(Louisiana Statewide – January 8, 2026) – Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s (LPB) mission to showcase our state’s unique culture and history includes our ongoing showcase of French heritage and language. We are happy to announce the return of LPB Presents: Cinéma Français – a late-night exploration of classic French films. The limited series begins airing on LPB-HD Sunday, January 18 at 10:00pm and also on WLAE in New Orleans. The series consists of six films and is hosted by Dr. William Arceneaux, the founder of La Fondation Louisiane and director of The Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting. He introduces the films, providing a bit of history and humor each week.

"You don’t have to speak French in order to enjoy these films; each will have subtitles in English,” says Arceneaux. “Beyond that, they are fantastic examples of classic French films and feature some of the greats of the time like Yves Montand, Emmanuelle Béart, and Simone Signoret. They are meant for all of Louisiana to enjoy.”

The films selected for this series are as follows:

LE BON ET LES MECHANTS (GOOD GUYS AND BAD GUYS) Sunday, January 18 Spanning the uneasy years from 1935 to 1945, this crime drama follows a band of thieves navigating survival as France edges toward war and occupation. As loyalties shift, the boundary between criminal and patriot steadily erodes.

MADAME ROSA (MAMA ROSA) Sunday, January 25 Set in the working-class neighborhoods of Paris, this deeply humane drama follows an elderly Jewish woman devoted to caring for the children of prostitutes. Her bond with an adolescent Algerian boy becomes a tender reflection on compassion, dignity, and survival on society’s margins.

L’ARMEE DES OMBRES (ARMY IN THE SHADOWS) Sunday, February 1 In Nazi-occupied France, a small group of Resistance fighters moves in secrecy between safe houses and covert missions, bound by loyalty and haunted by betrayal. With capture and execution always near, the film offers a stark meditation on endurance, sacrifice, and moral resolve.

LA BANQUIERE (THE LADY BANKER) Sunday, February 8 Inspired by a true story, this historical drama traces the rise of Emma Eckhert from modest beginnings to financial prominence between 1914 and 1938. As her influence expands in a male-dominated world, ambition, public trust, and consequence quietly converge.

POLICE PYTHON 357 (THE CASE AGAINST FERRO) Sunday, February 15 A seasoned police inspector becomes ensnared in a deadly web of corruption when a secret relationship ends in murder. As evidence is turned against him, the pursuit of justice gives way to betrayal and institutional rot.

UN COEUR EN HIVER (A HEART IN WINTER) Sunday, February 22 Set in the world of classical music, this subtle drama follows a gifted violinist drawn to a reserved violin maker whose emotional distance proves both alluring and impenetrable. As longing meets restraint, the film reflects on love, detachment, and the quiet cost of feelings left unspoken.

In addition to Cinéma Français, visit the LPB YouTube channel for the LPB En Français playlist featuring episodes of La Veillée, Kouri-Vini, Les Adventures de Boudini et Ses Amis, and Paroles de la Louisiane. Viewers can also watch limited French language children’s programming on the LPB PBS KIDS 24/7 channel as well as view an extensive archive video collection of French programs available on the Louisiana Digital Media Archive website.

For more information, contact Colleen Spillane, Public Information Officer, Louisiana Public Broadcasting at (225)-767-4453 or 1-800-272-8161 ext. 4453 or by email at cspillane@lpb.org.

About Louisiana Public Broadcasting Since 1975, Louisiana Public Broadcasting has been the public television network for the state of Louisiana with stations in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport. LPB is also affiliated with WLAE-TV in New Orleans. In addition to its award-winning documentaries about the history and people of Louisiana, LPB is dedicated to helping children throughout the state develop their literacy, math and science skills through its numerous educational outreach programs.