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 Jeff Steiner's Americans in France.Resource for people that would like to live or travel in France. |
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NewsletterMarch 2002
Hail Cesar
The French just had their Oscars, called the Césars. The big winner was "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain", a quirky comedy about the life of a Parisian woman’s search for love and happiness. It won four Césars, including best film and director. Some felt that it should have one more, but Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the director of "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" said he was happy with four Césars won. If you have not seen it, try to. The film is worth seeing even if you have to read the subtitles. Most of the jokes are visual and the film is not too heavy on dialogue. I saw it in French and was able to understand the story line and all the jokes but one. "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" leds a resurgent French film industry. French made films almost grossed as much as American made films. This pleases the French. In passed years some French were dismayed at the Americanization of French cinema houses. Those that were dismayed, I think now hope that, "Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" is leading French films to close the gap with American films in terms of ticket sales in France.Presidential election
It is getting dirty in the French Presidential election. Both leading candidates, President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin finally declared themselves official candidates. Jospin was the first to go on the attack, calling Chirac a passive President. Chirac, for his part can’t really go on the offensive until he is able to unite the right, as of this writing this seems not an easy task to accomplish. The problem seems to be François Bayrou, the candidate of the “Union pour la démocratie française”(UDF). The problem is not his poll numbers, under five percent, and the votes he might take away from Chirac. He insists on running an independent campaign. Bayrou won’t support Chirac until after the first round of voting, if at all. Chirac, I think, likes to think of himself as someone that brings people together. What is happening with Bayrou is making him look somewhat like a fool. Jospin for his part has much the same problem with Jean-Pierre Chevènement, the candidate of the “Mouvement des citoyens” (MDC). Chevènement, historically has been part of the French left. Jospin is the main left candidate, but this year Chevènement is running not from the left or the right. He is saying that there is nothing different between Chirac and Jospin. Polls show most French feel the same way, this might explain his 15% first round poll number. Chirac and Jospin first round poll numbers are at around 22%. Jospin, it looks like for the time being is letting Chevènement have his say. Hoping he, Chevènement comes back into the fold eventually.French justice
Patrice Alègre who some police feel is France’s most prolific serial killer, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing five women between 1989 and 1997. This is the maximum sentence he could have received; France does not have the death penalty. Envoyé special, a French 60 minutes type show, had a segment about Alègre and his crimes. It seemed he was able to outwit the French police for many years. At one point he was arrested for disturbing the peace, gave a phony name and was released the next day. . He then killed more women. Police feel that the number of those killed by Alègre will never been know, it could be as high as twenty or even more. Probably the most moving part of the trial was when the one known survivor of Alègre, spoke. She explained how she was able to talk her way out of being killed. She said that after a date with Alègre she fell asleep in his car as he was driving her home. She was then awaken by a lost of breath. He was strangling her. She then spoke to him and was consoling, saying that what he was doing could happen to anyone. This seemed to startle Alègre, he then started crying. His would be victim was then able to escape.So long
After 641 years the French Franc is no more. If you still have some from your last trip to France, not to worry. Francs can still be exchanged for Euros for the foreseeable future at the Bank of France. Most French accept the passing of the Franc and the arrival of the Euro with an air of inevitability. Both the political and economic elite wanted the Euro and the French population has let them have their way.Follow @jeffsteiner
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