France in focus

By FRANCE 24 English

France in focus episodes

August 27, 2021 French youth: Politically active but not voting
According to the latest figures, just 13 percent of 18-24 year olds turned out to vote in the 2021 municipal elections in France. Yet, rather than a sign of apathy, this lack of engagement seems more akin to an act of defiance. Especially when it comes to addressing their primary concern – the environment. To hear more about it, we meet activist and entrepreneur, Flora Ghebali, who’s released an essay entitled “My generation will change the world”.
13 min
July 23, 2021 Paris nightlife adapts to Covid-19 era
With nightclubs finally reopening across France, we're focusing on the recovery of Paris's nightlife from Covid-19. With the coronavirus still in circulation, revellers now have to prove themselves Covid-free before even reaching the dance floor and indoor venues are limited to 75 percent capacity. But Parisians have found other ways to party. Among those who helped beat the pandemic blues is cabaret-style drag act Très Mixity, who staged a nightly show from the windows of a Montmartre building. We went to meet them.
13 min
July 16, 2021 Camping in France: From cheap and cheerful to glamping
This week, with the summer holidays upon us, we're going camping! There are nearly 8,000 campsites in France, with close to 900,000 separate spots to pitch a tent. The love affair between the French and this cheap but cheerful form of holiday has a long history – we take a closer look. There's also been a recent surge in sales of camping cars, with more than 500,000 such vehicles now in circulation in France. They allow the owner to hit the open road and the sack in the very same space.
13 min
July 02, 2021 A literary legend: The life and legacy of Marcel Proust
France is marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of famed novelist Marcel Proust. He penned much of his greatest work, the seven-volume saga "In Search of Lost Time", along the shores of Cabourg, in Normandy. Under the fictional name of Balbec, the town was put on the literary map. To find out more about Cabourg's Proustian legacy, and Proust's short but hugely influential career, we take you to The Villa of Time Found, whose immersive exhibit takes visitors on a sensory trip back in time.
13 min
June 25, 2021 Cannabis in France: Weeding out the facts from the fiction
Cannabis itself remains illegal in France, but in recent months its "wellness" derivative, CBD, has become something of a green Eldorado. So where exactly is the line between therapeutic, medical and recreational use? We take a closer look. And to find out more about the use of cannabis for medical purposes, we speak to hospital psychiatrist Nicolas Authier. In March 2021, with the health minister by his side, he signed the country's first ever cannabis prescription as part of a limited, nationwide trial.
13 min
June 11, 2021 France's baccalaureate exam gets a shake-up
This week, we're focusing on France's end-of-high-school diploma, the baccalaureate. Two school years of Covid-19 disruption have taken their toll on pupils all around the world. But for French teens, the pandemic chaos was only made worse by the fact that it came in the midst of a long-awaited four-year reform of the country's school-leaving system. We take a closer look and hear from some of the pupils affected.
13 min
June 04, 2021 The impact of Covid-19 on HIV care in France
It's been 40 years since HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was first detected. At the time, French scientists and doctors played a major role in isolating and understanding the virus. With at least 173,000 people still living with HIV nationwide today, research continues into finding a vaccine and a cure, despite somewhat limited funds. To find out more about the situation in France four decades on and the impact of Covid-19 on caring for HIV patients, we speak to Aurélien Beaucamp, president of the French NGO AIDES.
14 min
May 28, 2021 Leaving Paris: What's behind the exodus?
This week we're in the heart of Paris, a city that has attracted artists, philosophers, romantics and young hopefuls over the centuries. But in recent years, and especially since the arrival of Covid-19, millions of French people who were once proud to call this city home are now packing their bags and leaving the city of lights. We meet some of the Parisians who want to leave and we examine the consequences of this exodus on the price of real estate.
11 min
May 21, 2021 France's love affair with restaurants
This week, we're happily ensconced at a Parisian café terrace, as we celebrate the partial reopening of the country's bars and restaurants! The French are rekindling what is a long-standing love affair with café culture. We meet Alain Fontaine, who is at the forefront of that campaign, as well as being the president of the French Association of Master Restaurateurs. He tells us more about how they've prepared for this long-awaited comeback and about the challenges restaurants and cafés still face.
12 min
May 07, 2021 Is France's Covid-19 vaccination campaign up to scratch?
This week, we're putting the Focus on the French government's Covid-19 vaccination strategy, as it comes under criticism for a sluggish rollout. We're at an arts centre that has been converted into the largest of the 24 inoculation hubs in Paris. Every day, up to 1,000 people can be vaccinated at the centre, free of charge – as long as enough doses are available.
12 min