Chicago Park District, our annual summer series Films on the Green returns to parks across Chicago, showcasing the elegance and style of French fashion through four iconic films.

The series opens with the timeless elegance of Coco Before Chanel, unfolding the inspiring story of a visionary who forever changed the world of fashion. Next, The Young Girls of Rochefort dazzles with its vibrant, pastel-colored charm—an exuberant musical celebrating 1960s style and the joy of youth. In Haute Couture, a young thief and a retired Dior seamstress forge an unexpected yet powerful bond, united by their shared love of fashion. The series wraps up with How to Be a Good Wife, a thought-provoking exploration of a woman’s awakening to her place in society amidst the 1968 feminist movement in France.

Experience the world of haute couture and iconic French style in this outdoor film series set in Chicago’s scenic parks.

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed).

Films begin at sunset. All films have English subtitles.

Schedule

June 20, 2025

8:30pm: Coco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel)

Coco Before Chanel (Coco avant Chanel)
Directed by Anne Fontaine
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
With Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain, and Emmanuelle Devos
2009, History-Drama, 1h50, France-Belgium, PG-13

Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, Amélie) shines in this intriguing portrait of the early life of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, the orphan who would build a fashion empire and be known universally by her nickname, Coco. She journeys from a mundane seamstress job to boisterous cabarets to the opulent French countryside, possessing little more than her unwavering determination, unique style and visionary talent. Also starring Benoît Poelvoorde (In His Hands) and Alessandro Nivola (Junebug). Featuring lush settings and stunning costume design, Coco Before Chanel is the gripping and dramatic story of an icon who defied convention and defined the modern woman. Film in French with English subtitles.

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed) | Bring your own chair or blanket and join us at dusk!

Location:
Osterman Beach Park
5800 N. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60660

Click here for Tickets

June 26, 2025

8:30pm: The Young Girls of Rochefort

The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort)
Directed by Jacques Demy
Distributed by Janus Films
With Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Dorléac, Michel Piccoli, Grover Dale, Gene Kelly, Georges Chakiris, and Danielle Darrieux
1967, Romance-Comedy-Musical, 2h06, France

Starring real-life sisters Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac (with cameo appearances by Gene Kelly and Georges Chakiris), and featuring an incredible jazzy score by master composer Michel Legrand, this timeless French musical is a carefree tribute to classic Hollywood musicals.

In the picturesque port town of Rochefort, the spirited Garnier twins, Delphine and Solange, share a strong bond and similar aspirations, despite their contrasting looks. Delphine, the celestial blonde, is a ballet teacher and dancer, while Solange, the fiery redhead, is a singer and composer. Together, they light up the town, imparting music and dance lessons with dreams of finding true love and pursuing their passions in the magical city of Paris. Film in French with English subtitles

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed) | Bring your own chair or blanket and join us at dusk!

Location:
Belmont Harbor Park
South of the Belmont Harbor South Parking Lot
3600 N. Recreation Drive
Chicago, IL 60613

Click here for Tickets

July 7, 2025

8:15pm: Haute Couture

Haute Couture
Directed by Sylvie Ohayon
Distributed by UGC Distribution / Menemsha Films
With Nathalie Baye, Lyna Khoudri, Pascale Arbillot
2020, Comedy-Drama, 1h41, France

When a bold young thief (Lyna Khoudri) crosses paths with a retiring Dior seamstress (Nathalie Baye), an unexpected apprenticeship sparks a powerful bond—Haute Couture, directed by Sylvie Ohayon, is a heartwarming tale of second chances, timeless craftsmanship, and the beauty of passing on a legacy.
Film in French with English subtitles

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed) | Bring your own chair or blanket and join us at dusk!

Location:
Lake Shore Park
808 N Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60611

July 15, 2025

8:15pm: How to Be a Good Wife (La Bonne Epouse)
Directed by Martin Provost
Distributed by Icarus Films
With Juliette Binoche, Yolande Moreau, Noémie Lvovsky, Edouard Baer, and François Berléand
2020, Comedy, 1h48, France

In 1968 France, against the backdrop of the Paris student riots, the Women’s Liberation Movement, and the sexual revolution, a woman (Juliette Binoche) running a housekeeping school for teenage girls begins to question the suppressed role of women in society.  Film in French with English subtitles

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed) - Bring your own chair or blanket and join us at dusk!

Click here for Tickets

Date:
June 20 to July 15, 2025

Location:
Osterman Beach Park, 5800 N. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60660
Belmont Harbor Park, 3600 N. Recreation Drive, Chicago, IL 60613
Lake Shore Park, 808 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611
Montgomery Ward Park, 630 N Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL 60606

Click here for More Information