France in focus

By FRANCE 24 English

France in focus episodes

April 18, 2023 Autism diagnosis: An uphill battle
For years, autism was underdiagnosed in France because of a lack of medical training for professionals. Now adults, thousands of people on the autism spectrum have had to spend years waiting for a diagnosis and try to adapt to life without one. They spoke to Sonia Baritello and Jonathan Walsh about their long, uphill battle.
13 min
April 11, 2023 Incest in France: The mothers facing a nightmare battle to protect their children
In France, mothers face a nightmare battle to protect their children after they accuse the father of incest. While police and social services investigate, these mothers are forced to respect custody arrangements or face fines and even prison sentences. They are undermined and labelled as "over-protective", "manipulative" and desperate to gain exclusive custody, while their children have to spend weekends and holidays with their accused perpetrators. Some end up breaking the law to protect their children.
13 min
March 21, 2023 From Paris to the countryside: Urban exodus, three years after lockdown
In March 2020, Paris emptied as the first Covid-19 lockdown was announced. City dwellers fled and sought refuge in the countryside. Three years later, what has become of those Parisians who embarked on a new way of life? And how has the arrival of these "neo-rurals" affected the local landscape? Our team went looking for the answers in the Perche regional park in north-western France, an area where many Parisians have settled.
12 min
March 07, 2023 Women and retirement in France: A lifetime of inequality
Since January, millions of people have taken to the streets across France in protest at the government's pension reform plans. Women have been unmissable and essential to the demonstrations. Indeed, retirement reflects one's career, but it also reveals a lifetime of inequality: in France, women's pensions are 40 percent lower than those of men. How does this happen? When is the die cast for French women? FRANCE 24's Catherine Viette and Julie Chouteau take a closer look in this special edition of France in Focus.
13 min
February 28, 2023 English-speaking comedy takes on the French stand-up scene
This week, we're focusing on those who brave the stage in the hope that we'll be left rolling in the aisles. French comedy clubs are frequently full for one-man shows, and there's an Anglophone pack of stand-uppers eager to make France titter and giggle. We went to meet two of them.
13 min
February 21, 2023 Ukrainian refugees in France: Schoolchildren in exile, one year on
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced millions of people, mostly women and children, to flee their homes since February 24, 2022. Nearly five million of them are believed to have escaped abroad, forcing them to integrate into a new country as they leave behind the life they were used to. A year later, we went to visit a school in Strasbourg in eastern France, where several dozen Ukrainian refugees are building a new future for themselves, not far from the European Parliament.
13 min
February 07, 2023 Meet the kings and queens of Paris: Inside France's drag artist boom
The world of drag exploded into popular culture in France after the French version of the "Drag Race" TV show was broadcast last year. In this programme, we meet some of the country's drag artists who aim to entertain, but also educate. Minima Gesté is a Parisian drag queen who quit her day job as an engineer to commit herself fully to the art form. We hear how she fights against critics, raises awareness and lights up stages across the capital.
13 min
January 31, 2023 French city of Marseille struggles to provide decent housing to residents
In France, between 450,000 and 600,000 people live in accommodation that is deemed not fit for purpose. The southern city of Marseille is particularly affected. Our reporters Julia Guggenheim and Jonathan Walsh met local residents, four years on from the tragedy in Marseille's central rue d'Aubagne, where eight people died after two buildings collapsed. We also speak to Kevin Vacher, an activist for decent housing in Marseille.
12 min
January 17, 2023 Paris 2024 Olympics: Will the French capital rise to the challenge?
Organisers of the 2024 Olympics are racing to get the French capital ready for the event. For athletes it's a chance to win gold, while for Paris it's a golden opportunity to shine. But as construction work continues, making the necessary changes to an already troubled transport system is proving problematic. Meanwhile, ensuring that the sports facilities and the streets are both safe and secure is another headache. We take a closer look and speak to Étienne Thobois, head of the Paris 2024 Olympic Committee.
14 min
January 09, 2023 Hunting in France: Fatal accidents lead to polarising debate over security
Hunting remains one of the most divisive issues within French society. Today, just under one million people hunt in France, but despite the number dwindling in recent years, the hunting lobby still remains powerful. While many hunters defend their activity, fiercely, their opponents decry what they see as a brutal and dangerous practice.
13 min