Tag: France

100 Years Since Her Execution, Was Mata Hari a Sexy Spy or a Sexy Scapegoat?

100 Years Since Her Execution, Was Mata Hari a Sexy Spy or a Sexy Scapegoat?At nearly every turn, Margaretha Zelle MacLeod made the wrong choices. Yet she managed to create a persona that continues to dance on the crowded stage of popular culture.

ELLEN HAMPTON10.08.17 12:00 AM ET PARIS—

Her name lives on a century after they stood her in front of a firing squad on Oct. 15, 1917, and watched her die: Mata Hari, treacherous spy, devious liar, a wicked woman to the core. Or was she something else entirely? [ . . . ]

Source: 100 Years Since Her Execution, Was Mata Hari a Sexy Spy or a Sexy Scapegoat?

Trump: Je ne suis pas bien portant

Legendary French comic singer Gaston Ouvard performs “Je ne suis pas bien portant” (I Am Not In Good Health)

Donald Trump avoided military service to his country thanks to a “minor” malady. He said he had visited a doctor who provided him a letter for draft officials, who granted him the medical exemption. He could not remember the doctor’s name. (New York Times August 1, 2016)

Continue reading “Trump: Je ne suis pas bien portant” →

Ratatouille Ain’t Nouvelle Vague

Ratatouille_wall

The French New Wave movement in cinema (Nouvelle Vague en francaise) began in the late 1950’s and the tenets of Nouvelle Vague continue to be seen in French films today.

Notable features of this movement include:

  • slow, subtle and ambiguous plots
  • strong character development
  • few happy endings, or even conclusive endings
  • an emphasis on Art over profits
belmondo
Belmondo Action Figure

While I have a genuine appreciation for Nouvelle Vague, I also appreciate a film like Pixar’s “Ratatouille” (2007), which not only sold beaucoup movie theater tickets, but also beaucoup toys. (I doubt the Jean-Paul Belmondo action figure ever made more than few francs – even with the optional toy cigarette that produces real smoke!)

Continue reading “Ratatouille Ain’t Nouvelle Vague” →

Rockin’ Ride to Rodin

Needing a to rest our weary legs as we were walking to the Rodin Museum, a Paris bicycle-taxi driver offered his services. We accepted, foolishly not agreeing to a fee right away. Upon entering his chariot, the driver asked, “You like music?” He spoke in a heavy Eastern European accent (later telling us he was from Romania.)

I replied “Oui, I like music!”

“I have music!” he said through a wide grin.

Our lean and lanky driver then dialed his boombox to “11” and and away we went – pedaling thru the busy Paris streets along the Left Bank, and blasting Techno, Rap and Club music, while Linda danced.

Once we arrived at our destination, our new Romanian friend definitely over-charged us, Linda says “we got taken for a ride, twice!” But it was worth it.!

More pictures from the Rodin later.. The museum was  wonderful.

Bande à Part (1964) – Dance Scene

In less than 10 days, we’ll be in Paris – the City of Lights. Will we meet up with Jean-Luc Godard and Anna Karina dancing The Madison in a Paris cafe?

Peut être.

We will certainly encounter Jim DeLillo and his lovely ballerina/wife Shirley in the south of France, where our friends have vacationed in the small village of Venasque for the past 20 years.

Can’t wait.