Times are tough: Many people, who in a better economy might have impressed a new love with a getaway to France (pronounced Frahnce), are now stuck to working their charm at the same old South Florida spots and clenching their teeth as the bills arrive. For these poor souls, heres a free piece of advice: Get creative. Photoshop the recent couple self-pic you took with your phone cam by turning the background into the illuminated Eiffel Tower instead of a bunch of lit-up partiers at Club Generic. Next, gift-wrap it and include two passes to the 9th Annual Perrier French Film Festival, which runs from Thursday to Sunday at Cinema Paradiso. The fest will include 15 films from a variety of genres that will be paired with fine French cuisine. Even if the films go over your head and you cant pronounce the names of the dishes, feel free to act snobby AKA a sophisticated appreciator of French culture. Impress lamour de votre vie (the love of your life: go ahead and use that), and remember, it is way unhip to complain about there being subtitles. Oui? Yes. Thursdays opening night starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Cinema Paradiso (503 SE Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale). Tickets cost $6 to $115. Visit fliff.com, or call 954-525-FILM.
Thu., July 29, 6:30 p.m.; July 30-Aug. 1, 2010