Netflix’s ‘Huge in France’ Is Almost Great

Netflix’s new fish-out-of-water comedy about a European megastar who relocates to Los Angeles is a strange kind of failure.

There are moments during Huge in France when you can perceive what the show might have been—a semi-satirical, semi-screwball comedy about the acute insanity of modern-day fame. The new eight-part Netflix series exists in a meta universe similar to HBO’s Entourage, in that it’s loosely based on the real experiences of an actor and comedian, Gad Elmaleh. The plight of the show’s Gad (he refers to himself in the third person, alors, c’est vraiment Gad) is that he’s a huge star. In France. In real life, this is also true for Elmaleh, who by most metrics is a bona fide celebrity: He has 1.8 million Instagram followers, he once sold out Paris’s Olympia theater for a record-breaking seven consecutive weeks, and his former partner is the granddaughter of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly. In France, Elmaleh is Jerry Seinfeld. In America, though? If a celebrity lands in a city where no one has ever heard of him, does he make a sound? Continue reading “Netflix’s ‘Huge in France’ Is Almost Great” →

On the Agenda: Everything that’s happening in France this week

Here’s a look at the big news and cultural events that will take place in France this week.

Monday May 27th 

Monday marks the beginning of three days of industrial action for the public sector, with seven trade unions calling on public sector workers to mobilise from Monday to Wednesday in opposition to the controversial government reforms.

However this week’s action will not include strikes but instead will focus on debates, press conferences, gatherings and meetings with elected officials.
The government is planning public sector reforms which would lead to the greater use of contract workers for some state services and a cut of 120,000 jobs by 2022 out of 5.6 million. [ . . . ]

Continue at: On the Agenda: Everything that’s happening in France this week

Thousands gather in France, worldwide for annual march against Monsanto

Thousands of protesters gathered across France and in over 30 cities around the world to march against the activities of Bayer-Monsanto and others agrochemical giants on Saturday, while Monsanto lost its third lawsuit in the US. [ . . . ]

Continue at France 24: Thousands gather in France, worldwide for annual march against Monsanto

The Thing About France: A New Podcast from the French Embassy

For the first time ever, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy will release a bi-weekly podcast, The Thing About France, in which Cultural Counselor to the United States, Bénédicte de Montlaur, interviews distinguished American cultural figures with notable connections to France about their experiences in both countries. 

As part of the Cultural Services’ mission to facilitate exchange between the United States and France, The Thing About France podcast explores the relationships between French and American artists and institutions, and the long, complex cultural and political relationship between the two countries. Guests like musician Dee Dee Bridgewater, writer David Sedaris, journalist Liesl Schillinger, Whitney Museum director Adam Weinberg, and novelist Claire Messud will discuss everything from the politics of race to the funding of cultural institutions, and the challenges and benefits of living and working in another culture and language. Guests also give insider tips on their favorite spots in France.

The podcast allows guests to speak candidly, sharing personal anecdotes and opinions on the interplay between our two countries. By hearing the personal stories of artists, filmmakers, authors, and other cultural figures, listeners will discover how people in France and the United States influence each other in today’s world.

Tune in every other Wednesday to hear new, compelling stories about people who have lived and worked in both French and American cultures. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts to stay up to date on the newest releases, and check out our website, www.thethingaboutfrance.com, for more information.

Source: The Thing About France: A New Podcast from the French Embassy

The Thing About France is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and at www.thethingaboutfrance.com.

THE THING ABOUT FRANCE Guest David Sedaris

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