From surreal fairy tales to unflinching spy thrillers, these 15 films offer a glimpse into the worldwide impact French cinema has made over the decades.

“Nouvelle Vague” may be French New Wave fan service, which works fine for me because I’m a fan of the French New Wave. If you care about film history, chances are you qualify as well.

The César-winning actor was an international favorite in the 1960s and ’70s, often sought after by the era’s great auteurs. Alain Delon in California in 1964 during the filming of the movie “Once a ...