Nous sommes humains? Ou nous sommes danseurs?

From the lovely http://tsntfln.tumblr.com/ (This post ). A must read for TSN fans, especially ones that like TFLN . Well, for TSN fans that are funny.

So I keep abandoning my movie posts. Firstly, I feel like if I put all my comments in one post it will be TL;DNR (too long; did not read). Secondly, I don't actually study film or anything and I write about movies all one - three of my readers may or may not have seen. Thirdly, this blog is, unabashedly, about me and therefore I prefer personal posts.

This post doesn't actually contribute much to my blog other than a glimpse into my future. After I spend four months in Europe. All I have to say is, thank goodness I'm turning 21 in France. Of course, before would be better (since almost all of my friends have birthdays before my ridiculously late one) but at least when I return I will be able to drink legally. The transition back would be unpleasant if I were 19 or 20 when I returned and had to wait.

Also, a classic quote from my orientation:

"Drinking is a big part of the culture in France...being drunk is not."

À la Folie

This movie is split into 2 parts: one showing the viewpoint of Angelique (Audrey Tatou), smitten art student, and the other of Dr. Le Garec (Samuel Le Bihan). Here is analysis of part one.

Opening scene (Just realized to embed I only had to copy the YouTube embed link. Good.)

Sweet right? Tres charmant, if you will. Love, flowers, hearts, red. It's practically le jour de saint valentin. Well you're wrong. Actually, this seemingly-twitterpated girl has erotomania. A psychological condition.

But before sharing this fact, the movie presents her side of the story, which creates some viewer sympathy for her as well as making her seem charmingly quirky. A sort of manic pixie dream girl, if you will http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Pixie_Dream_Girl

Why just look at her, bicycling through the streets in a scarf sling! How interesting!

Throughout the movie, her main expresion is this. Some ridiculous doe-eyes and a goofy smile.

(Spoiler alert: she did not fall).

So she is built up as cutesy if not a little bit too crazy about some guy. She also gets upset about things that a rational person in a real relationship would be upset about: he bails on your trip to Italy, he gets back together with his wife (depends on the relationship, I guess). So, while the movie is providing a sense of contrast, it still makes her sympathetic and dilutes the psychological condition aspect.

Also, she's an artist. A simple tortured soul. A bit off the beaten path. Perhaps why she seems to be wearing this outfit with the floppy pants for about half of the movie. I could write another post about this girl's wardrobe but that would only take up four pictures so....

In Ian McEwan's novel about the same condition, Enduring Love, we are offered the full grasp of this disorder and not that it's just some zany girl's crush, but an actual mental health condition. That book is (good and) sort of terrifying, but this movie, though entertaining, doesn't exactly make me feel the seriousness of the situation.

À la Folie... Pas du Tout

Like many girls who have completed at least two years of French, I like the movie Amélie. Of course, how could I not, because "it's so charming and whimsical" and all the usual reasons. Nothing shocking there. However, I recently saw another film with Audrey Tatou that wasn't as popular in the U.S. (or probably France for that matter):

À la Folie...Pas du Tout (American title: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not)

Firstly, let's deal with the issue of title translation. This is something I am more aware of having my Facebook settings in French, because some of my favorite films are now listed under their French titles. Some examples:

-Amélie = Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (The Fabulous/Mythical Fate/Destiny of Amélie. A little more telling than the simple American title, especially if we read it as fabuleux in the context of fable because then the story's truthfulness is brought in to question).
-Atonement = Reviens-Moi (This one really bothers me. This means "come back to me," which indeed is a recurring phrase in the film that Cecelia says to Robbie. However, the book is framed through Briony's experiences and not specifically about their love. A poor translation because it takes out the guilt and you know, atonement, so central to the story).
-Center Stage = Danse ta vie (Dance your life. Good, as appropriately ridiculous as this film can be).
-Cruel Intentions = Sexe Intentions (Yep, pretty accurate).
-Office Space = 35 heures, c'est deja trop (35 hours, it's already too much. Gets more into the film's themes of the quitting fantasy and monotonous office jobs. Also funny because the French work week is shorter).

Here the difference makes the issue seem more frivolous than it should (which I will discuss more later). French title can be translated roughly as "Crazy about you...not at all!" which makes note of the intensity of each side of the feelings (hers of obession, his of who the fuck are you).

The English translation aims to play to the Amélie crowd who loves charming things. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not brings about memories of school-yard crushes and silly games with daisies. Even the tagline "Is she crazy about him...or just crazy?" seems to bring a light-heartedness to the issue. However, erotomania is a real condition and not just some silly girl's romantic fantasy. The english title/poster, and film itself like I will argue later, sort of glosses over this issue and tries to make this mental illness seem frivolous.

Also look at the posters in general. American? Cute, flowers, romantic. French? She looks like she is behind bars, the doctor is obviously stressed out, and it is described as diabolical thriller. Soo....

More later.

Une femme parfaite

Point 2: I aspire to be Marion Cotillard

-She is gorgeous and talented.
-Can act in two languages. Can conduct interviews in two languages. That is awesome and the sort of language proficiency I want to have.
-Look, I love Edith Piaf, but as we see in the film, drug abuse takes a toll on anyone's health and relatedly, appearance. Marion wasn't afraid to take on a role that involved not looking pretty in a traditional/modern sense. Let's compare this to Renee Zellweger, who refused to be part of a third Bridget Jones movie if it required her to gain weight again. (By gain weight, I mean 20 pounds which would still keep her in a healthy weight range and one more similar to non-celebrities. However, this normal weight was portrayed as negative/unattractive in the film. Congratulations, Hollywood. We wonder where negative body image comes from. Sorry for the digression, moving along...).
-In Inception, her character was married to Leonardo DiCaprio's character. Any arguments you make against her are invalid.
-Her performance in this film was amazing and every bit deserving of the Best Actress award she received.
-She and Guillaume Canet (see previous post) fell in love when they starred in Jeux D'Enfants together, and are now expecting a baby. Which is just awesome and adorable.
-She also has this great sex appeal without being awkward about it or seeming like she's trying too hard.
-I could seriously go on about her forever so I'd better stop while I'm ahead.

La Vie en Rose: Final Scene
La Ve en Rose: Non, je ne regrette rien
Jeux d'enfants
Oscar Acceptance Speech

Her Oscar acceptance speech is one of my favorites of all time. This is how every speech should be. She is incredibly gracious and not ashamed of how excited and happy she is. Come on celebs, when you when an Oscar you are this joyous so stop trying to be chill.

JE NE REGRETTE RIEN

Hello dear readers (Janie). Here is your first film post. I hope this week, especially if it involves finals, finds you well. Yesterday, whilst studying, I watched La Vie en Rose in its entirety for the first time. Yes, I have deluded myself into thinking that watching films in French is some sort of studying technique. It was AMAZING. Let us discuss both the film and its awe-inspiring subject, Edith Piaf. This post will have multiple parts

Point 1: Edith was better at life that you will ever be / we are not worthy / your parents would prefer her as their child. Facts:

-"Despite numerous biographies, much of Piaf's life is shrouded in mystery."
-Marlene Dietrich was her maid of honor in her wedding to Jacques Pills
-Her next husband, Theo Sarapo, was 20 years younger than her.
-Her vibrato makes angels weep.
-"Denied a funeral mass by the Roman Catholic archbishop of Paris because of her lifestyle"
-"Charles Aznavour recalled that Piaf's funeral procession was the only time since the end of World War II that he saw Parisian traffic come to a complete stop."
-Lived in a brothel for some time as a child.
-Was blind for some time as a child (four years?), then regained sight after a saintly pilgrimage.
-On the Ed Sullivan Show 8 times.
-Sang at Carnegie Hall twice.
-Wore black dresses all the time because she was more stylish than you.
-Discovered while singing on the streets.

Singing "Non, je ne regrette rien":
Here

Singing "La vie en rose":
Here

I REGRET NOTHING.

Les sujets d l'été

Dear ones,

Summer will soon be upon us, which means I will have ample free time to update this blog more frequently. In addition to the thrilling details of obtaining a visa/reading travel guides/trying to pick outfits to wear when sitting in cafes reading and drinking wine, you will also be privy to my attempts to retain some semblance of French language and culture in a non-diverse, farm-based Minnesotan suburb.

Mostly, this will be blogs about French movies/literature/articles/music, with levels of introspection varying from profound critical thought to comments about the attractiveness of the male actors (see previous post).

Je suis désolé in advance.

Les hommes français avec qui je veux... être leur amie et avec qui je serrais parler poliment...N'est pas?

Well, as this blog is already degenerating in any academic, societal, or other type of merit/value, allow me to do a post of pictures of attractive French men. That will be the subject of this post.

Nino Castelnuovo, specifically in the 1960s

Mathieu Kassovitz

Jean-Baptiste Maunier, aka my one true love in high school.

Guillaume Canet

Gaspard Ulliel

Cyril Descours

Benjamin Millepied

Thank you for your time.