Un Point c'est tout

👣 If you're traveling in the French countryside, chances are you'll come across one of the many prehistoric caves. There are so many, especially in the Dordogne and in the south-east of the country. As beautiful as their millennial paintings are, there is very little we can know about the inhabitants of these caves. Prehistory = no written records. Yet archaeo- and anthropologists have managed to gather an impressive amount of knowledge. It's even nicer to enjoy the paintings when you know a little more about the cavemen who made them! Join this week's conversation on https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

🎨 To commemorate Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), numerous museums in France, Spain, the United States and Italy opened exhibitions, focusing on different aspect of his life. Quite a rich life. Living mainly in Spain and France, Picasso revolutionized the arts in many ways. The most notorious revolution is undeniably cubism, where lines, perspectives, shapes, POV,… everything has been reinvented. Let's explore his work and legacy in this week's conversations (and April 27th, 2023, Focus Group on LES DEMOISELLES D'AVIGNON): https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

🖋 The Musée du Quai Branly in Paris has just unveiled its new exhibition: "Léopold Sédar Senghor and the arts" (until Nov 19, 2023). This major figure in literature and politics lived both in Senegal and in France throughout the entire 20th century. He spent time with other giants such as Aimé Césaire, Georges Pompidou, Pablo Picasso and many others, constantly advocating for the coming together of all cultures. Let's explore his work and legacy in this week's conversations: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

🤡 The art of mime is as old and international as the theater itself. But one artist has created a specific character now inseparable from the city of Paris: the one with white makeup, lipstick and beret that you may (probably not) see performing in front of the Eiffel Tower. This visionary mime, Marcel Marceau was born exactly a century ago, on March 22, 1923, and died in 2007. Let's have a minute of silence in his honor. Join the conversation about "L'art du mime" this week: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

☀️ This name, Brigitte Bardot, is much more than a person. Like Marylin Monroe or Marlon Brando, it's become a myth, the BB myth. Icon of a generation of young people in search of freedom: in cinema, along the French New Wave (i.e.: Godard's "Le Mépris"), in music, with artists/partners such as Serge Gainsbourg, in fashion, etc… Using her brand, she later became the leading figure in animal welfare to this day. A biopic is in preparation. Join the conversation about BB this week, or about "Le Mépris" on March 23rd, 2023: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

Related videos: French New Wave, Serge Gainsbourg, French Riviera, Champagne, Colette

🎬 Watch Jean-Luc Godard's "Le Mépris" (The Contempt) in the US: https://amzn.to/3EWYclO , in the UK: https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-le-mepris-1963-online

☝️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider:

🇫🇷 French Conversation Group meets weekly in Los Angeles, New York or online. It's meant for non native speakers (beginners, intermediate, advanced) to practice their French and have fun. You're more than welcome to join! Check out this link for more info: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

💥 50 B.C., a small village in Brittany is the last to resist the Roman invasion. Astérix and Obélix, with the help of the villagers (and a little magic potion) continue to prevent the great Julius Caesar from finally declaring all of Gaul conquered. It is with this loosely historical and very comical premise that René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo managed, them, to conquer the hearts of generations of readers.

Related episodes: Le Petit Nicolas (https://youtu.be/LTeAmE0lYd4), L'Histoire de France (https://youtu.be/Rlba7ZBoNNc)

📕 Read Astérix in the US: https://amzn.to/3SrtF5d , in the UK: https://amzn.to/3SrtF5d

☝️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider:

🇫🇷 French Conversation Group meets weekly in Los Angeles, New York or online. It's meant for non native speakers (beginners, intermediate, advanced) to practice their French and have fun. You're more than welcome to join! Check out this link for more info: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

😴 There couldn't be a better moment in time to talk about Paul Lafargue's manifesto "The Right to Be Lazy" (1880). With the protests taking place in France against the pension reform, as well as the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence replacing more and more jobs, should the debate be about the right to work or the right to to be lazy?

📕 US: "Le Droit à la paresse" on Amazon in French for free: https://amzn.to/3XWTM5b or in English: https://amzn.to/3kcM6xF

☝️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider:

🇫🇷 French Conversation Group meets weekly in Los Angeles, New York or online. It's meant for non native speakers (beginners, intermediate, advanced) to practice their French and have fun. You're more than welcome to join! Check out this link for more info: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

🎥 Characterized as a "mainstream" New Wave director, Chabrol was certainly one of the most prolific of his time. He was fascinated by Alfred Hitchcock, and through a career of over 50 years, became the master of soft psychological thrillers, with mystery, crime and and good pinch of gastronomical feasts.

🎬 Sign up for Amazon Prime Video: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/primesignup/ref=acph_piv?tag=frenchconve0c-21 (affiliate link)

☝️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider:

🇫🇷 French Conversation Group meets weekly in Los Angeles, New York or online. It's meant for non native speakers (beginners, intermediate, advanced) to practice their French and have fun. You're more than welcome to join! Check out this link for more info: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

🥖 Why is the French baguette so good? Excellent question. The secret lies in the simplicity of the recipe and the intricacy of a craft that has taken forever to perfect. The artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread was recently listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Put on your beret, get some camembert and let's talk about this unbeatable addition to the perfect breakfast, lunch and dinner.

🙉 Everything you need to know (and a game) about the baguette, with Google Arts & Culture: https://artsandculture.google.com/project/baguette

☝️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider:

🇫🇷 French Conversation Group meets weekly in Los Angeles, New York or online. It's meant for non native speakers (beginners, intermediate, advanced) to practice their French and have fun. You're more than welcome to join! Check out this link for more info: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com

✒️ Born 150 years ago, on January 28, 1873, the French novelist Colette is very celebrated this week in France. And rightly so. This very original writer had a tumultuous personal and creative life at the turn of the 20th century. And while she didn’t consider herself a feminist, she has certainly been seen as a feminist icon as well as a groundbreaking author for decades to come.

🎬 Watch "Colette" with Keira Knightley on Netflix US: https://www.netflix.com/title/80240244

☝️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider:

🇫🇷 French Conversation Group meets weekly in Los Angeles, New York or online. It's meant for non native speakers (beginners, intermediate, advanced) to practice their French and have fun. You're more than welcome to join! Check out this link for more info: https://www.frenchconversationgroup.com