French priest files to delay release of sex abuse victim film premiering in Berlin 

The French release of a film based on real-life cases of sex abuse allegedly committed by a French priest, which is being premiered Friday at the Berlin film festival, could be delayed. Lawyers for the priest in question, who is accused of molesting more than 80 boys, say the film should not be shown until after his trial later this year.

Director Francois Ozon’s film By The Grace Of God tells the story of a group of survivors of abuse at the hands of Lyon-based priest, Bernard Preyant. Ozon worked in secret with several members of a survivor’s group that has gathered testimony of dozens of people who claim to have been abused by Preynat in Lyon.

Preynat is to be tried on sexual violence charges involving ten children. The allegations came out after a former scout, Francois Devaux went public in 2015 with allegations that the priest had abused him as a child 25 years earlier.

Preynat was suspended by the church later in 2015, and it later emerged that Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the archbishop of Lyon, had confronted him about the allegations five years earlier, and later went to the Vatican, but never contacted law enforcement authorities.

Barbarin and five other church officials and members are waiting for a verdict on charges of covering up the abuse and failing to protect children.

The Dardenne Brothers – Masters of Social Realism

2014

Rear Window. 2014.
Filmmaking brothers Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne are known on the world film circuit for their social realist dramas, set in the former industrial city of Liege in Belgium. Film critic Emilie Bickerton talks us through their early career and their later obsession with the plight of working class people in their home city. teleSUR

Molière Remembered as ‘Greatest Artist in History of French Theater’, Google Doodle Pays Tribute to French Actor and Playwright

Molière’s contribution is eternal in the sense that his work inspired future generations of comedians, in fearlessly calling out hypocrisy and making razor-sharp observations about the society and people in power. Molière Remembered as ‘Greatest Artist in History of French Theater’, Google Doodle Pays Tribute to French Actor and Playwright.

Molière is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and literature of any language. The writer’s works include comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets, and much more

Google Doodle description made a special mention of his satirical plays and wrote in tribute: “His satirical plays fearlessly lampooned human folly and blended ballet, music, and comedy into a new genre that transformed buffoonery into witty social critique.”

The reason why the doodle has been dedicated to the artist today is because on this day in 1673, Molière premiered his final play, Le Malade Imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), a three-act comédie-ballet satirizing the medical profession.

“Molière starred in the title role of Argan, a severe hypochondriac who tries to convince his daughter to forsake her true love and marry his doctor’s son, so as to save on medical bills. In classic Molière fashion, the play’s dialogue pushes his characters’ vices and pretensions to the point of absurdity,” mentioned the description.

The doodle is special considering that it gives a view into Molière’s most memorable scenes from The Imaginary Invalid and other classics like School for Wives, Don Juan, and The Miser. Molière’s contribution is eternal in the sense that his work inspired future generations of comedians, in fearlessly calling out hypocrisy and making razor-sharp observations about the society and people in power.

Source: Molière Remembered as ‘Greatest Artist in History of French Theater’, Google Doodle Pays Tribute to French Actor and Playwright | LatestLY

The Limiñanas at Academy 3 Manchester

By David Bentley · On February 9, 2019

Working Mens Club were on when I entered the building. At least that’s what I think they were called; the lead vocalist is a bit of a mumbler.

Watneys Red Barrel was on sale at the bar for 2/6d a pint, along with Woodbines in packets of 10. Darts, dominoes and cribbage were available and you could sign up for the pigeon fanciers’ annual trip to Southport. Chance would be a fine thing.

They’re a local band which formed out of student classes at  Manchester’s BIMM College, and their female guitarist/backing vocalist (who may be Italian) made me think of 1960s and Woodstock star Melanie, partly for her looks and partly for her laid back delivery. I can best describe them by asking you to imagine a Limiñanas 45 rpm vinyl single played at 33 rpm. Then right at the end they changed gear and for five minutes they were The Limiñanas. Et voilà!

By necessity this must be a short appraisal because The Limiñanas were reviewed in these pages at the Soup Kitchen in Manchester only eight months ago; and also because my pen ran out of ink so no notes were taken. So I’ll focus on what makes them such a great live band. The 80-minute 21-song set, played virtually without a break or any bons mots from the band members, seemed to be over in a flash and I’m certain they’d have gone on longer still if it wasn’t for the 11pm curfew. They’d played four more in Amsterdam the previous evening.

The Limiñanas are of course the Perpignan-based duo Lionel and Marie Limiñana. Lionel holds it all together as team captain while Marie, who takes centre stage,  thrashes her three-drum, no cymbals or hi-hat kit for all it’s worth, occasionally contributing to vocals. That thrashing is in a constant – no, permanent – 4/4 time signature, there’s no fancy Dan 9/8 or whatever from The Limiñanas, and with an energy level that suggests the very latest lithium battery has been inserted into her derriere. Either that or she’s consumed a Jéroboam of Red Bull. But then that goes for all of them. What do they put in the water in Perpignan? I’d like to see a few buckets in my local reservoir.

The duo would be a fascinating live act in their own right but it’s the motley crew of five who join them for tours who catch your attention. Somehow all seven were again crammed onto the stage where they become a guitar orchestra, with often five of them being played quite violently at once. Nobody knows who these five are. Perhaps they are extended family and they are all Limiñanas, or like The Ramones they’ve adopted the name.

They include a guy I dubbed Hannibal Lecter in the previous review, I’ll call him the Mad Scientist this time. He stands at the back, twisting himself into impossible shapes while eliciting unearthly sounds from guitar, keyboards and something he was blowing on that I can’t even describe.

Another is the most beautiful tambourine player in the world, Brigitte Gall as I called her last time (or was it France Bardot?), who also sang much more than she did at the Soup Kitchen, grâce à Dieu. She stands stage left while her opposite, (male) number is on the far right, looking like a bearded fugitive from the 1968 Paris Riots. The two have been compared to Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg and who am I to argue?

Then there’s a guy who plays guitar and keys sideways-on as if there’s another audience out on Oxford Road watching through a window. It’s a visual feast.

Source: The Limiñanas, Academy 3 Manchester, 07/02/2019 | God Is In The TV