Vive la France

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ two-week “Cannes 50: A Tribute to the Cannes Festival on Its 50th Anniversary,” continuing this weekend, sets the tone to revel in all things French chez L.A.

Friday Evening

For a light dinner, sample what might be the best salad Nicoise this side of the Seine at Chez Helene, 267 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 276-1558. C’est magnifique!

As part of the academy’s salute to Cannes, a retrospective of prize-winning films will be presented at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for three weekends. Screening Friday at 7:30 p.m. is “A Man Escaped” (1956), which won the best director award for Robert Bresson. It’s followed at 9:30 p.m. by the winner of the Palme d’Or award in 1961, “Viridiana,” 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Tickets are $6, or $4 for museum members, (213) 857-6010.

Saturday Morning

Start the morning with pain au chocolat, croissants or a brioche and an espresso drink at Michel Richard, 310 S. Robertson Blvd. at 3rd Street, West Hollywood, (310) 275-5707; open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Grab a copy of French Elle at the newsstand nearby, sit at an outdoor table and study up on French chic for a shopping day.

Visit Agnes B. between Beverly Boulevard and 3rd Street, at 100 N. Robertson Blvd., (310) 271-9643; open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, noon-6 p.m., for stylish French classics. Adjacent are Agnes B. Homme and Agnes B. Enfant.

For charming cotton purses, bags and accessories for the home sprinkled with floral patterns straight out of Provence, you only have to go as far as Pierre Deux, 222 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 274-4115; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

See trinkets from Paris at La Boutique Musee, 8606 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (310) 659-1230, the official place to get merchandise from the Louvre, the Rodin Museum and the Musee D’Orsay outside of Paris, and a treasure-trove of jewelry, statue reproductions and posters. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

Saturday Afternoon

At Maison et Cafe, 1485 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 935-3157, the housewares annex to the trendy clothing boutique American Rag Cie, you can find pine antiques, iron tables and chairs, table linens and bistro ware to decorate your chateau. There’s a light Mediterranean menu for lunch. Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon -7 p.m. Sunday.

Saturday Night

Drive south to La Jolla to see French playwright Moliere’s comedy “A School for Wives,” with Tony Award nominee Tom McGowan as Le Be^te, an arrogant bachelor who tries to show the world how to create the perfect wife. Mendell Weiss Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla Village Drive and Torrey Pines Road, (619) 550-1010. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. $29-$39. Through July 13.

Sunday Afternoon

Join the L.A. Baroque Orchestra at 4 p.m. for “A Parisian Afternoon,” with tea and a chamber music concert on period instruments at a private home near Montana Avenue, Santa Monica. $35 includes concert and high tea. Call Theatix at (213) 466-1767. Reservations required; address will be provided upon confirmation.

Top off the weekend with steak frites and profiteroles with chocolate sauce at the classic French bistro Le Chardonnay, 8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 655-8880.