The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (Jacques Demy, 1964) | 2026 French Film Festival
Location: Rubenstein Arts Center Film Theater
Screening as part of the 2026 French Film Festival
Jan 29 - Feb 13, 2026
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg [Les Parapluies de Cherbourg]
(Jacques Demy, 1964, 92 min, France, French with English subtitles, DCP)
New 4K Restoration!
-- Q&A to follow with Prof. Anne-Gaëlle Saliot (Romance Studies/Cinematic Arts) & Abby Shepherd (Romance Studies)
An angelically beautiful Catherine Deneuve was launched to stardom by this dazzling musical heart-tugger from Jacques Demy. She plays an umbrella-shop owner’s delicate daughter, glowing with first love for a handsome garage mechanic, played by Nino Castelnuovo. When the boy is shipped off to fight in Algeria, the two lovers must grow up quickly. Exquisitely designed in a kaleidoscope of colors, and told entirely through the lilting songs of the great composer Michel Legrand, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is one of the most revered and unorthodox movie musicals of all time.
“A glorious romantic confection unlike any other in movie history.” – The Washington Post
“Elevates the quotidian to the spectacular…Umbrellas’ palette of sherbet-colored pastels remains undimmed.” – Melissa Anderson, Village Voice
“Demy’s MASTERPIECE!” – Mike D’Angelo, A.V. Club
Screen/Society screenings are free and open to the public.
Parking Info: https://artscenter.duke.edu/parking
COVID-19 Info: https://cinematicarts.duke.edu/covid-19-information
Contact: Hank Okazaki
Email: hokazak@duke.edu
Sponsor: Center for French and Francophone Studies
Co-Sponsors: Albertine Cinemathèque, a program of FACE Foundation and Villa Albertine; Office of the Dean of Arts & Sciences, Romance Studies, Art, Art History & Visual Studies, and Duke Cinematic Arts