Category Archives: francophilia

the return of proust

marcel-proust-illustration

 

 

After a two-year hiatus, I’m eager to announce the return of my Proust Q + A series! I really enjoy delving into the psyches of my favorite bloggers, and it seems you do too. In the past, I was mostly focused on fellow Francophiles, and considering the questionnaire is that of the famous French author Marcel Proust, it seems only fitting. However, I can’t promise it will always be a Francophile…I’ll mix it up to keep things interesting. Feel free to suggest your favorites, if you haven’t already seen them here, (and you can nominate yourself). I’m looking forward to featuring new bloggers very soon…stay tuned!

illustration by fernando vicente

we’re going to paris!!!

french-books-for-kids

 

Our children’s French + Francophile book collection came in handy for the exciting news we shared with Henry and Marie this week (and are now sharing with you)!! While these shelves usually have an interesting mix of subjects, I gathered and arranged these especially for our announcement. We invited them in (mommy poised with camera in hand), let them peruse the familiar books, and then posed the magic question after they had a chance to study them.

 

marieandbooks

henryandbooks

 

“We’re going to be taking a very special trip soon – can you guess where we’re going?!” To which they simultaneously replied “France!” + “Paris!”!!! I just had to animate these photos for full effect. I think it’s safe to say they’re excited.

 

goingtoparis

 

WE’RE GOING TO PARIS!!!!!!!!!

french is beautiful

palais-royal-paris

 

“One must not always think that feeling is everything. Art is nothing without form.”

Gustave Flaubert

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It’s hard to believe, but I’m already halfway through my French is Beautiful Level One course! I can honestly say that my French has already improved, and I look forward to each lesson. Studying French doesn’t feel like work to me, except maybe when it comes to verb conjugations, putain. I highly doubt that anyone could find that enjoyable. Getting back to the subject at hand – my most recent lesson had a focus on form. The French language has a certain formality to it, which is of course, echoed throughout the culture. It is crucial to know the rules, etiquette, and proper form before taking liberties. For instance, the imparfait verb form is more of a feeling, and looser than the tighter, more finite, passé composé. I’m doing my best to understand when to use each verb tense, and it’s becoming less intimidating thanks to my tutor, Carrie Anne James. Although, when I get stuck, this magical phrase buys me some time to figure it out.

** french is beautiful is a regular series – browse the archives here **

french is beautiful

louvre-museum-paris

 

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.”

 Thomas Jefferson

t

The French language is constructed around beauty, much like the country’s landscapes and architecture.  When speaking the language, it helps to remember that fact – yet another priceless tidbit from my tutor, Carrie Anne James. When doubting your pronunciation, think about what would sound the most beautiful, and you’re most likely right. One of the most crucial aspects in speaking is the “liaison” – how the words connect and blend together, creating a fluid sound. For example, the letter s in the word les is generally silent, but when combined with the word amis, it is pronounced with the “z” sound, connecting the two words…les amis. It is what makes French so enticing, and dare I say, so sexy. Even the way it’s spoken adds to the allure…you use mostly the front of your mouth, and at a low volume. Vowels at the end of words are meant to be lingered upon, and enjoyed…mini-syllables, if you will. Take the word femme…that little, innocent looking e on the end should be emphasized and savored. For me, pronunciation is paramount, and I squeal with delight when my words melt together like taffy. These details are not to be missed…after all, it is where much of the beauty lies.

** french is beautiful is a regular series – browse the archives here **

nørr film + yé yé

norr-film

 

Today I’m sharing a recent discovery – one that I’m so excited about, I almost want to keep to myself. I’ve admired the work of filmmaker Jenner Brown for a few years, and he recently announced his new venture, along with Eva + Kirk Jorgensen and Meta Coleman. An independent film company, Nørr Film is dedicated to beautiful aesthetics + strong storytelling. Their focus is on historical period features, with many fascinating films already in the works. One of them happens to be about the yé yé movement, referring to the French pop music of the 1960’s. It encompasses many of my all-time favorite French songs and artists, including the likes of Françoise Hardy (shown above), Jane Birkin, Sylvie Vartan, Birgitte Bardot, and France Gall. A few men were included in the movement, including Serge Gainsbourg (a fav of mine). The music had a very innocent sound, yet the lyrics were often riddled with innuendo and impassive humor. Many modern artists have been inspired by the music, and if you’re a Mad Men fan, you have the song Zou Bisous Bisous as a reference, which garnered so much attention that a single was released, proving the power of the yé yé sound is still very much appreciated. I cannot wait to see how the creative minds at Nørr interpret all of it – no doubt it will be amazing.

image courtesy of nørr film