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Tag Archives: french history

François Ier: Patron of French Renaissance Posted by on May 21, 2013

“Une cour sans femmes est comme un jardin sans fleurs” (“a court without women is like a garden without flowers.”) Thus spoke François Ier (Francis I in English), like a true Frenchman some would say. But contrary to some other French monarchs, female company was not his only preoccupation. In fact, the lifetime dream of François was to bring…

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Vous n’aurez jamais notre cœur (You Will Never Have Our Heart) Posted by on Apr 3, 2013

Last week, while evoking l’Alsace et la Lorraine, and raising the question of whether they were originally French or German, we characterized the temporary loss of these two territories as provoking to many a French person a corresponding “temporary loss of sanity.” For nearly half a century, a heavy wind of revanchisme (from the word…

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A Mysterious Little “English Garden” in Paris Posted by on Jan 1, 2013

Although the Parc Monceau is wide open to the general public, it is certainly the “weirdest” park in Paris, and that is on more than a single level! Curiously enough, next to it stands a small edifice where it is said that a fifth-generation park watchmen closely monitor its nine gated entries. What is so special…

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Powerful French Movie: “Hors-la-loi” (Outside the Law) Posted by on Sep 22, 2012

If you were looking to discover a new powerful French movie, then here is one strongly recommended for you to watch: It’s called “Hors-la-loi” (“Outside the Law.“) One film reviewer had this to say about it: “A tense, energetic historical drama on a grand scale — somewhere between Bertolucci and Michael Mann.” In the previous post…

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The Fabulous Destiny of (a “French Outlaw” from) Amélie Poulain Posted by on Sep 21, 2012

You may remember him as “Lucien, the grocer’s assitant” in the French romantic comedy “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain” (“The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain.”)  You may have also seen him in “Indigènes” (translated as “Days of Glory” in English), by French-Algerian movie director Rachid Bouchareb. His name is Jamel Debbouze. He made a comeback in the sequel to “Indigènes“, directed by the same…

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