As our borders open up there is both eagerness and hesitancy to wander forth into the great unknown, for the undecided, why not enjoy some quality foreign delicacies, without the travel time.

For the 33rd year, the Alliance Française Film Festival brings the best of French cinema to all Luna Palace Cinemas, screening from the 9th of March through till the 6th of April, there’s plenty to choose from, and something for everyone.

A star pupil at this years festival is ‘Goliath’, a drama/thriller about a David v Goliath legal battle between a down on his luck lawyer and a handful of farmers, taking on one of the worlds biggest pesticide companies for its misuse of dangerous chemicals.

Whilst Goliath isn’t quite date night material, it does make for a gripping courtroom drama, featuring the all-important ingredients of street-beatings, self immolation, and a general overall feeling of dread and despair! Wowee, J’aime!

Inspired by a true case, Goliath is set in post-pandemic France, and touches on all aspects of the governments lackluster approach to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the French farmer riots. Combining both aspects of those recent histories within it’s storytelling, it offers a dramatic and horrific look at corporate greed, espionage and the limitations of justice.

For those looking to taste some of France’s finest thrillers, Goliath will leave you feeling sick to your stomach in a depressive wave, which is a compliment for this kind of film. Goliath takes a lot on it’s plate, and it’s eyes may be bigger than it stomach, as it’s void a penultimate ending that draws any true conclusion (which only makes the whole affair even sadder). For this one downside, at least Goliath is consistently tense, and pleasant on the eyes.

Pestilence, plague, famine and war, Goliath has it all! So bring a bottle of French Cabernet Sauvignon and drink the whole darn thing as a coping mechanism for the trials and tribulations of Goliath.

3.5 / 5