I’m bañanas over the Limiñanas!

One of my new favorite bands of the Summer 2016 are The Limiñanas. Lionel Limiñanas and his drummer/vocalist/wife Marie own a record shop “Vinyl Maniac” in Perpignan,France – not far from the border of Spain on the Mediterranean coast. They’ve released four groovy albums, each of which I have been devouring on Spotify. Their sound combines French pop, garage,electronic and psychedelia with lyrics sung in English, French and Italian (why no Spanish, Lino?) I detect some Mekons influence, but maybe because I love the Mekons and detect their influence everywhere, including a recent baptism I attended.

The Limiñanas are playing La Cigale in Paris on September 29th. Let’s find a way to get there. Come with me!

The Limiñanas “Je ne suis pas très drogue”

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Mademoiselle Chambon

I rewatched one of my favorite French films recently, Stéphane Brizé’s “Mademoiselle Chambon” (2009.)

“Mademoiselle Chambon” is a contemplative love story about a 50-something bricklayer named Jean (played by the magnificent Vincent Lindon) who falls in love with his young son’s teacher, Véronique Chambon (played by actress/singer Sandrine Kiberlain). Jean is married, Véronique is not. Complications ensue.

Chambon
Sandrine Kiberlain as title character

There are several moments in the film that have remained with me since first viewing: Véronique playing her violin with her back to Jean because she is shy performing;  Jean at home with his family, lovingly washing the feet of 80-year-old father. These scenes are beautifully imagined and masterfully acted.

My favorite scene is below: Véronique plays a classical piece on the stereo for Jean – La Valse Triste by Hungarian composer Franz von Vecsey. Two souls meet with no words spoken. When Jean places Véronique’s hand on his own cheek, I felt butterflies. Director Stéphane Brizé has said, “You don’t rehearse scenes like that.”

Watch the clip. Rent the movie.