Books and Movies Set in France

A Year in Provence

Author: Peter Mayle

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography/Memoir, Food & Wine

Places Featured: Provence, France

Peter Mayle’s entertaining memoir describes my dream: he and his wife move to a 200-year-old farmhouse in Provence and spend their first year eating, drinking, and discovering a new life. It’s part-memoir, part-travelogue, part-home improvement lesson, and it is a must-read for anyone traveling to Provence. He has several follow-up books to A Year in Provence about his time in France (including a detective novel, a book about wine–the movie adaptation is listed below, and a book devoted to food).

A Year in the Merde

Author: Stephen Clarke

Genre: Fiction, Biography/Memoir, Comedy

Places Featured: Paris, France

We featured A Year in the Merde on our list of Ten Funny Travel Books and Ten Funny Movies, because it’s a VERY funny book. “Funny” isn’t really a word usually used to describe France or the French, but Stephen Clarke manages to bring humor into his descriptions of experiences living as an expat in Paris. Written as a fictional account, the “possibly true” stories relate how the French approach to business, interactions with waiters, and attempts to purchase a house can be challenging…in a very humorous way. It’s very popular amongst Francophiles!

Black Girl in Paris

Author: Shay Youngblood

Genre: Fiction, Biography/Memoir

Places Featured: Paris, France

Eden, the main character here, is an author drawn to the streets of Paris for refuge from the challenging sometimes prohibitive life in the United States, just like other African-American writers before her (Langston Hughes and James Baldwin). Black Girl in Paris shares her experiences in the city through a series of short stories, including experiences with racism, sexuality, and self-discovery. It’s told in an almost poetic (some would say flowery) way, so it’s not for everyone, but it is a compelling description of Paris.

Giovanni’s Room

Author: James Baldwin

Genre: Fiction, Classic

Places Featured: Paris, France

I first read Giovanni’s Room in high school…and I didn’t get it (sorry, Mr. Hill). I’m older now, though, and better able to appreciate the beautiful writing (aka poetry) of a difficult story–one of a young man in Paris struggling with his sexuality, the society he lives in, and what he wants in life. It’s intense, but moving in a subtle way (hard to believe it’s such a short book). It’s 1950s Paris in a beautifully written powerful book.

Madame Bovary

Author: Gustave Flaubert

Genre: Fiction, Classic

Places Featured: France

There are some beautiful books in classic literature that take place in France, so it was difficult to narrow it down (two others make the Honorable Mentions list below), but Madame Bovary made the list because it’s a story with a female protagonist (which doesn’t happen often in French classics) and because it’s about life in the country. She is struggling with her dull life in the country with her unsophisticated husband and always looking for more…which means more trouble. The book shows the other side of living in the French country–very different than the fancy parties of Paris.

My Life in France

Author: Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme

Genre: Biography/Memoir, Food & Wine, Historical, Nonfiction

Places Featured: France

TV-chefs and chefs-as-entertainers has become a booming business. The original, though, was Julia Child–her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, was published more than 50 years ago, but is still present in many kitchens. She’s been named one of TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time, there are several movies about her, and she wrote more than a dozen books, including her memoir, My Life in France. In it, she describes all the ups and downs of moving to a new country with her husband (who worked for the U.S. government) and how understanding French cooking was her path to understanding the French.

Note from Jen: I’m a big fan of Julia Child (and any books about food) and really enjoyed learning more about her life told in her own words. Of couse, she may gloss over a few of her own shortcomings or other things, but I did also feel she was pretty honest.

The Da Vinci Code: A Novel

Author: Dan Brown

Genre: Fiction, Art/Art History, Crime/Mystery

Places Featured: Louvre Museum, Paris, France

The Da Vinci Code was published in 2003 and it took the world by storm. It’s the second in a series about Robert Langdon (the first was Angels & Demons), a symbologist who finds himself racing around Paris after a murder at the Louvre Museum. It’s a thrilling story that not only takes readers through Paris, but also covers art, history, and religion (though there are some proven inaccuracies). It was adapted into a popular film with Tom Hanks (great scenes in Paris, of course) and there are several tours of Paris specifically devoted to sights from The Da Vinci Code.

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong: What Makes the French so French

Author: Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow

Genre: Nonfiction

Places Featured: France

Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow are two Canadian journalists who moved to France to study…well, France. Not the food, wine, and art that most people know about France, but they dig a little deeper into the economics and the politics and the history that has truly shaped the people and the culture. With research and personal experiences, the authors have written a book that is insightful, interesting, and goes deeper than your usual description of life in France.

Paris to the Moon

Author: Adam Gopnik

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography/Memoir

Places Featured: Paris, France

Yes, there are a lot of books about the expatriate life in France and I probably included too many on this list, but they’re an interesting way to get an outside perspective on a country and its people…especially when they’re written as well as this one. Adam Gopnik moved to Paris with his wife and infant son and shares vignettes of his life there as he discovered a new country and a new role as a father. With humor, insight, and perspective, this book is a must read for anyone traveling to Paris and France.

Wine & War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure

Author: Donald Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup

Genre: Nonfiction, Historical, Food & Wine, War & Military

Places Featured: France

When the Nazis overtook France during World War II, one of the first things the Germans wanted to take was the French wine. The winemakers had other ideas and did all they could to protect France’s most precious commodity–with daring commitment and passion they took extraordinary measures to keep the Germans away from the beloved product that is so important to France’s history, culture, and economic success. It’s a history book that is not only fascinating, but also exciting.

The Red Balloon (1956)

Rating: N/A

Genre: Children’s, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Places Featured: Paris, France

The Red Balloon is a short French film that follows the adventures of a young boy who finds a magical red balloon; the balloon begins to follow him as he lives his life in Paris and they develop a friendship of sorts. It’s a sweet tale with what some might consider a sad (but also uplifting) ending that appeals to both adults and children–and it’s a lovely look at France.

Ronin (1998)

Rating: R

Genre: Action/Adventure

Places Featured: Nice, France and Paris, France

Ronin is the exciting story of a team of former intelligence officers who must steal a briefcase, even though they don’t know what is inside. They must work together, but they don’t exactly trust each other (for good reason, as it turns out), so there are twists and turns that will keep you guessing…and some great shots of France (including some spectacular car chases) throughout the movie.

Chocolat (2000)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Romance, Food & Wine

Places Featured: Burgundy, France

It doesn’t get much better than this–there’s a small quaint French town, a romance, Johnny Depp, and chocolate. It’s about Vianne Rocher (played by the perfectly cast Juliette Binoche), a mysterious single mother who seemingly drifts around France and moves to a small town in France with her daughter to open a chocolate shop. Her wares are tempting to the usually strict and rigid townspeople…which leads to lessons for her and them.

Amélie (2001)

Rating: R

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Places Featured: Montmartre, Paris, France

Although the movie didn’t win an Academy Award (it was nominated for five), it did win plenty of other awards and is a sweet heartwarming movie about Amélie, a quirky shy waitress with a tough childhood who attempts to help others find the joy, love, and happiness that she herself is missing. It’s a visually stunning film with delightful French scenery–and it’s become a bit of a cult classic with many calling it their favorite movie. (An important note: it is a French film, so you’ll have to read the subtitles to keep up!)

Moulin Rouge (2001)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance

Places Featured: Montmartre, Paris, France

Full disclosure: Moulin Rouge is my favorite movie…I saw it five times in the theatre. The costumes, the songs, the story, the colors–I loved it all. I realize it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I found it stunning, magical, and meaningful. Set in 1900, it’s a dramatic love story about a writer who falls in love with a courtesan who performs at the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris. You won’t actually learn much about France, but it’s a must-see for anyone that wants to visit the Moulin Rouge (which you should).

Before Sunset (2004)

Rating: R

Genre: Drama, Romance

Places Featured: Paris, France

In 1995, the movie Before Sunrise captured the story of a passionate night between an American man (played by Ethan Hawke) and a French woman (played by Julie Delpy) in Vienna, Austria. In this sequel, the two meet up again, this time for an afternoon together in Paris, France. The two have changed and grown, but there is still a deep connection. It’s a realistic portrayal of love and romance with deep characters and thought-provoking dialogue–and, of course, incredible Parisian scenery. (And if you’re a fan of the movies, there’s a third one: Before Midnight set in beautiful Greece.)

A Good Year (2006)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Food & Wine

Places Featured: Provence, France

Loosely based on Peter Mayle’s memoir, also called A Good Year (sequel to A Year in Provence listed above), this romantic comedy follows Max Skinner (played by Russell Crowe) as he inherits a vineyard estate in Provence. Max travels to the estate, expecting to make a quick sale, but a series of misfortunes keeps him in Provence longer than anticipated. His connection to the vineyard and the people that work there grows, forcing him to take a deeper look at what he really wants out of life. You will want to buy a vineyard in France after watching this. (This was also included in our list of 20 Books and 20 Travel Movies about Self-Discovery and Personal Change.)

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Historical

Places Featured: Versailles, France

This colorful movie (seriously, the costumes are divine) tells the true story of Marie Antoinette, a young Austrian princess sent to France to marry King Louis XV of France in the late 1700s. She struggles with her life in Versailles (I know, poor princess) and the French Revolution is looming…this isn’t necessarily a perfectly historically accurate film (there is a Marie Antoinette documentary for that–but it doesn’t have good reviews), but it’s a visually stunning film perfect for anyone visiting Versailles or for a different take on the tragic Queen’s life.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Places Featured: Paris, France

Another Academy Award-nominated movie, this one directed by the prolific Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris tells the story of a screenwriter (played by Owen Wilson) who realizes his relationship isn’t going where he thought it would–he wants to move to Paris, while his fiancée (played by Rachel McAdams) wants to move to Malibu. As he begins to recognize their differences, he finds himself traveling back in time, exploring his favorite city. The cinematography is beautiful and the story is fascinating.

Paris Can Wait (2016)

Rating: PG

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Places Featured: France

I promise, even though Paris is in the title, you see a lot more of France in this movie than Paris. In fact, the whole premise of the movie is that Anne (played by Diane Lane) is taking a road trip from Cannes to Paris with her husband’s business associate…and rather than driving straight to Paris, he shows her that sometimes the slow winding road is the best one (especially when it’s the road through French countryside with French food and wine). (Want to know what we thought of this one? Check out our Paris Can Wait movie review.)