Adjustable barn doors made of anodized aluminum that shield the lens from stray light and reflections. Doors rotate 360° and tilt 45°.
Technical Details
Professional French Flags are made of anodized aluminum with a matte black inner coating to prevent reflections. The flags typically measure 10x7 cm to 15x12 cm and can be rotated 360° and tilted 45°. The total weight ranges from 200-800 grams, depending on the size. High-quality models like the Arri MMB-2 or Vocas MB-435 feature quick-release mechanisms and millimeter scales for reproducible settings. Mounting is done via standard 15mm or 19mm rods with a 60mm spacing between the rods.
History & Development
The first sunshade devices emerged as early as the 1920s as simple, fixed tubes. In 1954, French cinematographer Henri Alekan developed the adjustable flag system for Jean Cocteau's "Beauty and the Beast," from which the term French Flag is derived. Panavision standardized the 15mm rod system in 1967, followed by Arri's 19mm standard in 1975. Modern variants have incorporated quick-release mechanisms since the 1990s and carbon fiber constructions since 2010 for weight savings.
Practical Use in Film
In Roger Deakins' work on "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), precisely adjusted French Flags were used to shield against intense LED panels, controlling characteristic neon reflections. Emmanuel Lubezki utilized special wide-angle French Flag models for natural lighting conditions in "The Revenant" (2015). The French Flag is typically readjusted by the 1st AC during camera movements to ensure constant protection in changing light conditions. Critical focus scenes require millimeter-accurate adjustments, as even a 2-3mm deviation can cause visible vignetting.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike a rigid lens hood, the French Flag offers variable adjustment to changing light situations. Modern matte boxes with integrated top and side flags are increasingly replacing separate French Flag solutions, but they increase system weight by 300-500g. Digital post-production can remove lens flares, but it requires an additional 15-20% of post-production time. For Steadicam use, ultra-light carbon versions (under 150g) are employed, while handheld shots often rely on compact clip-on systems.