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NATIONAL FRENCH WEEK:LA SEMAINE DU FRANÇAISNOVEMBER 5-11, 2007 & 2008 |
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
USING
FILM TO PROMOTE FRENCH
Of all the art forms, film may well be the most captivating and intriguing because of its exploration of the imagination, its unique combination of images, motion, and sound, and its capacity for simulating dreams and memory. When we enter a salon de cinéma, we are transported to another world, a world in which our creativity is invited to participate in the scenes and events unfolding before us. Barriers of time, space, and identity are erased, and only our unwillingness to suspend our disbelief can hold us back.
Throughout the history of cinema, films produced in France and in other Francophone societies have been recognized for their high quality, intellectual content, and artistic flair. Thus, because of the reputation of French and French language films, we can capitalize on the public's readiness to be both entertained and enlightened by the literary masterpieces, the clever comedies, and the gripping dramas found in these films. Indeed, for over a century, audiences caught up in French cinematic technique have been fascinated by the stories told, the history revisited, and the psychology unraveled on the screen.
Weekend Film Event
An excellent way to celebrate National French Week would be to combine
a community activity that would appeal to a general population or to a
group of special populations with a showing of a French film. The
following list offers several suggestions for possible events:
- To get the film on the big screen, ask a local cinema to show a French film at a specific time on Friday night or Saturday. French students, the French club, parents, the Alliance française, or the French boosters could prepare French hors-d'œuvre before the movie or desserts after. Depending on arrangements worked out with the cinema, the food could be sold by the providers or offered as a promotion of things French.
- The film can be shown at a high school or university with a dinner preceding it. There could then be a lecture or discussion following the showing.
- Linking a film with an art, music, or theater event could work very well. Staging a play in English on Friday night with the French subtitled movie version being screened on Saturday can double the emphasis on French contributions to the worlds of fine arts and entertainment. Such a pairing could appeal to Anglophones who might be converted to studying French.
- University theater departments often present translations of Molière's comedies; therefore, a funny, clever English translation of Tartuffe could be compared with the Gérard Depardieu film. Theater professors could discuss the differences between the two media following the film. Another choice would be to have the English translation of Cyrano de Bergerac, the play, performed on Friday night and the French film Cyrano presented on Saturday.
- An art history slide-lecture could be presented as a prelude to Camille Claudel or Van Gogh. In addition to a lecture presenting slides of the major works and techniques, autobiographical background related to the content of the film can be included. A question and answer session can be held following the film.
- A warm-up activity to a film that has great potential for reaching an audience is to have an artist, a musician, and a dramatic reader coordinate the simultaneous rendering of a drawing or watercolor, a piano, violin, or flute piece, and a French poem. These artistic selections would all address a common theme which would forecast the theme of the film to be shown. An Impressionist musical selection and a symbolist poem can be used as a backdrop for the creation of an Impressionist watercolor, followed by a film like Camille Claudel or Van Gogh.
- An interesting evening combining music and film can occur by having a string ensemble or soloist as a precursor to seeing Un Cœur en hiver. Likewise, a soprano might open the evening which would conclude with the film. Showing the film Bleu, first, then having a reception while playing the movie soundtrack showcases a powerful film that delivers equally powerful musical moments.
- Teaming up with an historian or history teacher would be a good way to integrate the historical background of the Occupation with films treating that era in France. Au revoir les enfants, Le Dernier Métro, L'Accompagnatrice, or Jeux interdits would serve well as the featured film in this format.
- Presenting film versions of well-known pieces of literature also has appeal. Madame Bovary and Germinal would be good choices and could be paired with English lectures comparing the printed form with the cinematic one. Other popular choices would be Jean de Florette and Manon des sources.
- Having "mini film festivals" on themes such as Provence using Jean de Florette, Manon des sources, La Gloire de mon père, and Le Château de ma mère could include presentations on the region and its traditions.
- A film event that could be an extravaganza for all the local gourmands and gourmets is showing Babette's Feast, then serving a comparable feast to all the film guests.
- Because of their capacity for brining meaningful issues into sharp focus, presenting Le Huitième Jour on Friday night and Ponette on Saturday could be an effective cinematic event. These films could be featured as excellent family fare, with a discussion following each film that emphasizes the complexity of family relationships, the problems of the mentally disabled, the challenges of living with individuals with mental problems, and the devastating loss suffered by a small child whose mother dies.
- Showing a French film followed by its American remake can generate a reflective discussion on cultural similarities and differences related to plot, setting, character depiction, dialogue vs. music/silence, and dénouement. Le Retour de Martin Guerre and Sommersby and Trois Hommes et un couffin and Three Men and a Baby are two pairs of films which can engender such discussion (See article by Lois Vines from the November 1998 National Bulletin more pairs of films.).
An important legal consideration when using videos is that most of them
prohibit public viewing. Check with the company from which you purchased
your video to find out the proper way to obtain permission to show the
film at a public gathering.
Few media are as engaging and as rich in teaching possibilities as
film. Using films to attract attention to French is usually successful
because films are enjoyable entertainment, because those not well acquainted
with French culture are curious about it, and because those who are acquainted
with French culture are usually delighted to have an opportunity to enjoy
it vicariously through film. Combining film events with other arts or other
aspects of French culture simply multiplies the pleasure of watching French
film. National French Week provides us with a marvelous opportunity
for sharing our love for French film with our communities. The ideas
given here are intended to remind you of your own great ideas for teaching,
recruiting, and promoting with French film.
USEFUL ADDRESSES
FACETS1517 West Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
Tel: (800) 532-2387
FACSEA
972 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 439-1439
FilmArobics, Inc.
9 Birmingham Place
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Tel: (800) 832-2448
Fusion Video
17311 Fusion Way
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
Tel: (800) 959-0061
Global Video
P.O. Box FLM-4455
Scottsdale, AZ 85261
Tel: (800) 262-8837
International Video Network
212 Tucker Street
Healdsburg, CA 95448-4423
Tel: (800) 360-4486
Library
of African Cinema/California Newsreel
149 Ninth Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: (415) 621-6196
Multicultural Books & Videos
28880 South Field Rd. #183
Lathrup Village, MI 48076
Tel: (248) 559-2676
Reprinted from the AATF National Bulletin, Special Issue, Vol. 24 No. 5 (May 1999)
For more information contact AATF National Headquarters, Mailcode 4510, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Tel: (618) 453-5731; Fax: (618) 453-5733; E-mail: abrate@siu.edu
Created: April 25, 1999
Last update: September 15, 2005