My favorite foreign language film is a German one called "The Tin Drum," based on the novel by Gunter Grass. I also recommend the German movie "Manner" ("Men"), a lightish comedy. Much darker and more disturbing is the Belgian "Man Bites Dog," which I recommend. Another good film is the original Dutch version of "The Vanishing," or "Spoorloos." The contemporary Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar is good, and I particularly recommend his "All About My Mother." If you don't mind seeing a Spanish-language film by an American director, I'd like to sneak in "Men with Guns," directed by John Sayles.
You especially wanted French movies. It seems weird to realize, now, that most of my favorite foreign films are not French. They definitely used to be. I do still like them, and can recommend "Belle de Jour." This is technically by a Spanish director, Louis Buñuel. I liked "L'Histoire d'Adèle H." ("The Story of Adele H."), about Adèle Hugo, the novelist Victor's daughter, directed by François Truffaut. For a good, light comedy, I recommend "Chacun Cherche son Chat" (English title: "When the Cat's Away") by Cédric Klapisch.
