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French cinema listings quiz: VF, VO, VOST and screening details

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Ten questions on French cinema listings: VF, VOSTFR, séance, durée, avant-première, tarif réduit. Choose the right showing for each person.

In short

VF (version française) means dubbed into French. VO or VOST(FR) means the original language with French subtitles. La séance is the showing time, la durée the running time, and tarif réduit a reduced price.

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Rows of cinema seats facing a blank screen.
Choose une séance that suits the evening. Illustration: Atelier
Study first: a listing
FilmVersionSéancesDurée
Le Grand Bleu (reprise)VF14h00 · 20h302h12
Dune : deuxième partieVOSTFR17h15 · 21h002h46
Les Petites VictoiresVF16h00 · 18h301h29
Avant-première : Le ComteVO20h001h55
  1. Question 1No account needed
    Tom wants to watch Dune in English. Which version?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    VOSTFR. VOSTFR keeps the original English with French subtitles.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Which showing of Les Petites Victoires ends before 8 pm?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    both. 1h29 long: 16h00 ends 17h29; 18h30 ends 19h59.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Avant-première means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    a preview before release. A screening before the official release date.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Le Grand Bleu (reprise) is…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    a re-release of an older film. Reprise means it's shown again.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Tarif réduit applies to…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    students, the unemployed, seniors (with proof). Reduced prices usually need proof of status.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Séance + film ou film seul : film seul means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the film starts at the time shown, no ads. Many cinemas show the start time of the film itself, after adverts.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Interdit aux moins de 12 ans means…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    no under-12s. An age restriction: no under-12s admitted.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Dernière séance is…

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    the last showing of the day. La dernière séance is the last showing.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    Sous-titres pour sourds et malentendants (SME)

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    subtitles for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. SME subtitles include sound descriptions.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Running time 2h46 in French:

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    deux heures quarante-six. Hours then minutes, no et.

Paris has the densest cinema network in the world, and many art-house cinemas (cinémas d'art et d'essai) show films only in VO. Big multiplexes show popular films in both versions, so always check the label next to the time.

How do you buy a cinema ticket in French?

At the counter, say Deux places pour Dune, la séance de vingt et une heures, en VO. Many French cinemas sell une carte or un abonnement (a pass) that makes each ticket cheaper; the big chains offer unlimited monthly passes. Arrive about fifteen minutes before: the adverts (les publicités) and trailers (les bandes-annonces) come first.

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