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What's on?
Juin (June) 2009
Sydney Film Festival 3-14 June 2009 - Get off your couch and experience the Sydney Film Festival this June. Screening the best new films from around the world, right here in Sydney, the Festival this year will be showing over 15 films from the French community including 'Looking for Eric', 'Bluebeard' and 'Louise-Michel'. Check out the full program and purchase tickets at www.sff.org.au.
Mai (May) 2009
The truly wonderful Sydney French Theatre is staging, to the delight of us all, two excellent French plays which are absolutely not to be missed!!! Here are the details:
‘8 Femmes’ 8 women, 1 murder. They are all lying, but which one is the femme fatale? A murder has shaken the household. To make it out of this isolated mansion alive they need to trust each other, but all 8 women are lying. So who committed the murder? Was it the unhappy wife? Was it the greedy mother-in-law? Or was it the maid with a past? Will they uncover the truth in time to stop the killer from striking again? The suspense will kill you…if she doesn’t first! Written by Robert Thomas. Directed by Cecile Payet. Performed in French with English subtitles.
When: Thursday 7th May at 8pm, Friday 8th May at 7pm, Saturday 9th at May 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 10th May at 3pm. Where: Newtown Theatre (www.newtowntheatre.com.au) - Tickets $20.
‘French Rendez-Vous' You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Original short comedies about finding the wrong person in all the wrong places. Whether you’re lovesick or sick of love, you can’t help but laugh at these would-be Romeos putting their best foot forward & putting the other foot in their mouths! Written by Maxime Elgue. Performed in French with English subtitles.
When: Wednesday 29th April at 7pm, Friday 1st May at 8pm, Saturday 2nd May at 8pm, Saturday 9th May at 4pm & 6pm, Sunday 10th May at 5pm. Where: Newtown Theatre (www.newtowntheatre.com.au) - Tickets $20.
Decembre(2008)
Art Gallery of NSW– Art.Afterhours (Wednesday 17 December 2008; 6.30PM central court; CELEBRITY TALK in association with Monet and the Impressionists).
Mary Moody will talk aboutMonet's passion for his garden and food at Giverny: "Monet spent more than half of his life in the beautiful house at Giverny, creating what has become one of the world's most famous (and most visited) gardens. While he is applauded for his life's work as an artist and gardener, few appreciate that he was also passionate about good food.
His kitchen garden was as important to him as the ornamental garden that inspired so much of his work. He kept cooking journals that reflect his passion for entertaining his friends around the family table. Mary shares her thoughts and observations on Monet's passion for his garden and for the food he served at Giverny".
Octobre - novembre (2008)
Art Gallery of NSW – Art.Afterhours (Wednesday 29 October 2008)
5.30PM lower level one
EXHIBITION TALK in Monet and the Impressionists
Edmund Capon, Director Art Gallery of New South Wales
Exhibition admission applies to this talk.
6.30PM central court
CELEBRITY TALK in association with Monet and the Impressionists
Sarah Turnbull, author of Almost French
Sarah's popular travel memoir about an Australian girl in Paris struck a deep chord with Australian readers. Sarah's insights into French culture are revealing and engaging and tonight she reflects on the fascination with France and why Paris will always be home.
7.30PM lower level 1
ARTBAR in association with Monet and the Impressionists
Be entertained by the Eddie Bronson Duo with classic French tunes.
For details visit www.artafterhours.com.au.
 Life x 3 (Trois Versions de la Vie) - Presented by SOIR ET THEATRE; written by Yasmina Reza; translated from French by Christopher Hampton; directed by Katherine Davis. Cast: David Bond, Bellinda Dunn, Nicola Roberts, Anthony White
For the first production, SOIR ET THEATRE presents Yasmina Reza’s fifth play, Life x 3. In this incisive French comedy of manners, Reza plays with the reactions of four characters, Ines, Hubert, Sonia and Henri. In 3 acts, she serves up three subtly different versions of an unfortunate evening.
Under a veneer of decorum, the acid words, tensions and power games expose broken dreams and failure. Cracks in certainty, the shifting dynamics of married life and the elusive nature of power are the main ingredients of this doomed evening. Life x 3 fluctuates between melancholy, hilarity, cruelty, bitterness and metaphysical musings.
Yasmina Reza is a French playwright, novelist and actress. From Conversation after a Burial (1987) and The Unexpected Man (2000) to the recent God of Carnage (2006), her plays have been performed worldwide and translated into 35 languages. "Art" (1994), which became an international phenomenon, won the French Molière Award for best author, best play, and best production. It also won prizes in London for best comedy, in Germany for best foreign play, and it won the prestigious Tony Award, in New York, in 1998. “I write a theatre of nerves because we are governed by nerves” Yasmina Reza.
Dates: 29 October – 7 November, 2008.
Start time: 7.30pm
End time: 9.15pm
Bookings: soirtheatre@hotmail.com; call: 1300 438 849; or visit: www.moshtix.com.au.
Ticket Prices: $20 full/$18 concession
Mars (March) 2008
Bateaux Jouets – toy boats from Paris 1850-1950 at the Australian National Maritime Museum,
Darling Harbour (20 March – 17 August 2008). A remarkable exhibition coming to the National Maritime Museum in March presents 100 years of beautifully-made toy boats… a century of childhood for everyone to enjoy. Bateaux Jouets – toy boats from Paris 1850-1950, from France’s Musée national de la Marine, comprises some 200 colourful and imaginative craft.
They range in style from simple paper boats to stunning mechanical marvels with the ability to propel themselves across a carpet, a pond or even an open bay. And they are the products of their time, reflecting western Europe’s rapid industrialisation over the century 1850-1950 and the evolution of pleasure boats, passenger liners and fighting ships in that period.
“Bateaux Jouets is an exhibition of extraordinary quality,” Australian National Maritime Museum Director Mary-Louise Williams said today. “It’s all about toys… but it’s also all about their industrial context in the 19th century. And they are charming! ”
Bateaux Jouets demonstrates that toy boats were among the most popular playthings in the hundred years from the mid-18th century. Interest grew as city development brought new urban parks with ponds suitable for toy boating and families increasingly took to the seaside for holidays.
The exhibition looks at toy boats as playthings at home… lead flotillas, figurines, boats to build, boats to play with on the floor, board games, historical dioramas and lots more.
It traces the evolution of factory-made toy boats from those made of tinplate by small-time craftsmen in the mid-19th century through the far more sophisticated metal vessels produced in well-known factories in France and Germany. And it considers the various means of propulsion – from the simple twisted rubber band to clockwork springs, fired-up burners producing steam and battery-stored electricity. But most of all, Bateaux Jouets provides the evidence that toy boats were, and still are dream objects for adventure on the high seas.
In Australia, Bateaux Jouets – toy boats from Paris 1850-1950 will appear exclusively at the National Maritime Museum. The museum is open daily, 9.30 am to 5 pm. Information, (02) 9298 3777 or www.anmm.gov.au .
The Alliançe Francaise French film Festival 2008 (in Sydney from the 5th to the 19th of March) - the yearly French Film Festival is back and this year's poster is lovely!!! The festival will open with "the hugely anticipated new film from one of French cinema's hottest directors, Cedric Klapisch (When The Cat's Away, The Spanish Apartment, Russian Dolls).The cast is one of the most dazzling assembled in recent memory - Juliette Binoche, Romain Duris, Fabrice Luchini, François Cluzet, Albert Dupontel, Karin Viard and Mélanie Laurent to name just a few. The story begins with Pierre (Duris), a young man unexpectedly confronted with his own mortality. For the next 24 hours, his tour through the city will weave with those of his beloved sister, his neighbours (some known, some not), their friends and workmates, and their interconnected stories of love, familial bonds, loneliness and compassion come together in unexpected ways". Sounds fantastic!!! For the complete list of films and details visit www.frenchfilmfestival.org.
Novembre 2007
French Vintage Advertising Posters - Prior to the late 1800's print advertising was restricted to black and white classified text. Through the invention, and the development, of the stone lithographic printing technique by Jules Cheret - the "Maitre de l'affiche" ("master" of the poster) - the world of vintage advertising posters was born. Finally capable of mass-producing advertisements in colour, companies of the day commissioned well-known artists such as Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, Alphonse Mucha, and Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen, to develop their marketing ideas and create striking poster art. The streets of Paris were filled with colour and the French print advertising tradition continued to dominate well after WWII due to poster greats such as Savignac, Villemot, Morvan, Paul and Jean Colin, Gruau, and many others. We are so lucky in Australia in that we have one of the very best and most charming vintage poster dealers in the world, Stephan Trbuhovich, in Melbourne (his shop, Galerie Montmartre, is located at the rear of 197B Brunswick Street, via Moor Street, Fitzroy). If you would like to view a "small" selection of Stephan's marvellous posters go to the 3rd Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery & Textiles Show at the Canterbury Racecourse where Stephan will be amongst the 50 stallholders from all over Australia selling vintage items (9th of November, 5.30pm - 9.00pm; 10th of November, 9.30am - 4.30pm; 11th of November, 9.30am - 4.30pm; Tickets at the door). To visit Stephan's truly excellent internet site click on www.galmont.com.au.
Stephanie Wailes Recital – One of our students, Stephanie Wailes, will be holding a recital at the Sydney Conservatorium which promises to be fantastic!!! Infact it’s a great chance to hear live someone who may one day become a star in the world of classical music, to enjoy some lovely music, and to be able to say in years to come when she might well be famous and will be performing all over the world: ”I was there at her Junior Recital!!!”. When: Thursday 15th November, 12:00-12:45pm. Where: Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Recital Hall West. Cost: Free entry. Program:
Giuseppe Verdi (Italian): Stornello; La Seduzione; La Zingara
Reynaldo Hahn (French): L'Enamourée; Si Mes Vers Avaient Des Ailes; Fêtes Galantes
Richard Straus (German): All Mein Gedanken; Du Meines Herzens Krönelein; Schlagende Herzen
Alberto Ginastera (Spanish): Canción Al Arbol Del Olvido; Canción A La Luna Lunanca
Fernando J. Obradors (Spanish): Con Amores, La Mi Madre; Corazon, Por Que Pasais; Al Amor
Joseph Canteloube (Occitan –provincial French language): Passo Pel Prat; Lo Fiolaire; Lou Coucut
Sizwe Banzi is Dead - Directed by the legendary Peter Brook. Performed in French with English subtitles. Starring Habib Dembélé, a former presidential candidate for the Republic of Mali, and Pitcho Womba Konga, a celebrated Congolese rap artist.
Sizwe Banzi is Dead is the second of three ‘Township Plays’ created by Athol Fugard with actors John Kani and Winston Ntshona. These plays are based on the everyday life of the urban black community in South Africa during Apartheid. Sizwe Banzi is Dead began its life in the townships before touring the world to massive critical and popular acclaim. Created at a time when every black South African over the age of 16 was required to carry an identity book, Sizwe Banzi is Dead was first performed in 1972, four years before the Sharpeville massacre, 8 years after Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Sizwe Banzi has a desperate need to provide for his family, but his passbook contains the wrong information and so prevents him from finding work. With his new friend, Buntu, he comes across a corpse lying by the side of the road, and the prospect of stealing the dead man’s papers seems to offer the only escape route.Now a classic of South African theatre, there is a universality to Sizwe Banzi is Dead that transcends its age. The play perfectly evinces the problems faced by thousands in the world today seeking free movement in this global age. It also serves as a reminder to the outside world of how Africa and its people are still being treated.
Peter Brook's reputation and influence on modern theatre is all-pervasive, with roles including Artistic Director with the Royal Shakespeare Company, director of films, including Lord of the Flies and Marat/Sade, and founder of the International Centre for Theatre Research in Paris. It’s nearly twenty years since Brook’s Mahabharata was performed in Perth and Adelaide and now Sizwe Banzi is Dead provides a rare opportunity for Sydney audiences to see the work of this visionary artist.
Director: Peter Brook; Text: Athol Fugard, John Kani & Winston Ntshona; French adaptation: Marie-Hélène Estienne; Starring: Habib Dembélé & Pitcho Womba Konga;
Lighting design: Philippe Vialatte; Set design: Abdou Ouologuem; Production: Marko Rankov.
Performed in French with English subtitles / By arrangement with Arts Projects Australia Events
SYDNEY Season
Sydney Opera House - Playhouse; 27 Nov - 9 Dec; Venue: Playhouse; Time: 8pm; Duration: 75mins; Tickets: $68 / $58.
Conversations With My Gardener (Dialogue avec mon jardinier) directed by Jean Becker - Here's a delightful comedy for Daniel Auteuil fans: " Veteran French actor Daniel Auteuil plays a successful, fifty-something Parisian artist who goes back to his roots and returns to provincial France and his childhood home. He employs an old school friend he hasn’t seen since he was a child to be the gardener. As they spend time in each other’s company they enjoy a kind of belated brotherly adolescence, that encompasses their families, their experiences, carrots, pumpkins, life, death, air travel, currant bushes, tastes and colours. And by seeing everything through each other’s eyes, they each see the world anew. Based on the novel by Henri Cueco, himself a painter with a keen eye for the simple ways of life, this is a touching tale of friendship". Distribution by Rialto Entertainment. Opens on the 8th of November, 2007.
Tell No One (Ne le dis à personne) - Written and Directed by Guillaume Canet (My Idol). Winner of 4 César Awards including Best Director and Best Actor. Based on the Harlan Coben best selling novel of the same name. Paediatric Dr Alex Beck (François Cluzet – L’Enfer) has been devastated since his childhood sweetheart and wife, Margot, was savagely murdered in the early days of their marriage eight years before. But when he receives an anonymous email, he sees a woman’s face standing in a crowd and being filmed in real time. Margot’s face….Is she still alive? And why does she instruct him to tell no one? He barely even has time to raise the lid of this Pandora’s Box before the police reopen the murder case. And, eight years down the line, the cops are determined that he will take the rap for murder. This fast paced gripping thriller also stars Marie-Josée Croze (The Barbarian Invasions), André Dussollier (A Very Long Engagement), Kristin Scott-Thomas (Gosford Park), François Berléand (The Transporter) and Nathalie Baye (Feelings). Distributed by Madman Cinema. National release date 8 November 2007.
Septembre - octobre 2007
Plats du Jour, A Journey to the Heart of French Food by William Black - “From goose fat to garlic, France seems to have it all. In a glorious culinary ramble, gastronome William Black travels the length and breadth of the country, seeking out the best food France has to offer. He falls in love with bouillabaisse by a minuscule creek over the hill from Marseilles, eats French Revolutionary bread and cake, listens to miners extol the virtues of dried cod, and revisits old haunts while musing on France and its famous love for food. William eats tête de veau and fried cow’s udder with his French fiancée's family near Orléans as they regale him with tales of feasts, flavours and the France of the past. He shares a table with the country’s most brilliant chef, Pierre Gagnaire, combs the beaches of Brittany for the freshest seafood and is chased away from a pepper festival by an enraged Basque shopkeeper. His dedication to the culinary cause knows no bounds. But this is far more than a gastro-log as William Black senses unease, rather than the supreme Gallic self-confidence he once knew, deep in the heart of French gastronomie. From the most rustic of country cooking to the hautest of cuisine, William Black takes a highly entertaining and at times irreverent journey to the heart of the world’s greatest culinary tradition. Bursting with sunshine and authentic flavours, Plats du Jour brings you the heart and soul of France”. (Bantam Press; Hardcover; RRP $49.95).
Beauty and the Beast (La belle et la bête) directed by Jean Cocteau - Cocteau's stunningly beautiful 1946 masterpiece is finally on DVD in Australia!!!: "Surrealist Jean Cocteau's interpretation of Madame Leprince de Beaumont's classic fairy tale story of the beautiful young girl who sees the true loneliness of the disfigured beast is much more than a children's story. Illustrated in live-action with surrealistic special effects and prosthetics for Jean Marais' Beast, Cocteau's artistic vision is perhaps the most visually-influential retelling of this spell-binding fantasy". RRP: $34.95. To order it on-line visit Madman Films.
A Town Like Paris by Bryce Corbett - Fleeing London, in search of adventure and determined to sample some of the famed delights of the City of Light, our hero arrives in Paris with only a suitcase and a determination to have the time of his life. He launches himself into la vie parisienne, throws himself at the local female population and quickly discovers his down-home Aussie charm has no currency in France. Like the monotonous series of rejections he receives from Parisian women, our hero’s attempts at assimilation are similarly rebuffed. Undeterred, he teams up with a bunch of like-minded ex-pats and the ensuing years pass in a blur of bachelor-inspired hedonism. Paris is their playground - and they discover, to their delight - it is a city with a seedy underbelly. As a detached observer who is nevertheless thrust into the daily business of getting by in France, the author is exposed to some of the more unfathomable idiosyncracies of the French. And just when he thinks Paris has offered him all she has to give, he meets a Paris showgirl - an Australian beauty whose sequin-clad high-kicks are the toast of the Champs Elysees. Before he knows it, he is in love … (RRP $35.00; Hachette Australia Paperback).
Orpheus, a film by Jean Cocteau (DVD) - Surrealist Jean Cocteau's retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus, the musician whose virtuoso gifts charmed all who heard his music from gods to animals, is among the most breathtaking and enigmatic films ever made. Translated from the Arcadian countryside to Paris' Left Bank in the 1950s, Orpheus (Jean Marais) is now a renowned poet past his prime. When the hot young thing on the poetry scene is killed before his eyes, Orpheus comes face to face with Death-in the guise of a Gothic dominatrix-and her leather-clad biker angels. But then Death fingers his wife Eurydice, and Orpheus must venture into her Underworld beyond the mirror to retrieve her. Released by Madman Films; $34.95.
Matisse the Master - Best known for her critically acclaimed two-volume biography of Henri Matisse - The Unknown Matisse and Matisse the Master: The Conquest of Colour - author Hilary Spurling is coming to Australia and will give a talk to Society members. She will be in conversation with Professor Roger Benjamin, a noted Australian Matisse expert from Sydney University, discussing the life and work of this giant of 20th century art. After the talk drinks will be served and the author will sign copies of her books. Places are limited, so book early. Talk starts promptly at 6pm. When: Wednesday 3 October 2007; 6pm - 7pm: Talk, 7pm - 8pm: Drinks and signing. Where: Domain Theatre, Lower Level 3. Cost: $30 (Art Gallery of NSW members), $40 (Non-Members). Bookings and enquiries: (02) 9225 1878 or click here.
Matisse's women - Hilary Spurling. From her extensive biographical research into the life of Henri Matisse and from the privileged access which she was given by Matisse's family to the archives of his letters, Hilary Spurling will discuss the fascinating subject of 'Matisse's Women', women who played such a varied and crucial role in the support and encouragement of the famous artist.When: 1pm-2pm, Thursday 4 October. Where: Centenary Auditorium, Art Gallery of New South Wales. No Bookings but seats are limited, Free Entry.
French Flair - Sorry guys, we have neglected this page a bit but we are back with a fantastic company which imports and sells an amazing range of exquisite French products. Here are more details: "French Flair is a company started by French expatriates to introduce new high quality French products to Australia and to make them part your everyday life. Together with offering French products to the Australian consumer, French Flair is partnering with Australian and French companies to introduce products, both to the French and Australian market. One of these companies is Autrepart, who has developed an original concept from products 100% made in France. They call it The Road of Scents a unique product range with different fragrances reminding us of the French Terroir (land), and taking us back in time to many precious moments spent in the French countryside. All their products are made with vegetal bases and natural components in order to guarantee their authentic image. Moreover their products are not tested on animals. In addition to the Autrepart products, you will also find some gorgeous gift hampers and home wares. With her vast experience in the food industry, Guylaine has also put together some mouthwatering treats for that special occasion or simply to satisfy your own taste buds. As you will see many of the products reflect the colours of the south of France. If you haven't experienced Provence let the aromas of lavender, red poppy, mimosa (wattle) olive, fresh herbs and many others carry you away to the countryside where Van Gogh and Cézanne painted their luminous, colourful landscapes. Of course as our business grows, so will our product range bringing a French influence to the shores of Australia without having to travel all the way to France". To view and order the French Flair's range of products visit their site at www.frenchflair.com.au.
Paris with Sandrine Voillet (DVD) and Sandrine's Paris (Book) - For lovers of Paris and Parisian history this BBC documentary and book which will guide you through 400 years of Paris' history. Unfortunately it lacks a certain incisiveness but the views of Paris are lovely and Sandrine is charming. Voici des détails: "Parisian art historian Sandrine Voillet is your guide to the tempestuous history, immortal beauty and bohemian soul of the most romantic city in the world. Sandrine celebrates the art, revolutions and characters that have combined to create this spectacular "City of Light". From the Renaissance to the French Revolution, from the construction of the Eiffel Tower to Mitterand's Grands Projets, the city has borne witness to extraordinary people and events. Surrounded by friends and fellow locals, Sandrine also explores today's Paris - a vibrant, multicultural city with a life force of its own. Treading the Haussmann boulevards, street markets and secret courtyards, she reveals what drives this most romantic, chic and elegant of cities". You can purchase the book in Australia (hardback; RRP $65.00) however the DVD is not available as yet in Australia but you can purchase it on the Amazon UK site for £13.99 (postage not included). The DVD is zoned 2 and 4 which means that you won't need a multi-zone DVD player but double check when ordering.
Godard Collection (DVDs) - Jean-Luc Godard fans rejoice!!! A number of the great idiosyncratic French film director's movies are now availble on DVD in Australia!!! The titles include: Breathless (starring Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo); Contempt (Brigitte Bardot, Jack Palance and Michel Piccoli); Alphaville (Eddie Constantine and Anna Karina); First Name: Carmen; Oh, Woe is me (Gerard Depardieu); The Little Soldier; Passion (Isabelle Huppert and Hanna Schygulla). If you are not familiar with Godard's work, here is an brief but entertaining description of the director from the actual DVD jackets: "Godard, who once said, "All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl", is one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th Century, and introduced many techniques that have since become standard fare: jump cuts, hand-held camera work, unusual camera angles, and improvised dialogue. Asked by a fellow filmmaker if he would at least admit that a film should have a beginning, middle, and end, Godard replied, "Yes, but not necessarily in that order". Godard's influence can be seen in the work of many other directors, including Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, and Quentin Tarantino. (The films are available at JB HiFi for $18.99 each, or at Borders for $19.95 each).
Mai (May) 2007
Orchestra Seats (Avenue Montaigne) - Directed and co-written by Thompson ("La Buche," "Jet Lag"), the film centres around Jessica (Cecile de France) a beautiful young woman from the provinces who comes to Paris and lands a job waiting tables at a chic bistro on fabled Avenue Montaigne, the city's nexus for art, music, theatre and fashion. Jessica's customers include a popular TV actress (Valerie Lemercier) who is courting a major Hollywood director (Sydney Pollack) for her first serious film role; a wealthy art collector (Claude Brasseur) who is about to liquidate a lifetime's worth of treasures at auction; and an illustrious classical pianist (Albert Dupontel) who is at odds with his manager/wife (Laura Morante) as to where his career is headed. Precisely because Jessica doesn't know how celebrated these people are, her guileless and completely unintimidated engagement in their lives has a transforming effect on them - and ultimately her. Film release date: 31 May, 2007
Février (February) 2007
A Day in Paris - As part of the 2007 Medici School Lecture series Dr Ian Guthridge will take us on an audio-visual guided tour talk of Paris: "After a brief survey of the history and layout of Paris, we explore Notre Dame and the Sainte Chapelle; the Louvre, d'Orsay and Cluny Museums; the Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower etc... Then, north of the city, the island Chateau of Chantilly; and west of the city, Malmaison, the private residence of Napoleon and Josephine, and Louis XIV's Versailles, if we have time - with a little music... "Seen it all before"? Then, never play a Beethoven symphony twice...!
When: Saturday 10 February, 1.30pm - 4.30pm; Where: The Theatrette of NSW Art Gallery (Domain); Price: $30 per lecture (GST included). No concessions, but 10% discount for pre-payment of the whole series. Phone: (03) 9690 6884.
French cuisine, French manners - Restaurateur Damien Pignolet of Bistro Moncur fame is the author of the highly successful and award-winning cookbook French. Associate Professor Ross Steele AM, author of The French Way, specialises in French society and culture, and was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur. Join these two Francophiles as Damien talks about ‘The Art of French Cuisine’ and Professor Steele explores the distinctive lifestyle and customs of the French.
Date: Thursday 15 February; Time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm; Venue: Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing, State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street; Cost: $17, $12 (Friends), includes refreshments. Bookings: (02) 9273 1770, bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au
Décembre 2006
The French Way: a tourist's guide to French customs, attitudes and behaviour - Ross Steele, author of The French Way, the Keys to the Behavior, Attitudes, and Customs of the French will be talking to Andrea Stretton about the French and, as the title of the event and Steele's book suggest, their customs, attitudes and behaviour. The event, which is organized by Woollahra Library, will take place on Thursday the 7th of December, at 6.30pm. Cost: $10 ($7 for Woollahra Library Friends members), tickets available at Woollahra Library, phone 9391 7100. Ticket includes a glass of champagne!!! Venue: Woollahra Council, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay. Not to be missed!!!
Novembre 2006
The Sydney French Theatre presents Territoire Sans Lumière by Yves Nilly. Starring Christian Erlenwin, Sali Torgoman, Matt Reure, JB Reure, Karine Savigny, Catherine Smith and Phillip Roberts. As in all auditions, the actors stand ready. Ready to sing, dance, and do just about anything. Without names, they are just numbers, ready to accept their fate. This is more than an audition to them...this is life itself. Performance Dates: Saturday 18 November 1.30pm; Tuesday 21 November 7pm. Where: Alliance Française, 257 Clarence Street, Sydney. Performed in French with English subtitles. Entry free, gold coin donations welcome.
Territoire Sans Lumière de Yves Nilly. Mise en scène: Matt Reure. Avec Christian Erlenwin, Sali Torgoman, Matt Reure, Karine Savigny, JB Reure, Catherine Smith et Phillip Roberts. La pièce: Territoire sans lumière ressemble une audition de music-hall. Et comme dans ces auditions, les acteurs chantent, dansent, et s'efforcent de garder un sourire crispé en travers de la figure. Ils se sont bien habillés, trop bien même, parce que cette audition ressemble aussi à la vie. Ils défilent, sans nom, avec un numéro, devant deux fonctionnaires, anonymes eux aussi. Et tout le monde chante. Titres: Anglais. Traduction: Roslyn Brandli. Infos prix : Gratuit - chapeau a la sortie. Dates & Horaires: Samedi 18 Novembre à 13h30;
Mardi 21 Novembre à 19h. Adresse: Alliance Française, 257 Clarence Street, Sydney. Comment s' y rendre? Train - Townhall.
(www.sydneyfrenchtheatre.org; info@sydneyfrenchtheatre.org; More info call 0405194349)
The Story of My Life (Mensonges et trahisons et plus si affinités...), directed by Laurent Tirard - When a public figure publishes a book on their life, its often Raphael who has written it. The discreet author is better at telling stories about other peoples lives than his own But when he starts to laboriously prepare the autobiography of a French football star, Raphael discovers Claire, his first love, whos currently living with the footballer. He is now torn between the woman he loves today, the woman he loved ten years ago, and the subject of his autobiography, with all the problems that the situation entails. Over a few days, Raphael will confront all the questions he has been carefully trying to avoid for years. Winner Best Supporting Actor - Clovis Cornillac - Cesar Awards (France). Un scénario et des acteurs épatants!!!
The Story of My Life opens at the Dendy Opera Quays, Norton St Cinemas, Palace Verona, and Cremorne Orpheum on 16th November, 2006.
Août (August) 2006
Paris: The Secret History - By Andrew Hussey (Viking, 485pp, $65 hardback). For all those interested in Paris and its history this is a fantastic Spring read. Following is Bruce Elder's short review of the book which appeared in the September 2 - 3 edition of the Sydney Morning Herald: "Andrew Hussey makes no apologies. This book is, in part, based on Peter Ackroyd's London: The Biography. The technique is to treat the city as a human being and to write about it as a living, breathing entity. So Hussey, who is head of French and Comparative literature at the University of London in Paris, has set out to tell the story of Paris - from its birth when the Parisii Celts first settled on the banks of the Seine. Hussey doesn't like present-day Paris, a fact thet is suggested by the book's final chapter heading: The Killing of Paris? But, for the rest, this is a wonderfully comprehensive and enthusiastic overview of the complex history of the city. Here are its citizens, the agonies of the two great 20th-century wars, the revolutionary impulses from 1789 through to 1968, the strange sexual night life, the flashy and the tawdry. Hussey is a fine writer and this, for anyone thinking of visiting Paris and for anyone who loves the city, is an essential purchase.
C.R.A.Z.Y directed by Jean-Marc Vallèe, is the story of a special little boy who grows into young manhood and ends up even denying his inner self to attract his father's attention. A portrait of a family that depicts the often extraordinary lives of ordinary people in search of happiness. This ode to family life in the sixties and seventies is a comic and mystical fable about a modern-day Christ-like figure. C.R.A.Z.Y exudes the beauty, the poetry and the madness of the human spirit in all its contradictions, delightful and surprising at every turn..
The film will screen at Palace Verona, Dendy Opera Quays, Dendy Newtown and Cremorne Orpheum Cinemas from August 31st.
Juillet (July) 2006
French Rendez-vous Sydney 2006 runs from June 30 to Bastille Day on July 14 and features a programme of events including GastronomiCity, to entice food lovers, Le Shopping, a bonanza of fashion and cosmetics, a series of cultural and historic lectures and exhibitions, as well as the French-A-Fair, a design showcase of home wares and lifestyle products. A fabulous family affair at Pic-Nic Au Parc in Centennial Park will feature mid festival and French Rendez-vous Sydney will culminate with Tahiti on the Seine at the Bastille Day Ball hosted by the Alliance Française. For details click here to visit the French Rendez-vous Sydney 2006 website.
All things French storm State Library of NSW - Get set for a fortnight of tasty delights as the State Library of NSW fuses with the French Rendez-vous festival to celebrate a program of 'All things French' covering style, gastronomy, wine and culture.
This unique program includes a seductive talk by author Lucinda Holdforth on French femme fatales who broke fashion rules and set sensational trends for their generation.
Lucinda’s talk will undress the likes of Marie Antoinette and fashion icon Coco Chanel, along with fellow speakers author Elaine Lewis and lecturer Chantal Chalier, for this delightful Literary France evening event on Tuesday 11 July.
Also, taste test a visual French feast with a journey into the kitchens, vineyards and cellars of top gastronomic regions in France as the State Library of NSW serves up a free lunchtime film Floyd on France, featuring the famous Keith Floyd on Friday 7 July (12:10-1:40pm at Metcalfe Auditorium, Macquarie Street Wing – bookings not required).
Event details
The French in NSW
Date: Tuesday 4 July
Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Venue: Metcalfe Auditorium, Macquarie Street Wing
Cost: $16.50, $11.00
Join Margot Riley for a special look at the history of the French community in NSW. With their entrepreneurial skills in industries from wine and wool to food and fashion, French immigrants prospered in their new homeland while adding an air of continental glamour to the local scene.
Bookings: bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9273 1770
The French way
Date: Tuesday 4 July
Time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm
Venue: Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing
Cost: $16.50, $11
Launch by Edmund Campion of Professor Ross Steele's 'key to the behaviour, attitudes and customs of the French' regarding everything from business style (formal) to pets (doted on), conversation (art form), humour (satiric, political) and of course, love (truly, madly, deeply). Ross Steele AM, Chevalier de la Ligion d'Honneur, will give a talk.
Bookings: bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9273 1770
Floyd on France - free movie
Date: Thursday 7 July
Time: 12:10pm - 1:40pm
Venue: Metcalfe Auditorium, Macquarie Street Wing
Free, bookings not required
Join world famous expert Keith Floyd as he travels through six of the great gastronomic regions of France. He explores roast chicken in Provence and mushroom omlettes in Perigord, as well as visiting vineyards and cellars in Burgundy and Brittany.
Bookings: bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9273 1770
Literary France
Date: Tuesday 11 July
Time: 5.30 pm for 6 pm
Venue: Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing
Cost: $16.50, $11
Lucinda Holdforth (ITrue pleasures: A memoir of women in Paris) journeys to Paris and takes a very personal tour through the livers, loves and losses of its celebrated women - from Colette to Coco; Elaine Lewis (Left Bank waltz: The Australian Bookshop in Paris) talks about her exceptional venture opening the first Australian bookshop in the heart of St Germain des Pres; and Chantal Chalier, teacher of French language and culture, talks about literary France translated to film.
Bookings: bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9273 1770
The Paris of Delacroix - with David Millar
Date: Tuesday 19 July
Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Venue: Metcalfe Auditorium, Macquarie Street Wing
Cost: $16.50, $11
Though socially a conservative, Delacroix was part of revolutionary Paris in the way that he painted. Beneath his burnished exterior of wit and charm, there simmered a volcanic creativity. He painted pictures of brooding atmospheres and raw emotion. The same inner self attracted him to the writings of the Romantics, and the company of such as Chopin and his partner, the bohemian writer George Sand. Speaker David Millar.
Bookings: bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9273 1770
Australian Gourmet Traveller (July 2006) - This month's issue of the Gourmet Traveller is the inaugural French issue, just in time for Bastille Day: discover Lyon's new culinary champions; Pat Nourse revels in the surf and seared foie gras of Biarritz, the "French Bondi"; an insider's guide to Paris brings you the inside run on this most romantic of cities, from the best bistros and chic boutique hotels, to fabulous galleries and a few other local secrets; and lots more. This issue is a delight for lovers of all things French (in newsagencies, $7.95).
Mai (May) 2006
Bread and Butter Theatre in association with the French School of Sydney presents The Lark by Jean Anouilh (Thursday 4 May 7.30pm in French; Friday 5 May 2pm & 7.30pm in English. Adults $20; concession $15. NIDA Parade Studio, 215 Anzac Parade, Kensington. Bookings on line at www.ticketek.com or 132849.
The Lark is the story of Joan of Arc and French playwright Jean Anouilh's version sets her on trial for her life. This production poses the question: was she a martyr, a heretic or a saint?
In his memoirs Pope Pius II recorded his impression of Joan's appearance: "When the situation was at its most dire, a young girl aged about sixteen was touched by the Holy Spirit: whether her mission was divine in nature or of human invention, I find it difficult to judge". At the time of Joan¹s felicitous arrival at Chinon in the fifteenth century, hope was exhausted and the future king of France's faction was in disarray. Joan of Arc was appropriated as a rallying point and symbol from the time of her mission right down to the present day. Her myth is trans-national simply because no other myth possesses such malleability. She is the archetypical soldier-saint; her logic is that of the martyr, logic far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. The most distinctive characteristic of the martyr is that he or she is capable of charging the atmosphere with fervour and courage among a populace that has lost the courage to push on.
Joan the young woman has been subsumed into Joan the myth. At her trial in Rouen she was at pains to deny her "shepherdess" origins, yet this is how she is most often portrayed. She believed herself to be on a crusade to sanctify her rightful king and drive the English out of France. Joan was seized upon by the loyalist faction and driven out of obscurity and onto
centre stage. When she began to be a liability, when others spoke for negotiation with the enemy and she insisted that peace could only be obtained "at the end of a lance", her troops were removed, and she herself was effectively abandoned to the English who had been baying for her blood from the time of their first encounter with her.
Joan's epic is still relevant today for it tells the story of a young and passionate patriot, moved by an ideal, manipulated by powerful elders, built up, promoted, then abandoned as a liability or deliberately martyred for a cause, which they don¹t fully appreciate. The motivations and machinations of those in power often lead to the martyrdom of the young.
Performed in French and English by talented and bilingual young actors this production is directed by Clarence Sophie Dany (acting graduate Drama Studio, BA at UNSW & NIDA directing course), designed by Alexandra Sommer and Bradley Clark (third year NIDA design), choreographed by Edith Podesta (graduate NIDA acting and movement course) and lit by Ben Anshaw (graduateCharles Sturt University).
Novembre 2005
Camille Pissarro, a retrospective exhibition - at The Art Gallery of NSW (from the 19th of November 2005 to the 19th February 2006). Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) was the only painter of the Impressionist group who participated in all eight of the historic Impressionist exhibitions held in Paris between 1874 and 1886. It was he who drafted the convention and was the principal organiser of the first exhibition. Consequently, he was regarded as a central figure of the group. He was also the most astute judge of young talent. Cézanne, Gauguin, Seurat, Signac and Matisse all benefited from his generous encouragement and advice.This exhibition, the largest by a major Impressionist artist ever to be held in Australia, comprises more than 100 works - approximately 65 paintings and 40 works on paper - lent by many of the foremost museums of the world. Not to be missed!!! To visit the website dedicated to the exhibition click here.
5 x 2 - directed by François Ozon (Under the Sand and Swimming Pool). Screening at Dendy Opera Quays and Dendy Newtown ((MA 15+). In François Ozon's new film we witness five key scenes in the life of a Parisian couple played in reverse order. Therefore, we begin with their divorce and move backwards taking in an uneasy dinner party, childbirth, their wedding day, and finally, how they first met. If you wanted to be cynical you could argue that 5x2 is a brutal, and yet, honest subversion of the archetypal love story which comments that if you want a happy ending you have to start at the end and work your way towards the beginning. Although the concept isn't original, the merits of this film - of which there are many - lie in its simplicity. The space between the five scenes is the distance between love and the knowledge that love eventually dies. By conjuring that space to life - indeed making it the very subject of the film - Ozon creates a thoughtful and adult mediation on the deterioration of love, culminating in a scene which is at first romantic, yet ultimately tragic. To read Sandra Hall's review of the film published in the SMH click here.
36 Quai des Orphèvres (directed by Olivier Marchal). One of the major French box-office hits of 2004, 36 Quai des orphèvres pits Daniel Auteuil against Gérard Depardieu in a gripping drama of two rogue cops – once friends but now mortal enemies. One is ruthlessly corrupt, the other is obsessively determined to bring him down. When their CID chief announces his retirement, he makes it clear that whichever cop can bring down an elusive heist gang will be his favoured successor. The two men take each other to the lowest of ethical and moral depths in pursuit of the chief’s job at head office – 36 Quai des Orfèvres. This is a hard-hitting gritty tale of honour and betrayal, beautifully photographed in rich, dark tones with slivers of silvery light, in the tradition of Jean-Pierre Melville and the best of French ‘film noir’. Starring: Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu, André Dussollier, Roschdy Zem, Daniel Duval and Valeria Golino. Release date: 10th of November. For screening times, visit www.yourmovies.com.au.
Août (August) 2005
Les Soeurs fâchées (Me and My Sister) - directed by Alexandra Leclère. "Two of France¹s most loved actresses join forces in the smash hit of the 2004 Christmas season in France. Martine and Louise are two estranged sisters who could not be more opposite. Martine is a successful "woman about town" who lives in Paris, frequenting the coffee shops and art galleries as if she is a character in a French twist of Sex and the City. She is cold and aloof, a victim of a loveless marriage where she is mostly to blame. Louise is a country bumpkin who lives in the Provinces. She is an eternal optimist who sees life through a glass half full. Unlike her sister who has all the trappings of success, but nothing to show for her life, Louise has written a book which is being released by a leading Parisian publisher. Now Louise is coming to Paris for the launch of her book. She is going to stay with Martine and her husband for "a while" to enjoy her fifteen minutes of fame and spend time with her sister. The scene is set for two fabulous actresses to bring these lively characters into the hearts of the audience." Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Catherine Frot and Francois Berleand. Release date: 4th of August. Will be screening at Dendy Opera Quays, Palace Academy and Palace Norton Street and Cremorne Orpheum Picture Palace.
Juillet (July) 2005
Special Bastille Day activities at the National Maritime Museum (Thursday 14th of July, 2005) - the National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour in Sydney has organized a number of special Bastille Day activities in conjunction with its new exhibition Les Génies de la Mer - Masterpieces of French Naval Sculpture (open until October 9). The activities are (as listed and described by the brochure for the event):
Bastille Day Cruise (10am - 2pm) - "Step aboard an historic cruise to Hunters Hill on the heritage ferry Lithgow. Accompany Joan Lawrence and Maureen Fry for a stroll around the stone cottages and hidden areas of this charming area once known as the French village. On return, view the new exhibition Les Génies de la Mer - Masterpieces of French Naval Sculpture. $50 ($45 Members/Concession). Price includes morning tea and lunch. Bookings essential, phone WEA 9264 2781."
Storytelling (11am, 12pm and 1pm) - "Join our very own French sailor Maurice Matelot and his imaginary rabbit René as they take you on a special Bastille Day voyage through the exhibition Les Génies de la Mer - Masterpieces of French Naval Sculpture. Be inspired by tall tales from the past: children are encouraged to be part of the storytelling. For children aged 5-10 years or the young at heart! FREE event."
French Cheese and Wine Tasting (6.15 - 8pm) - "Savour some of the foremost cheeses and wines from France as our culinary experts guide you on a French regional journey tasting the best products available in Australia. David Haviland, Managing Director of Haviland Wine Merchants and David Carr, Principal of C'est Cheese will reveal the secrets of French cheese and wine makers. A guided tour of Les Génies de la Mer - Masterpieces of French Naval Sculpture will follow. $50 ($40 Members). Bookings essential, phone 9298 3644."
For further details visit the National Maritime Museum website at www.anmm.gov.au.
Juin (June) 2005
The Chauvel Cinema in Paddington will be screening on June the 13th, 20th and 27th, as part of its "Cinematheque" series, a number of not to be missed French movie classics amongst which Alain Resnais' "Hiroshima mon amour" and "La guerre est finie", Godard’s classic "À bout de souffle", and Jean Renoir's "French Cancan". For details visit the Chauvel Cinema website at www.chauvelcinema.com.au.
Mars (March) 2005
Alliançe Francaise -  French film Festival 2005 (in Sydney from the 10th to the 23rd of March) - Yah, the French Film Festival is back!!!.The festival will open with Agnes Jaoui’s "Look at Me" (Comme Une Image). Look at Me is about a father-daughter relationship with its own peculiar dynamic. The father is a powerful and influential writer, while his daughter is struggling to become a singer. If you enjoyed Jaoui’s directorial debut in "A Taste of Others", you’ll most likely relate to "Look at Me". Another big name in French cinema is Yvan Attal ("My Wife is an Actress"), and he’s back with "…And They Lived Happily Ever After". This is an ensemble comedy about relationships (surprise!) starring some of France’s most prominent acting talent including Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emmanuelle Seigner, Alain Chabat, and Anouk Aimee.There’s more relationships under the comedic microscope in Valérie Guignabodet’s Marriages! This cheery but slightly black comedy dissects a number of couples who have gathered for a wedding. The film stars Mathilde Seigner, last seen here in "Harry, He’s Here to Help". For something a little different, you might like to try Claude Chabrol’s "The Bridesmaid". Like his previous film La Cérémonie (1995), The Bridesmaid is based on a Ruth Rendell story. The tale concerns a mysterious sculpture, and the bridesmaid of the title, who bears a striking resemblance to it. The film stars Benôit Magimel and Laura Smet. If one single actor embodies contemporary French cinema, it has to be Isabelle Huppert. Her new film is "Me and My Sister" directed by newcomer Alexandra Leclère. As the title suggests, the film is about two sisters – one cultured and refined, the other provincial and naïve – who must host a dinner party. A comedy of manners, Me and My Sister is a promising debut from Leclère. Other highlights from the festival include the return of Alain Renais (Hiroshima, Mon Amour) with "Not on the Lips", a novelty in that it’s presented as an operetta. It also features Amelie and "A Very Long Engagement" star Audrey Tautou. There’s also Sandrine Bonnaire in the bittersweet family drama, "The Giraffe’s Neck", and in the dramatic "The Light"; the period drama "Gilles’ Wife" from Frederic Fontayne ("A Pornographic Affair"); and the charming animation of "The Turning Table".
With its broad take on contemporary French cinema, the French Film Festival has established itself as a must-see on the Australian festival circuit. It presents a rare opportunity to see films that would otherwise not be released here, and presents a snapshot of what’s happening in Europe’s largest film industry. For details visit The French Film Festival site at www.frenchfilmfestival.org.
Décembre 2004
Après vous - Antoine is a Master of hotel in a Parisian brewery. One evening, while returning from work, he saves a stranger from committing suicide. Feeling guilty to have saved the life of this man, Antoine wants to help him and to repair his problems. The stranger has only one obsession, a woman named Blanche, who was the reason for the suicide attempt... Without speaking to his new friend, Antoine decides to search for Blanche. At Palace cinemas. Release date: December 18. Starring: Daniel Auteuil and Jose Garcia. For screening times, visit www.yourmovies.com.au.
"Pastis and Grappa: travels through France and Italy". An exhibition of photographs by Peter Endersbee. "Pastis and Grappa" is a photographic record of Sydney photographer Peter Endersbee's recent trip to Provence and Tuscany. Seduced by the people and vistas of these regions, Peter's mix of colour and black and white images are by turns lush and quirky. Where: Demeter Gallery, 113 Evans Street Rozelle (near the Welcome Hotel). When: Opening night: Friday 10th December, 6-8pm, and from Saturday 11th to Friday 17th December, 11am to 5pm.
Novembre 2004
 Jacques Loussier Trio at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place (Tuesday 23 November) - Renowned for their swinging fusion of jazz and classical music, Jacques Loussier Trio are masters of improvisation. This year, legendary French master pianist Jacques Loussier celebrates his 70th birthday; it is 45 years since the first live performance by the trio, and the 20th anniversary of the re-formation of the trio. With brilliant bassist Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac and master drummer André Arpino, Jacques Loussier will perform a selection of music from Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Debussy, Satie and Ravel. Jacques Loussier has spent over 40 years combining classical and modern traditions with crystalline clarity and delicacy. The distinguishing characteristic of the trio¹s concerts is the warm atmosphere created by the wit and charm with which Jacques introduces the chosen works. As one critic observed, "There was laughter and sometimes gasps from the audience as the three men in black subtly manipulated and developed melodies of the masters. Just when it had seemed the night could not get better it did." When: Tuesday 23 November at 8pm. Where: City Recital Hall, Angel Place. Tickets: A reserve: $79/$71. B reserve: $69. Concessions available to Pensioners, Seniors, Unemployed, full time Students.There is a group rate available for bookings of 6 or more tickets in A reserve. Tickets can be purchased from www.cityrecitalhall.com or telephone the box office on (02) 8256 2222.
Carla Bruni: Quelqu'un m'a dit - you may have seen the video clip for Carla Bruni's song L'excessive on SBS recently from her 2002 hit album Quelqu'un m'a dit. Well the album is now available in Australia. To read some reviews of the album visit www.fnac.com. Here is a brief biography of Bruni: "Carla Bruni est née le 23 décembre 1968 à Turin, en Italie. Elle débarque à Paris à l'âge de cinq ans. A dix neuf ans, elle arrête ses études d'art et d'architecture pour devenir modèle. Elle fait ses début dans le monde du mannequinat en 1995, en défilant notamment pour Christian Dior, Paco Rabanne, Sonia Rykiel, Versace... La même année, elle joue son premier rôle au cinéma dans Catwalk de Richard Leacock. Elle met fin à sa carrière de mannequin en 1997, et joue la même année dans Paparazzi de Alain Berberian. C'est fin 2002, que Carla Bruni se révèle en tant que chanteuse, publiant Quelqu'un m'a dit, un album encensé par la critique, réalisé par Louis Bertignac, dont elle a écrit et composé la quasi-totalité des titres."
Intimate Strangers - Now on at Palace Cinemas (Verona and Norton Street). "Because she picked the wrong door, Anna ends up confessing her marriage problems to a financial advisor named William Faber. Touched by her distress, somewhat excited as well, Faber does not have the courage to tell her that he is not a psychiatrist. From appointment to appointment, a strange ritual is created between them. William is moved by the young woman and fascinated to hear the secrets that no man ever heard...". Stars Sandrine Bonnaire, Fabrice Luchini, Michel Duchaussoy, Anne Brochet. For screening times, visit www.yourmovies.com.au.
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