NOVEMBER 2007THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FRENCH CULTURAL SERVICES IN CHICAGO
For a listing of the French Cultural Events in the U.S. and the French movies on U.S. Television
check the pages of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.
AIR FRANCE IS A PARTNER OF THE CULTURAL SERVICES OF THE EMBASSY
FILM
Reeling: The 26 th Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival
November 8-18
www.reelingfestival.org
773-293-1447- Hotline: 312-458-9059The oldest GLBT film festival in the country, Reeling features several French films in this year's edition:
- L'Amour Français. A collection of French shorts by filmmakers Sylvie Ballyot and Myriam Donasis. November 18 at 1:30 pm at Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Avenue, Columbia College.
- My Super 8 Season (2005; 74 min.). Directed by Alessandro Avellis. Two young students, witness to the 1968 upheaval in France, try to start a gay revolution. November 11 at 12:00 pm at Landmark Century Cinema, 2828 N. Clark Street.
-The Man of My Life (2006; 116 min.). Directed by Zabout Breitman. A young man befriends his gay neighbor while vacationing with his family in their country home. November 11 at 3:30 pm at Landmark Century Cinema, 2828 N. Clark Street.- One to Another (2006; 95 min.). Directed by Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold. 20-year old Lucie embarks on a tempestuous search for her recently vanished promiscuous brother Pierre. November 12 at 9:00 pm at Landmark Century Cinema, 2828 N. Clark Street.
Sponsored in part by the Cultural Services
of the French Embassy, Chicago.
Darwin 's Nightmare (2003; France-Austria-Belgium-Canada-Finland-Sweden). Directed by Hupert Sauper. An award-winning documentary (Winner of the 2004 César for best first film; nominated for an Oscar) on the devastating effect on local populations of commercial fishing of the Nile perch in Tanzania's Lake Victoria. Presented as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival. www.chfestival.org. November 6 at 8:30 pm. atFacets Multimedia, 1417 W. Fullerton Ave. www.facets.org 773-281-9075.
EARLY WARNING: The 11 th edition of the Festival of New French Cinema returns to Facets Multimedia December 7-16. Don't miss out on the only festival in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to emerging French filmmakers!
The Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N. State Street ; Tel: 312-846-2600
www.siskelfilmcenter.org
DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE:
Marseilles, Distant Daughter / Marseille, profil grec (2004; 87 min.). A documentary about the double identity of Greek immigrants in Marseilles, with French-Greek filmmaker Marco Gastine in person. November 3 at 8:00 pm and November 6 at 8:15 pm. Presented by the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center.
How Much Do You Love Me ? / Combien tu m'aimes (2005; 93 min.)? Directed by Bertrand Blier; starring Monica Bellucci, Bernard Campan and Gérard Depardieu. A nerdy office worker hooks up with a beautiful prostitute until her gangster husband comes to reclaim her. November 9-15. Check for showtimes.
Music Box Theatre
3733 N. Southport Ave. Tel: 773-871-6604
www.musicboxtheatre.com
The Gates (2007; 87 min.). Directed by Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles. A documentary about the famous Central Park exhibition by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, 26 years in the making. Opens November 2.
Alliance Française of Chicago
54 W. Chicago Avenue. Tel: 312-337-1070.
www.af-chicago.org
La Vie et rien d'autre (1989; 135 mi.). Directed by Bertrand Tavernier; starring Philippe Noiret and Sabine Azéma. A grim and moving war d rama set the aftermath of WWI. November 14 at 7:30 pm. Projected on video.
MUSIC
"French impressionism meets American jazz". A Jazz Fauré project. Chicago chanteuse Claudia Hommel presents an afternoon of jazz and cabaret with vocalist Sean Harris,Bobby Schiff at the piano, Jim Cox on bass, Tim Davis on drums and Jerry DiMuzio on sax, flute and clarinet, and a special guest appearance by French baritone Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissière with George Lepaw at the piano. Reception to follow the performance, which takes place in conjunction with the exhibit at the Smart Museum (please see "Exhibitions"). November 18 at 2:00 pm at the University of Chicago's International House, 1414 E: 59 th Street. Tickets and information: www.jazzfaure.com or 773-509-9360.
Renowned French harpist Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche appears in three recitals in the Chicago area.
-November 10 at 2:00 pm at People's Music School, 931 W. East wood. Tel: 773-784 70 32. Organized by the Orpheous Society. www.peoplesmusicschool.org
-November 16 at 7:00 pm at Dixon chapel, Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington Street. Tel: 312-336-4548.
-November 18 at 3:00 pm at Ministry for Performing Arts, 230 S. Laflin.
Soprano Amy Conn and pianist Rick Ferguson perform French songs by Fauré and Tailleferre, with prog ram commentary in French. Presented by the Alliance Française of the North Shore at the Wilmette Public Library Auditorium. http://alliancefn.wlkcommunity.com November 19 at 1:00 pm.
- David Guetta at Crobar November 21. www.crobar.com 1543 N. Kigsbury.
French electronica around town:
- Gojira, an extreme French metal band, at House of Blues November 7. 329 N. Dearborn. www.hob.com 312-923-2000
For information on performances by French jazz singer and bass player Cécile Savage in the Chicago area, please visit www.cecilesavage.com.
Handel's Julius Ceasar, featuring countertenor David Daniels in the title role, soprano Danielle de Niese as Cleopatra of Egypt and countertenor Christophe Dumaux as her brother, will be led by the first female conductor in Lyric Opera's history: Emmanuelle Haïm, a prolific musician and conductor from France. Don't miss this historical debut! November 2, 6, 11, 15, 19, 24, 28 and December 1. www.lyricopera.org 20 N. Wacker Drive. Tel: 312-332-2244.
LECTURES
French-Greek filmmaker Marco Gastine (see "FILM") speaks about immigration issues at the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center November 4.
Visit www.hellenicmuseum.org for details.
EXHIBITIONS
Looking and Listening in 19th Century France." Prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures and music from 19 th century France. Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Green wood. Tel: 773-702-0200. www.smartmuseum.uchicago.edu November 6 through March 23, 2008.
SOFA. The annual international exhibition of functional and decorative art features work from several French galleries and takes place at Navy Pier, November 1-4. www.sofaexpo.com
THEATRE
Farewell Umbrella / Au revoir parapluie . The stunning artistry of James Thiérrée's physical circus theatre returns to Chicago for a limited engagement. November 21 – December 1 st at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Avenue. www.chicagoshakes.com Not to be missed!
Photo: Richard Haughton
It's Only the End of the World by Jean-Luc Lagarce. Presented by TUTA Theatre. A young man with a terminal illness returns to his estranged family for a Sunday evening dinner. Don't miss this U.S. premiere by one of the most acclaimed French playwrights of the second half of the 20 th century, and join theatre audiences around the world celebrating 2007 as "L'Année Lagarce." November 24 – December 22, with a reception sponsored by the French Cultural Services on November 30. At the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street. Tickets: www.tutato.com or 847-217-0691
The Miser by Molière. Presented by Northlight Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd. 847-673-6300. www.northlight.org.
Through November 11.
NEWS FROM FRANCE
"Vwa Lakay: The Voice from Home." Frantz Rémy, Patrick Augustin and other Haitians present music, news, and culture from the diaspora as well as the motherland, in Creole and French. Fridays from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on WHPK 88.5 FM.
"The Old Songs" Traditional and folk music from North America, the British Isles and France. Mondays 4:00 – 5 :00 p.m. on WHPK 88.5 FM.
TV5, The International Channel: prog rams in French from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Africa and Canada. Around the clock throughout the United States. Now available on TV via satellite. Information: 1-888-902-5322 or 303-267-5801. http://www.tv5.org or www.i.channel.
Le Journal de 20h de France 2 (in French with English Subtitles):
- Monday through Friday from 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on RCN, channel 65 on Chicago Cable.
- Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. on COMCAST channel 240 on Chicago cable.
Radio France International: http://www.rfi.fr For information on Francophone music, visit RFI Musique at http://www.rfimusique.com
FRANCOPHONE GATHERINGS
Alliance Française of Chicago : please visit the website for detailed information on the monthly discussion groups Café conversation, Café littérature, Café Poésie, Café Théâtre, French Blues Café and Café Philosophie: www.af-chicago.org .
Wednesdays from 6:15 to 10:00 p.m. Informal gathering of Francophiles and Francophones at Portillo restaurant, 100 W. Ontario. Information at 312-255-0567.
Groupe Professionnel Francophone . Francophones from various professions meet for cocktails, French conversation and networking in French. Great Street Restaurant, Renaissance Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive. The last Thursday of every month, starting at 5:30 pm www.gpfchicago.org; Tel: 773.525.5776.
Alliance Française of the North Shore. Two café conversation groups monthly. Visit website http://alliancefn.wlkcommunity.com.
Alliance Française of DuPage County . Please visit www.afdupage.com for a listing of conversation groups, outings, lectures and other social activities in French.
"Les Bavards," a monthly francophone dinner and converstation group in DesPlaines. Information: lesbavards@yahoo.com or http://lesbavardsfrancophones.blogspot.com/ - Tel: 847-698-7436.
"Les Bavards du Nord,” a monthly francophone lunch and conversation group in Buffalo Grove. http://lesbavardsfrancophones.blogspot.com/ or lesbavardsdunord@yahoo.com Tel: 847-921-7864.L'Institut Francophone. Weekly francophone gathering, every Monday at Latitude, 4500 North Lincoln Avenue, from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Contact groupe.de.lundi@gmail.com to be on the mailing list
For a list of activities organized by l'UFEC, (l'Union des Français à l'Etranger de Chicago) please visit their website at www.ufec.org .
