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La Révolution Posted by on Dec 3, 2020 in Culture

La Révolution 

Salut mes amis! Hi friends!

Maintenant que l’hiver approche et la pandémie se poursuit, c’est le moment idéal pour démarrer une nouvelle série télé sur Netflix. Voilà ma recommandation… La Révolution. 

Now that winter is approaching and the pandemic goes on, it is the ideal moment to start up a new TV series on Netflix. Here is my recommendation… The Revolution.

Described as une série télévisée fantastique française, a French fantasy television series, it is set in the year 1787 and it describes a reimagined history of the lead-up to the French Revolution. A virus of « sang bleu » (blue blood)  se propage au sein de l’aristocratie, spreads within the aristocracy, causing instability and revolt that leads to the infamous war.

Their slogan publicitaire, tagline, is « Et si on nous avait menti ? » which translates as “And if we had been lied to?” alluding to the possible false teaching of history.

It is quite an interesting mélange (mix) of policier (detective) and drame historique (historical drama) meets horreur (horror). Pour pratiquer votre français, je le suggère! To practice your French, I suggest it!

Matez* la bande-annonce, check out the trailer:

Speaking of revolution, which the French know very well, what is more iconic than the national anthem of France, La MarseillaiseDuring the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte after the French Revolution, La Marseillaise was even banned outright because of its revolutionary associations.

Allons enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L’étendard sanglant est levé
L’étendard sanglant est levé
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!
Aux armes, citoyens
Formez vos bataillons
Marchons, marchons!
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!

Arise, children of the Fatherland
Our day of glory has arrived
Against us the bloody flag of tyranny
is raised; the bloody flag is raised.
Do you hear, in the countryside
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They’re coming right into your arms
To cut the throats of your sons, your comrades!

To arms, citizens!
Form your battalions
Let’s march, let’s march
That their impure blood
Should water our fields!

Now marchons and let’s enjoy a dramatic and imaginary rendering of French history from the comfort of our homes. Aux télévisions, citoyens! 

 

*Mater = literally this verb means to subdue, or to quell… as in mater la révolution. In le langage familier, informal speech, it means ‘to check out.’

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About the Author: Bridgette

Just your average Irish-American Italo-Francophone. Client Engagement for Transparent Language.


Comments:

  1. Ian Usher:

    Hi Bridgette,
    Many thanks for the “La Revolution” recommendation. We just watched the first episode this evening. Looks very promising.
    We’re currently living in France, having been locked down here in November, and are getting to grips with the language.
    Our technique with this show will be to watch with English subtitles for the first viewing, so we can just enjoy the series, but will watch again with French subtitles only to practice listening, reading and comprehension.
    A fun way to learn.
    Loved the cartoon too.
    Best wishes,
    Ian (and Vanessa)