, as they reveal their secrets…

Director: Benoît Jacquot (France, 2022)

Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Fabrice Luchini

Genre: Documentrary

TV5 Monde Plus

Films

Naissance d’une étoile – Now streaming

(English ST)

Emma is about to be appointed principal dancer at the Opéra de Paris yet seems strangely worried. And for good reason, even if success seems assured, another event might be about to prevent her from realizing the dream of her life.

Director: James Bort (France, 2017)

Cast: Dorothée Gilbert, Catherine Deneuve, Pierre Deladonchamps

Genre: Short drama

La fidélité – Now streaming

(English ST)

Clélia, a talented photographer is hired by a seedy press magnate to help improve his group’s image. In this scandalous environment, she meets Némo, a marginalized man with whom she shares this absolute love of image. She decides to share her problems with her husband…

Director: Andrzej Zulawski (France, 2000)

Cast: Sophie Marceau, Pascal Greggory, Guillaume Canet

Genre: Dramedy

Pieds nus sur les limaces – Now streaming

(English ST)

Lily, funny, exuberant, and elusive, lives in peace in nature, out in the countryside at her mother’s house. Her big sister, Clara, a married city dweller, has left home. When their mother dies, Clara must turn her world upside down to look after Lily…

Director: Fabienne Berthaud (France, 2009)

Cast: Diane Kruger, Ludivine Sagnier, Denis Menochet
Genre: Drama

Awards: C.I.C.A.E Award Winner (2010 Cannes Film Festival)

Series

Faits divers – Now streaming complete serie

A Quebecois police thriller combining black humor and comical situations that immerses us in the Montreal region of North Shore. The investigations are led by Constance Forest, Frédérik Bérubé, and their team.

Director: Stéphane Lapointe (Canada, 2017)

Cast: Isabelle Blais, Fred-Éric Salvail, Émile Proulx-Cloutier, Maxime Mailloux

Genre: Crime, Drama

Documentaries

Destination francophonie – Now streaming

A journey throughout the French-speaking world to explore every corner of the globe. In each country we meet francophones who present, in French, their culture, way of life, and work. The program also shines a spotlight on local projects that keep the French language alive, dynamic, and constantly evolving.

Host: Ivan Kabacoff (France, 2023)

Genre: Documentary series

Rassemblance – Now streaming

(English ST)

Breaking down stereotypes, clichés, and preconceived ideas, regardless of one’s culture, nationality, sexual orientation, or social background… Narrated by Magloire, through his story and the interwoven portraits of others, the series Rassemblance shows that integration is possible, and that difference is an advantage for the common good, helping us to live together better.

Host: Magloire Delcros-Varaud (France, 2022)

Genre: Documentary series

TV5 Monde Cinema

Theme: Thrillers and action movies

La java des ombres – Available beginning March 1

(English ST)

The “Shadow King,” ace of the ultra-secret services, frees a former activist, who turned to a life of arms trafficking and score-settling.

Director: Romain Goupil (1983)

Cast: Tchéky Karyo, Franci Camus, Anne Alvaro

Genre: Thriller

Villa Caprice – Available beginning March 1

(English ST)

A famous lawyer thinks he has achieved recognition when he adds one of the most powerful bosses in France to his clientele.

Director: Bernard Stora (2020)

Cast: Niels Arestrup, Patrick Bruel, Paul Hamy

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Anna Rosenberg – Available beginning March 8

(English ST)

After being summoned by the police, an author is forced to get to the bottom of a plot against her.

Director: Michele Moscatelli (2020)

Cast: Claudia Gerini, Christophe Favre, Pasquale Greco

Genre: Drama

November – Available beginning March 8

(English ST)

A dive into the heart of the French anti-terrorism services during the five-day of investigation that followed the attacks of November 13, 2015.

Director: Cédric Jimenez (2022)

Cast: Jean Dujardin, Anaïs Demoustier, Sandrine Kiberlain

Genre: Thriller

En plein feu – Available beginning March 15

(English ST)

After a giant fire ravages the Landes forest, a son and father flee their home but quickly find themselves trapped in their vehicle.

Director: Quentin Reynaud (2022)

Cast: Alex Lutz, André Dussollier, Laura Sepul

Genre: Thriller

Requiem pour une tueuse – Available beginning March 15

(English ST)

A hitwoman accepts a final job to eliminate an opera singer who threatens the interests of a corporation.

Director: Jérôme Le Gris (2011)

Cast: Mélanie Laurent, Clovis Cornillac, Tchéky Karyo

Genre: Thriller

Une histoire d’amour – Available beginning March 22

(English ST)

Two women fall in love. Despite the fear of commitment, they decide to have a child, leaving it to chance to decide who will bear it. But when one becomes pregnant, the other suddenly leaves.

Director: Alexis Michalik (2022)

Cast: Alexis Michalik, Juliette Delacroix, Marie-Camille Soyer

Genre: Drama

Je suis un assassin – Available beginning March 22

(English ST)

A crime writer in need of a publisher agrees to murder the ex-wife of a famous writer in exchange for a large sum of money.

Director: Thomas Vincent (2004)

Cast: François Cluzet, Karin Viard, Bernard Giraudeau

Genre: Thriller

Espion, lève toi – Available beginning March 29

(English ST)

A secret agent eliminates all his rivals to figure out who killed his associates.

Director: Yves Boisset (1982)

Cast: Lino Ventura, Michel Piccoli, Bruno Cremer

Genre: Thriller

Mon frère – Available beginning March 29

(English ST)

To protect his little brother, a young man is accused of the murder of his father and is sent to a closed educational center while awaiting his trial for patricide.

Director: Julien Abraham (2019)

Cast: Mohamed Sylla (MHD), Darren Muselet, Aïssa Maïga

Genre: Drama