Fantastic French Films to Feast on Over the Holidays

Scene from The Parisian Agency

I’m perpetually on the hunt for film and book recommendations, even though I have a long list of both that I’ll probably never get through. At the end of each year, however, I usually pick up the pace of my media consumption. The weather in Michigan keeps me away from…

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November Potpourri: Burials, Bangles, Blues, Books, and More

Chocolate fashion

At the end of each month, I select a handful of fun and informative Francophone news items that have come across my screen. Here are my picks for November 2021. First Black Woman Enshrined in the Panthéon Located in the heart of Paris’ Latin Quarter, the Panthéon honors many of…

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Julie Gautier’s Ama, Stunning Underwater Dance of Strength and Courage

Julie Gautier in Ama

Humankind’s penchant for continually pushing the limits of creativity, science, and physical achievement never ceases to amaze me. You will find a shining example of this powerful predilection in the diminutive French free diver, Julie Gautier. Gautier was born on Réunion Island, surrounded by the Indian Ocean. She is a…

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Photojournalist Jonas Bendiksen Risked his Reputation Warning the World

Veles Hackers

For a period of 15 days at the end of every summer, Perpignan, France hosts one of the world’s most prestigious photojournalism festivals. Photographers from around the globe come to Visa pour l’Image to exhibit their work and immerse themselves in the work of their peers. Galleries spring up across…

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Little Red Riding Hood, An Insanely Popular Tale from France

Little Red Riding Hood, Doré

One is hard-pressed to think of a tale as widely known and with as many versions as Little Red Riding Hood. First published in France, in 1697 the story remains popular to this day. It’s difficult to imagine any piece of modern-day writing receiving as much recognition. What is it…

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September Potpourri: Arches, Ambassadors, Elections, and Addidas

Arc de Triomphe Wrapped

At the end of each month, I select a handful of fun and informative Francophone news items that have come across my screen. Here are my picks for September 2021. It’s a Wrap In mid-September, one of Paris’ star attractions received a new skin. The massive Arc de Triomphe is…

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North by Shakespeare, An Underdog Defies 500 Years of Literary Doctrine

North by Shakespeare

We all love underdogs: the urban breakdancer that one day makes it on Broadway; the business school dropout that becomes a millionaire; the single parent who takes on the school board and wins; the whistleblower who exposes corporate or governmental corruption. Yet few of us have the stamina to undertake…

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