DECEMBER 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
Facets Multimedia
1517 W. Fullerton Avenue
Tel: 773-281-4114
www.facets.org11th Annual Festival of New French Cinema
December 7-13Your favorite French event of the fall is back! Don’t miss the opportunity to discover France's next generation of film directors, actors and writers at the only festival in the country dedicated exclusively to emerging French cinema. Make sure you get to meet guest filmmaker Stéphane Allagnon, who will be here to introduce his first feature Ill Wind, an appealingly moody caper. And don't miss out on a panel discussion at the Alliance Française on sex and cinema (please see "Lectures").
Below is the list of films. Please visit the festival website for detailed information: www.facets.org
The Price to Pay
Directed by Alexandra Leclère,
With Nathalie Baye, Christian Clavier and Gérard Lanvin. December 7 at 7:00 pm.
"Affords some genuine comic mileage, with a steady undercurrent of melancholy and frustration." -Variety
Those Who Remain
Directed by Anne Le Ny ; starring Emmanuelle Devos and Vincent Lindon. December 12 at 7:00 pm.
"A haunting debut…" -Variety
"Sensitive and powerful, simple and human." -Le Parisien
Ill Wind
Directed by Stéphane Allagnon ; starring Jonathan Zaccai, Aure Atika and Bernard Le Coq. December 8 at 7:00 pm; December 9 at 3:00 pm. Director Allagnon in attendance.
"Distinguished by a sure narrative hand and a subversively droll demeanor… a fresh spin on a popular genre…." -Variety
Demented
Directed by Laurent Acard; starring Julien Cochelin, Annie Cordy and Pascal Cervo. December 9 at 5:00 pm; December 11 at 7:00 pm.
"A lightning bolt in the sky of emerging French cinema." - Les Inrockuptibles
Avril
Directed by Gérald Hustache-Mathieu ; starring Sophie Quinton, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Clément Sibony and Miou-Miou. December 8 at 5:00 pm; December 9 at 7:00 pm.
"A pleasingly peculiar blend of sacred and profane that's quite unlike the vast majority of contemporary French films." -Variety
Anna M
Directed by Michel Spinoza; starring Isabelle Carré and Gilbert Melki. December 10 at 7:00 pm; December 11 at 9:00 pm.
"Carré is superb…" -Variety
"A film of great mental violence that leaves the viewer shaken." -Le Journal du dimanche
The Year after
Directed by Isabelle Czajka ; starring Anaïs Demoustier, Ariane Ascaride, Patrick Catalifo and Bernard Le Coq. December 8 at 5:00 pm; December 13 at 9:00 pm.
"A haunting, methodical portrait of a teenager…" -VarietyBad Faith
Directed by Roschdy Zem; starring Zem and Cécile de France. December 7 at 9:00 pm; December 9 at 1:00 pm.
"A very funny romantic comedy with a flawless cast." -Paris MatchBled Number One
Directed by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche; starring Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche , Meryem Servah and Abel Jafri. December 8 at 1:00 pm; December 12 at 9:00 pm.
"Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche has simply invented a whole new way of filming, right in front of our eyes." -Les Cahiers du CinémaYou and Me
Directed by Julie Lopez-Curval; with Marion Cotillard, Jonathan Zaccaï and Julie Depardieu. December 8 and 10 at 9:00 pm.
"An effective romantic comedy, where Marion Cotillard shines." -TéléramaThe Candidate
Directed by Niels Arestrup; starring Yvan Attal. December 13 at 7:00 pm.
'It's not very often that French cinema addresses the world of politics, and it's even more rare for it to do so with such intelligence and finesse." -Rolling Stone
The Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N. State Street ; Tel: 312-846-2600
www.siskelfilmcenter.org
- The Untouchable (2006; 82 min.). Directed by Benoit Jacquot; with Isild Le Besco. A young Parisian actress travels to India in search of her roots. December 7-13.
- Dans Paris (2006; 92 min.).Directed by Christophe Honoré; with Romain Duris and Louis Garrle. The love lives of two Parisian brothers are examined in this whimsical dramatic comedy. December 21-27.
- The Man of My Life (2006; 114 min.). Directed by Zabou Breitman; with Charles Berling, Bernard Campan and Lea Drucker. While vacationing with his family at their country home, a young man befriends the gay man next door. December 28 - January 3.
MUSIC
For information on performances by French jazz singer and bass player Cécile Savage in the Chicago area, please visit www.cecilesavage.com.
LECTURES
Alliance Française of Chicago
54 W. Chicago Avenue
Tel. 312-337-1070
www.af-chicago.org
"Sexual Politics in Contemporary French Cinema." In conjunction with the 11 th Annual Festival of New French Cinema at Facets Multimedia, a panel of film professionals will discuss issues such as sex, relationships and the portrayal of women in French and American cinema. Panelists include author, scholar and Cahiers du Cinéma collaborator Sally Shafto; Film studies professor and author Brian Price (Oklahoma State University); film critic Ray Pride (New City; Filmmaker Magazine); and French filmmaker Stéphane Allagnon. The discussion will be moderated by festival co-curator Diane Eberhardt, and followed by a buffet lunch. This program is co-sponsored by the Alliance Française of Chicago and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in Chicago. December 8 at 11:30 am.
Please make reservations at culture@consulfrance-chicago.org
"Les Bibliothèques imaginaires." Lecture by Chicago-based French artist and teacher David Gista. Presented by the Alliance Française de North Shore, at the Wilmette Public Library Auditorium. December 17 at 1:00 pm
alliancefn@yahoo.com.
THEATRE
Eva Peron. A provocative dark comedy from renowned Argentine-French playwright Copi, about a hysterical and anxious Evita in her final hours. A Chicago premiere presented by Trap Door Theatre and directed by Beata Pilch. December 20 – February 2 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 West Cortland Ave. www.trapdoortheatre.com; Tel: 773-384-0494. Sponsored in part by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, Chicago.
**** Liaison discount: 5 $ off the ticket price if you mention "Liaison / French Consulate" when you reserve.
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 20th century, and join theatre audiences around the world celebrating 2007 as "L'Année Lagarce." Through December 22. At the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street. Tickets: www.tutato.com or 847-217-0691.
**** Liaison discount: 5 $ off the ticket price if you mention "Liaison / French Consulate" when you reserve.
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.
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: programs 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 and occasional lectures. Visit their website for details: 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 conversation 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 .
