09 novembre 2014

Bulletin mensuel - novembre 2014

Chers Amis,

Over the next few weeks there are a number of events with a French connection taking place in Belfast. They range from a walk in the Mournes to a special screening in the Strand Cinema and a play telling the story of Jacques Brel in the Lyric to name but a few. Let's start with our own event ….


The next meeting of the Cercle Français de Belfast will be on ….

mercredi 12 novembre 2014
à 19h.30
in Dark Horse Coffee House,
30-34, Hill Street Belfast BT1 2LB

Topic : Le tour de France des pâtisseries
Speakers : Hélène GUILLET et Philip McGRORY

They’re back! After last year’s very successful double-act, Hélène and Philip return to take us on a gastronomic tour of France’s most famous pâtisseries.



Une balade in the Mournes

On Saturday 8th November you are invited to join BreizhEire (the Breton- Irish music society) for a walk in the Mournes.

Randonnée  à  Slieve Donard dans les Mourne Mountains le Samedi 8 Novembre, rendez-vous à Donard Park (dans le parking, au drapeau breton), Newcastle, à 11h. Apportez votre pique-nique, de l'eau, des bonnes chaussures et un sac de couchage
Meet at 11 am (sharp) at Donard Park (look for the breton flag in the car park) in Newcastle, Co. Down. Bring a picnic, water, water proof clothing and some good walking boots/shoes.
Whatever the weather you will be assured of good exercise, good fun, good company, good craic and of course good music.



Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris

Thanks to Maude, Alison and Claire who have been in touch to tell me that the play
“Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris”
is running in the
Lyric Theatre, Belfast from 11th-15th November.

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris’ is a unique piece that was last performed at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in 1980.  It was an overwhelming success in its original off-Broadway production back in 1968 and in subsequent runs in Sydney, Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin. Time Out New York dubbed it “The best musical revue ever!”  Jacques Brel himself is not only considered a master of the modern chanson but Brel's much-translated songs have influenced generations of artists.

Claire from the play's production company (Blunt Fringe) also tells me that everyone who comes to the Opening Night (11th Nov) is invited to a Hennessy drinks reception + the chance to WIN a VIP stay at Ballygally Castle. Furthermore if you book as a large group of 11+  there is a reduction of 25% which would mean that tickets would be only £13.10 on Wed/Thur night and Sat matinee.


Joyeux Noel at the Strand.

Merci Sheila, who emailed to let me know that on
Tuesday 9th December
there will be a special screening of 'Joyeux Noel'
in the Strand Arts Centre, 156 Holywood Road, Belfast BT4.
Joyeux Noel, which is a 2005 French film about the World War I Christmas truce of December 1914, depicted through the eyes of French, Scottish and German soldiers. On Christmas Eve during world War I, the Germans, French, and Scottish fraternize and get to know the men who live on the opposite side of a brutal war, in what became a true lesson of humanity. Tickets £10 includes drinks reception before the movie. All money raised will be donated to help run Four Corners Festival 2015 (www.fourcornersfestival.com).
For more information and to book see ...



French films at QFT in November

Fri 14 – Mon 17 Nov

Playtime

Dir: Jacques Tati
Cast: Jacques Tati, Barbara, Dennek, Rita Maiden
France/Italy 1967
2 hrs 4 mins
comedy

Newly restored and considered by many to be Jacques Tati’s masterpiece, PlayTime is
a perfectly orchestrated city symphony. Shot on 70mm on a huge constructed set of concrete, glass and steel, the film was the most ambitious project Tati ever took on.

Monsieur Hulot has a job interview - but before he can worry about impressing his
future employer, he’ll need to find them first. Landing in a reimagined modernist Paris,
he has to navigate endless corridors, slippery floors, sinking chairs, sliding doors and misleading reflections in a high-tech corporate labyrinth where organised chaos reigns and Hulot sticks out as
a misaligned cog in the machinery of modern life.


Sat 22 Nov, 1pm

False Movement
UK Premiere

Dir: Christophe Cousin
Cast: Aure Atika, Zacharie Chasseriaud, Antoine L’écuyer
France/Canada 2014
1 Hr 25 Mins
Drama
Subtitled
Age: 15+

Victor feels adrift. Uprooted by his mother from Paris to his new home in Quebec City, he’s still reeling from the recent death of his father. One day while skipping class, Victor stumbles upon a classmate’s suicide. A touching coming-of-age film, False Movement is a modern story of grief, connection and the stories we tell ourselves.


Sat 22 Nov, 3pm

The Good Life

Dir: Jean Denizot
Cast: Zacharie Chasseriaud, Nicolas Bouchaud, Jules Pélissier
France 2013
1 Hr 33 Mins
Adventure
Subtitled
Age: 15+

This spin on the coming-of-age tale tells the story of 16-year-old Sylvain, growing up in the Loire Valley and living off the official grid with his father for reasons he is starting to realise are more pressing than philosophical. His doubts take form with his first budding love, but the film is rewardingly optimistic, seeing possibilities instead of just pitfalls.


Sat 6 Dec, 3.00pm

La Grande Illusion

Dir: Jean Renoir
Cast: Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Pierre Fresnay
France 1937
1 Hrs 54 Mins
Drama/War
Subtitled

Jean Renoir’s masterpiece is one of the greatest anti-war films ever made, with a message that rings as true today as it did almost 80 years ago. Rightly considered one of the greatest pacifist films of all time. La Grande Illusion has a humanitarian resonance that extends far beyond its anti-war message. Following the adventures of a group of prisoners of war and their heroic bid for freedom, their travails are depicted with compelling detail and a dark wit.


Sun 21 Dec, 3.30pm

Joyeux Noel
(MERRY Christmas)

Dir: Christian Carion
Cast: Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet
France/Germany/UK/Belgium/Romania/ Norway 2005
1 Hrs 56 Mins
Drama/History
Subtitled

One of the happier moments of the Great War is recounted in this warm-hearted film that tells the story of the 1914 Christmas truce on the Western Front. Rising above the horrors that surrounded them, on Christmas Eve 1914 Germans, British and French troops all laid down their arms, to exchange gifts, sing carols and play football.


For full details of QFT's Programme see...


A bientôt
Phillip