The start of the summer holidays means I have two weeks without my usual French evening class. I know it’s only a fortnight but I miss it. A few years ago I decided to brush up on my incredibly rusty ‘O’ Level French and got hooked. Firstly I think it is quite simply a beautiful language (it’s just so sensual sounding, and requires you to form your mouth into interesting shapes!), secondly it’s good for my brain, of which I feel sure I only utilise one side (although I can never remember if it’s the left or the right) because I spend so much of my time working visually. Thirdly, I have a penchant (oh, how I love the way these French words infiltrate our everyday language!) for certain aspects of the country's culture. And fourthly, it gets me out of the house…
But as I’m staying chez moi for now I reckon that dipping into some French films will be a fine way to help keep my linguistic faculties in good shape.
Here’s a favourite from Godard. Funny too how this trailer is like a French vocab lesson (but so much better than anything we were taught at school…although my French teacher was always on about Johnny Hallyday.)
À Bout De Souffle
Oooh I love a bit of Godard! x
ReplyDeleteAh... Jean-Pierre Melville. Je l'aime!
ReplyDeleteMerci bien pour vos commentaires! I will surely embarrass myself if I try to babble on in French, so I won't! So nice you like JLG too, Smashingbird, I'm a relatively recent convert!A - I have to confess to not knowing JPM apart from his cameo in this, but I should really give myself more of a cultural education and check out his own films...any recommendations welcome.
ReplyDeleteOh you must see some of JPM's films. They're all a bit macho (in a French way) but v. stylish - all tight trench coats and borsalino hats. Plus JP Belmondo and Alain Delon - what more could a francophile sparrow want?
ReplyDelete(just been watching Mozza at Glastonbury (god I hate glastonbury) - bit of a lacklustre performance - dunno why he bothered)
Thank you, A, I shall have to investigate, sounds like an appealing combination!
ReplyDeleteOh, forgot all about tuning into to Glasters last night, I do have a real soft spot for Mozza but by all accounts doesn't sound like he was so good, shame. Had absolutely NO desire to see U2 tho'!
Ah j'adore Mme Seberg aussi ! She has that certain Je ne sais quoi - especially in this film, style x 10. As for JPB he is just so effortless - well, you'd expect me to say that of course ! I'm filled with that longing to steal a powder blue sports car and drive to Marseilless right now, if only I could just find that packet of Gitanes......
ReplyDeleteI agree with A by the way - once upon a time in a field far far away Glasto might have been good, but really not sure of the attraction any more (anyway, muddy fields ruin hand tooled pointy shoes !)
Oh and by the way this reminds me - does anyone know which Johnny Hallyday records the Small Faces played on....I really don't have a lot of time for the hoary old Gallic Elvis but find the idea of Marriott and co backing him quite intriguing....
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bel Mondo, I also love JPB and Jean S here (I've a bit of a thing for the 'gamine' look as may be obvious!) I fantasise too about an escapist Gallic road-trip, would be a great excuse to practise my French...
ReplyDelete'Rivière... Ouvre ton Lit' is the LP you're thinking of Bel Mondo, apparently also known as 'Je suis né dans la rue'
ReplyDeleteMerci ! It hurts to be a completist sometimes, I'll seek it out and give thanks to you for putting me out of my misery.
ReplyDelete~ I am so impressed that someone could post an obscure question on here and have it answered quickly by another! Thank you too.
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