Robert De Niro's waiting...

Here in the Languedoc, you are almost as likely to hear Spanish on a daily basis as you are French. My vet often goes off on a Spanish tangent and at my Thursday night Flamenco dance class, it's very easy to imagine that I'm living in rural Spain. Tapas are on almost every menu, and I think the ratio of cava to champagne in my wine rack is prettily heftily in favour of the former.

Luckily, I minored in Spanish at university (although everytime I go to Barcelona I realize how useless Mexican Spanish is in Catalonia....), and I manage to pick up words here and there. I love the Spanish-influenced flavour of the local accent.

But I dream of being able to speak Italian. I've been trying to teach myself, unsuccessfully, for the last 5 years or so. I have all the books and CDs and even had a private tutor for awhile. The tutor was interesting because of course she was teaching me Italian in French, which just made it all the more difficult for me to concentrate.

I think I get to a point where I have a good grasp of the language, then I'm in Italy, and all I can do is speak in French. It's like my brain is telling me I need to be speaking a foreign language, so hey, French will do. All of my efforts at studying Italian fly right out the old finestra.

If only I lived over by Nice, where the chances of picking up Italian would be so much easier. Although, of course, then I'd probably be living in a shoe box, unable to afford to go to Italy, but nevermind. I guess I'll just have to continue the old-fashioned way.

Although I'm starting to think that maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I watch the little ladies gadding about speaking French and English with perfect accents and I have to fight back the envy. My 7-year old says that she wants to start learning Italian with me. That's like saying Carl Lewis wants to start going running with me. Nothing like a 7-year old multi-linguist to spur you into action.

I know I'm lucky to be able to speak passable French. I see so many foreigners living here who struggle daily, unable to speak the language. And while I know that I should concentrate on perfecting my French, there's just something about Italian that makes me dreamy. They say the best way to learn a language is take a lover who speaks that language, but somehow I doubt the Duke would be up for that, no matter how supportive he is.

How about you? Any fluent Italian speakers out there? I'll trade you half my French for half your Italian...

Serge Gainsbourg- Vie Héroïque

Already being called the French film of 2010, Serge Gainsbourg- Vie Héroïque, the biopic of the man whom many consider to be one of France's all-time greatest singer/songwriters, was released last week in France.

Starting with his childhood as a Jewish boy growing up in Nazi-occupied Paris, the film goes on to tell the story of his career, from struggling painter to one of the country's biggest rock star bad boys.

I can only imagine how many later musicians have been inspired by the life of this cult French icon. From his hard-drinking lifestyle to his well-publicised love life, which included relationships with the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birken, Serge Gainsbourg's life reads like a manual on how to really do the whole sex, drugs, and rock and roll thing (particularly the sex bit...).

The film has been dedicated to Lucy Gordon, the young English actress who played Jane Birkin in the film, and who committed suicide in her apartment in Paris, shortly after filming finished.

Gainsbourg - Vie Héroïque - Trailer HD [VF]

The F-word...

There is an awful lot of Franglais spoken in our house. Sometimes a word in English or French just works better, no matter what language the rest of the sentence is spoken in.

Like yesterday, my 5-year old little lady said 'mommy, she put her microbes on my bon bon'. It took me a few seconds to translate from 5-year old spoken English with randomly placed French words to realize that her sister had put germs, not a microphone, on her candy.

This was a good example of her picking up words at school that she didn't know in English. Germs aren't really a big topic of discussion here, they know they need to wash their hands, but that's as fanatical as it gets at our house. We don't dwell on germs, not with 2 dogs in the house, so I'm sure they have probably never heard me say the word.

(I think the French word microbe is much more visual, and slightly more frightening to a 5-year old. It's right up there with other frightening words she has picked up in French, like maladie, gastro, and piqûre. I love it when words sound like what they mean.)

I can't help thinking how lucky they are to have two languages to help them find exactly les mots justes to express themselves. Franglais is often referred to with a negative connotation, or can sound quite pretentious if used too randomly, but for now it seems like the official language of the Dukedom, and that's just fine by me. So the little ladies may never make into the Académie Française, but I love the fact that they have a few different ways of telling me that they love me...

Prix Goncourt 2009...

And the award goes to.... French-Senegalese author Marie NDiaye, for her book Trois Femmes Puissantes (Three Powerful Women).

The 106th author to be awarded the prize, Marie NDiaye is the first black author to win, and the first woman since 1998 to be given the highest honor in the French literary world.

Mme NDiaye published her first novel when she was 18 (man, I hate that!). Can't help but feeling like time is running out on me.....

This novel looks interesting, strong female protagonists, and all of that, so think it might be worth delving back into the French literary scene. I've been enjoying a pretty good run of reading some good books lately, after having been de-railed slightly by this whole 'parenting' thing. But it's been awhile since I was tempted to read in French. Looks like a good place to start.

Have any of you read it yet? If so, let me know what you thought!

Speaking of birthdays...

Asterix turns 50 this month! One of the first French icons I was introduced to back in high school, I still to this day have trouble understanding all of what goes on in his world, but he remains hugely popular here. The 34th Asterix comic book has just been released to help celebrate, and with the last book having sold over 8 million copies, I can only imagine that this anniversary edition will be a huge bestseller.

This is one part of French culture that's never really enticed me; this love of the bande dessinée. I love Snoopy as much as the next girl, and I used to collect Archie comic books when I was younger, but the French take the comic book to a whole new level. A level I equate with that of the cryptic crossword- something I know I should be able to 'do' but somehow my brain seems to let me down everytime I try.

Does a copy of Asterix For Dummies exist? I can't help thinking that maybe if I could understand something that seems so quintessentially French, I may be able to better understand the psyche of some of my neighbors...

Song of Autumn...

It's a dark and rainy day here in the south of France, so I thought some cheery French poetry was called for...

Chanson d'automne
by Paul Verlaine

Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l'automne
Blessent mon coeur
D'une langueur
Monotone.

Tout suffocant
Et blême, quand
Sonne l'heure,
Je me souviens
Des jours anciens
Et je pleure;

Et je m'en vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m'emporte
Deçà, delà
Pareil à la
Feuille morte.

And here is Verlaine's poem, performed by the late, great Léo Ferré. Turn it up loud, for full effect!

Le Petit Nicolas...

The film made to celebrate the 50th birthday of one of France's best loved children's literary classics, Le Petit Nicolas, comes out on Wednesday here in France.

Created in 1959 by René Goscinny and illustrated beautifully by Jean-Jacques Sempé, little Nicolas quickly became the nation's favorite schoolboy. Telling his tales through the eyes of a 7-year old, but often with the wit and wisdom of an adult, Nicolas has appealed to both young and old for 50 years.

The books are beautifully illustrated and would make a great gift for any francophile child or family. Not sure how well the film will translate when it appears in the States, but I think it would be worth seeing just for a glimpse into the world of 1960's France.

Baby Baby Baby....

This is like a nightmare I once had when I lived in Paris, except in my dream there was no electro beat and I didn't look like a model...

Make The Girl Dance "Baby Baby Baby" ( official video )

Olivia Ruiz...

I seem to be posting alot of rainy day listening lately. Sunny south of France indeed.

Here's the new single by Olivia Ruiz, off her new album, Miss Météores. She was a runner-up in the first series of Star Academy in 2001 and this is her follow-up album to her 2005 critically acclaimed album, La Femme Chocolat.

The single is called Elle Panique and involves some interesting instrumentals. The video is pretty typically French in that most of the time you are wondering what the hell is going on.... It's certainly given me a good distraction from the freeking rain outside. Enjoy!

OLIVIA RUIZ -Elle Panique
envoyé par Henrietta-Aime-Fumer_Tv

Coco avant Chanel...

A new film comes out today in France about Coco Chanel, called Coco avant Chanel, directed by Anne Fontaine and starring Audrey Tatou. The film tells the story of Coco's childhood and early life. The trailer looks good, full of period atmosphere. Audrey Tatou looks perfectly cast in the role, and apparently Karl Lagerfield advised on the costumes for the movie.

Easter Sunday listening...

Pep's Libertà, from his album, Utopies dans le decor.

Puss in Boots...

It's school holidays once again (weren't they just on holiday?), so I'm on the hunt for something to amuse me darling little angels.

Maybe we'll check out this new French animated film that's been released just in time for the school holiday (funny, that.). La Véritable Histoire du Chat Botté is inspired by the 17th Century French author, Charles Perrault, who brought us Le Petit Chaperon Rouge (Little Red Riding Hood), La Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty), Cendrillon (Cinderella), La Barbe Bleue (Bluebeard) and Le Chat Botté (Puss in Boots).

Looks like the French are giving Dreamworks a run for their money.

La Journée de la Jupe (Skirt Day)...

Isabelle Adjani returned to the big screen last week with her new film, La Journée de la Jupe, directed by Jean-Claude Lilienfeld. The film showed on the French tv channel Arte, and then was released in cinemas last Wednesday.

Adjani is receiving good reviews for her role as a French teacher in a Parisian suburb high school who gets pushed to her limits and cracks one day, taking her class hostage after she accidentally shoots one of them in the leg. Much like the film Entre les Murs, the film deals with the current popular themes of racism, prejudices and social tension, but also focuses on sexism and the lack of respect between girls and boys. Adjani's character's personality is symbolized by her insistence on wearing a skirt as she fights against sexist insults and abuse.

Guns in the classroom, unfortunately, is an all too common occurrence these days, but this time it is the teacher who is demanding the attention with one. And with the difficulties teachers are facing all around the world with trying to keep discipline and respect in their classrooms, I'm sure there are a few teachers out there who have felt like cracking like this at some point in their careers.

It's not a pretty role but I think, as always, Isabelle Adjani has picked a character that makes people think, and it's nice to see her back on top form again.

BA Journee de la jupe
envoyé par arte

Superbus...

For your Sunday night French-girl-noise-garage-rock music fix, here's the new single by Superbus.

Go on, speak a little French today...

Today is La Journée Internationale de la Francophonie, a day created in 1998 to celebrate the French language and to commemorate the achievements of francophones throughout history.

I'm just off to meet with some English clients, and then tonight I'm babysitting some English children, but who knows, I just might speak some French today myself...

The Girl on the Train....

A new film directed by André Téchiné comes out on Wednesday, called La Fille du RER. It's based on the true story that shocked France about a girl who falsely claimed to have been attacked by black and Arab youths who she said mistook her for a Jew. The media picked up on it and made it a huge national story which forced her to eventually tell the truth.

Starring Cathrine Deneuve as the girl's mother, Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne as the girl, and Michel Blanc as her lawyer, the film deals with modern day Paris life and how the media portrays racial tensions. The trailer looks good, and it has been given alot of hype here, so might be worth seeing.

Christophe Maé...

Rainy Sunday here. Nowhere to go, nothing to do, parfait.

Here's some rainy Sunday kind of music- Christophe Maé, and Mon P'tit Gars, the song he wrote for his son.

Volt, star malgré lui...

This is what I will be doing with the little ladies this afternoon. I think he is called 'Bolt' in the US, but apparently 'Volt' works better in France. I didn't realize they still made 3-D movies. The last one I saw was Jaws 3 and I was afraid to swim in a swimming pool for months. I'm hoping this movie has kind of the same effect on the little ones and that they'll stop pestering me to get them a pet hamster. I'm just wondering if it's worth spending the extra 2 euros a piece for the 3-D glasses...

Moi aussi, je t'aime...

Il n'y a qu'un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé.
George Sand

Emily Loizeau...

Emily Loizeau, who turned 34 yesterday, has a new album out called 'Pays Sauvage'. She's been getting pretty good reviews since her debut album 'L'Autre Bout du Monde' came out in 2006. She's a classically trained pianist and sites Bob Dylan and Tom Waits as influences.

She was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, to a French dad and an English mom, and is the granddaughter of the English actress Peggy Ashcroft, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 1984 for her role in 'Passage to India'.

Here's a video of the recording of the first single off her new album, called 'Sister', which she does in both an English version and a French version.