arts24

He may have made a name for himself in light-hearted British rom-coms like "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "About a Boy" and "Notting Hill", but Hugh Grant has undergone a startling transformation over the last decade, rebranding himself as a character actor in darker roles. His latest outing in "Heretic" is certainly in that vein; FRANCE 24's culture editor Eve Jackson caught up with him at the film's Paris premiere, where he told her why playing the baddie is more fun. We also check out a new version of blockbuster musical "Les Misérables" as the production returns to the stage in Paris after more than 30 years, while photography exhibition "No Woman's Land" brings us the portraits and stories of the women living under what the UN has called "gender apartheid" since the Taliban came back to power in 2021.

The multi-faceted performer Dorothée Munyaneza has adapted Kae Tempest's play "Hopelessly Devoted" for the stage, in a French-language production at the Bouffes du Nord theatre. She tells us why she wanted to explore many different forms of love in her version "Inconditionelles", and how the emotion can be a powerful liberating force, whether it exists behind bars or in a time of war. The Rwandan-British artist also reflects on revisiting historical pain and injustice in her performances, the explosive potential of the young arts scene in Rwanda and the importance of injecting joy and beauty into her creations.

French director Michel Hazanavicius decided that an animated feature was the best approach for his latest film, which follows the trajectory of a baby thrown from a train headed for Auschwitz. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why the fairy-tale tone of "The Most Precious of Cargoes" adds to its poignancy, and why this fable is worth telling many decades later. We also discover an up-and-coming talent in French filmmaker Agathe Riedinger, as her Cannes début "Wild Diamond" impresses with its timely subject matter and specifically female insight. Plus we learn more about musician Pharrell Williams, as his life is rendered in Lego form in the documentary "Piece by Piece", while Afghan women tell their own story in "Bread and Roses", a courageous account of life under the Taliban.

After losing his home, along with countless friends and family, Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha escaped Gaza with his wife and three children. Now in exile, the award-winning writer is on a mission to share the stories of those left behind. He speaks to FRANCE 24’s Culture Editor, Eve Jackson, about documenting the situation through social media, publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times, and his poetry. Abu Toha is presenting his latest work, Forest of Noise, at Paris' Maison de la poésie as part of his tour. The collection, written since the October 7th attacks and the ongoing war in Gaza, explores the personal and collective impact of the conflict. His debut collection, Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear (2022), won multiple awards for its portrayal of life in Gaza.

This week, Marjorie Hache speaks with award-winning French-Canadian pianist Alexandra Stréliski about her new album "Neo-Romance", which she is currently touring in France. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Hampus Lindwall tells us about American avant-garde composer and filmmaker Phill Niblock, who passed away earlier this year. Lindwall, along with drone metal guitarist and composer, will pay tribute to Niblock on November 25 at L’Église de Saint-Esprit in Paris. We also take a look at U2’s new release, "How to Reconstruct an Atomic Bomb".

His risky market trades at French bank Société Générale saw Jerôme Kerviel convicted of breach of trust and forgery in 2008. Now, the docu-series "Breaking the bank: One trader, 50 billion" revisits his story. Director Fred Garson tells us why he wanted to hear Kerviel's point of view, as well as accounts from his colleagues at the bank, and discusses the psychological investigation within the series. Also on the show: Dheepthika Laurent tells us why author Marlon James's adaptation of his own material "Get Millie Black" is a must-watch this month. Plus we check out the spectacular series "Dune: Prophecy", a prequel to the 2021 film, which zooms in on the Harkonnen sisters fighting for the future of mankind.

This year's Booker Prize winner Samantha Harvey speaks to FRANCE 24's Culture Editor Eve Jackson about her wonder-filled space novel "Orbital". They discuss climate change, fiction's role in politics and Elon Musk's space endeavors.

It's been 24 years since Russell Crowe stepped into a dusty arena as the mighty Maximus. Now, Ridley Scott has returned to his blockbuster hit for a sequel starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen. Film critic Emma Jones tells us why it's a spectacularly entertaining time at the cinema. We also discuss the documentary made by an Israeli-Palestinian collective about forced displacements in the West Bank, and Emma tells us more about Demi Moore's big comeback in "The Substance". French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat has tapped into some timely female anxieties for this body horror, which won the best screenplay prize at the Cannes Film Festival. And we check out a promising début from Corsican filmmaker Julien Colonna, as he returns to the island of his birth for "The Kingdom".

She was on the show back in June to discuss her bilingual viral comedy sketches about the French and English that have millions of views. Tatty Macleod is the ultimate FRANCE 24 guest who fits right in here in our “franglais” world. She’s back as she’s just moved to Paris from London and she’s got three dates coming up in the city of lights at the Théâtre de l'Atelier. The British comedian speaks to FRANCE 24’s culture editor Eve Jackson about starting a new chapter in Paris, the difference between French and British men and using her French-dar.

In this music show on arts24, Jennifer Ben Brahim is joined on set by American-Haitian multi-instrumentalist Leyla McCalla. She’s on tour with her fifth studio album “Sun Without the Heat”. It blends sounds from the diaspora – Afrobeat, Ethiopian modalities, Brazilian tropicalism, folk and American blues. The title of the record is a reference to a 1857 Frederick Douglass speech made six years before the Emancipation Proclamation. The songs on the record juxtapose grief and joy and despite being released in the spring, it reflects the current mood in the aftermath of the US presidential election.