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Films on the Green is back with free French movies in Chicago this summer
Bonjour, Chicago cinephiles—your summer just got subtitled. The beloved Films on the Green series is back for its third Windy City edition, delivering a très chic lineup of French films al fresco and en français (with English subtitles, of course). The open-air cinematic affair kicks off July 19 and runs through Aug. 9, transforming city parks into temporary Parisian playgrounds with screenings of stylish French favorites, all free to attend.
Presented by Villa Albertine and the French Consulate in Chicago in partnership with the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks, this year's lineup leans glam and rebellious, with the theme French Rebels. Expect protagonists who break rules, challenge norms and look très cool doing it.
The series opens with a fashionable bang at Seward Park on July 19, featuring Coco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel), Anne Fontaine's biopic of the iconic designer starring Audrey Tautou. It's followed on July 26 by Jacques Demy's candy-colored musical The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort) at Lake Shore Park—a swingy, Technicolor dream of sisterhood and sailors.
August brings two more cinematic gems: Haute Couture on Aug. 2 at Lincoln Park's North Pond, a tale of redemption and embroidery inside the Dior atelier, and closing the series on Aug. 9 is How to Be a Good Wife (La Bonne Épouse), a satirical period comedy about a prim etiquette school thrown into feminist chaos, screening at Washington Square Park.
All screenings begin at sunset and are BYO-blanket, though stylish picnicking is encouraged. French flair optional but appreciated.
Originally launched in New York nearly two decades ago, Films on the Green has expanded beyond the Big Apple, with Chicago now enjoying a starring role. It's all part of Villa Albertine's mission to bring French culture to American audiences in accessible, engaging ways.
Whether you're a Chanel stan, a Demy devotee or simply someone who likes their cinema with a side of grass and rosé, mark your calendars. This is your ticket to escape to France, no passport required.
