Jenna Ortega Raves About This ‘Timeless Classic’—A Cult French ’90s Film Rated 4.1/5!

Having become one of the most recognizable faces of her generation with roles in “Wednesday” and “Beetlejuice,” Jenna Ortega also boasts a deep appreciation for cinema. During a Letterboxd interview while promoting Tim Burton’s film, where she reprised her role as Wednesday, she shared the four films that hold a special place in her heart.

Her picks included Stanley Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon,” Wim Wenders’ “Paris, Texas,” which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1984, and two classics of French cinema: “The Passion of Joan of Arc” and “La Haine.”

“La Haine,” a Film as Relevant as Ever

Among these films, Jenna Ortega has a particular admiration for “La Haine,” directed by Mathieu Kassovitz in 1995. She views this pillar of French cinema as a powerful work that has not lost its impact.

“I think it’s a classic, a timeless film,” she explained.

The actress also highlighted Vincent Cassel’s breakout role, emphasizing the film’s political undertones and stunning visual identity: “‘La Haine’ was Vincent Cassel’s first role. It’s such a great film… It addresses police brutality in Paris. I think it’s still very relevant, and visually it’s absolutely beautiful.”

Jenna Ortega Dreams of Playing Joan of Arc

Her other French selection takes us much further back in the history of film. Jenna Ortega cited “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” a silent film made in France by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer, released in 1928.

She was particularly moved by the haunting performance of the lead actress: “The performance by Maria Falconetti is absolutely insane. Playing Joan of Arc would be a dream role for me,” she expressed enthusiastically.

From the visual splendor of “Barry Lyndon” to the social cinema of “La Haine,” through the lyricism of “Paris, Texas” and the intensity of Dreyer’s masterpiece, her eclectic list reflects a well-defined taste for significant cinematic works.

Several Highly Anticipated Projects

Following the thriller “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” where she starred alongside Abel Tesfaye and Barry Keoghan, Jenna Ortega is set to continue her rise with three new films.

She will co-star in “The Gallerist” with Natalie Portman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays her mother in “Wednesday.” She is also slated to appear in “The Great Beyond,” a fantastical thriller by J.J. Abrams, alongside Glen Powell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Emma Mackey.

But before all this, the actress will join Amy Adams and her “Wednesday” co-star Steve Buscemi in “Klara and the Sun,” a science-fiction drama directed by Taika Waititi, set to release on October 21. Check out the trailer for the film below.

In the meantime, you can catch her in “Wednesday,” exclusively on Netflix.