Brittany, along France’s northern shore, is a land of enchantment. It features rugged coastlines with some of the world’s most breathtaking views and more than 4,000 chateaux, manors and medieval homes. It’s an ideal destination for water sports enthusiasts, lovers of fine cuisine and seafood, and anyone fascinated by legends and history. Renowned for its rocks, often wild in both formation and colour, Brittany has very distinctive looks. While the seascapes tend to the dramatic, the landscapes inland are often gentle. Everything about Brittany is distinctive, from its geography and its granite looks to its traditions and its language. The region stands apart from the rest of France, its long peninsula reaching out 300 kilometres into the Atlantic, however, Brittany isn’t isolated, but open to the world. While it celebrates its traditions, it’s also forward-looking and fun-loving.

Celtic cousins
Breton is a Celtic language closely related to Welsh and Cornish. From the Revolution, which imposed a single French language, the number of Breton speakers slowly dwindled. In the 19th century, the Third Republic, while instituting schooling for all, insisted on French as the sole language. Having declined from more than one million speakers around 1950 to about 200,000 presently, of which the majority are more than 60 years old or more. Breton is classified as “severely” endangered by UNESCO.

Brittany Week: 17-28 May, 2012
Land of tradition and folklore, Brittany has a real talent for turning old into new. Very much in the image of the cyber fest-noz organised on the internet, this festival’s slogan could easily be ‘be new’, in honour of the biniou. For the last three years, the region has commandeered the festival of Saint-Yves, the patron Saint of Brittany, to address a universal message not only to the rest of the world, but also to Breton people scattered around globe, reminding people what a great place it is, bursting with cultural vitality and a true spirit of solidarity. Concerts, exhibitions, fest-noz, street performance…From more traditional media through to a range of contemporary art forms, and from Ho Chi Minh to New York, since 2009, the Gouel Breizh (Saint-Yves) has succeeded in mobilising its cultural troops. So remember that when May is out, you can cast your clout – and enjoy the Fête de la Bretagne on Saint-Yves’ day.

Further details from: www.fetedelabretagne.com

By BZH New York

Inarguably, France is considered one of the most economically and geopolitically influential countries in the world. It is certainly the most prominent state in the francophone world, which includes over 70 million speakers worldwide. It should come as no surprise, then, that France holds a special and dynamic position in many of the world’s supranational organizations.

This week, leaders from the member states of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, are meeting in Chicago to discuss the state of global affairs. From la Francophonie, this includes Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, Belgian prime minister Elio Di Rupo, Moroccan prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane, and France’s newly elected president, François Hollande.

France’s historical relationship with NATO has been mainly strong, although, at times, tenuous. As one of the founding members in 1948, along with the United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, NATO has been a cornerstone of strong political relations in North America and Europe for many decades. Some would argue that it is the primary vessel of international, militaristic cooperation between the United States and the European Union. That said, at times, the seeming dominance of the United States in NATO dialogues has alienated several of its European members, the spearhead of which has undeniably been France.

Wary of the “special relationship” enjoyed between the United States and the United Kingdom, former French president and World War II hero Charles de Gaulle sent a memorandum to American president Dwight D. Eisenhower demanding a reformation of NATO structure so as to create a tripartite leadership, equalizing the power shared between the United States and Britain with France. The memorandum also stipulated that NATO would expand coverage to areas of French colonial interest, much like it had in British Canada. When Eisenhower refused, de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO. It is said this was his intention all along, as he wanted to provide for the opportunity for France to come to separate peace terms with the Eastern Bloc should East Germany enter into armed conflict with West Germany.

France only fully rejoined NATO, integrating into the organization’s military command, in 2009. This has resulted in many military successes around the world, the least of which were NATO air strikes proposed by France and Britain that were vital to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Although France has regained its position as one of the organization’s unspoken leaders, contention still remains over some of the group’s main focus points – especially the continued presence of NATO troops in Afghanistan. Former president Sarkozy, noted in France for his pro-U.S. international policies, was ousted in the most recent election, so it will indeed be interesting to see how Hollande fields questions from the international community on where he sees a future for France in NATO and Afghanistan.

By Jake Flanagin

French Culture Nights invite you to The Sky Deck-Rooftop Bar- Novotel (226 W 52nd Street) and will feature French artists Mik Jégou (Painter), Ronan Le Pennec (Photograph), concert by “Collectif Jeu à la Nantaise” and DJ Mak-Len.

Ricard’s “Apero” from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

The event is free for anyone who registers online before Wednesday May 23 at 4pm ET at www.frenchculturenights.com.

No pre-registration? A $10 cover will be charged at the door.

PARTNER & SPONSORS:

Partner: “Apero” by Ricard
Medias: French Culture Guide, French Morning, New York in French, Action Against Hunger, BZH New York. 

A few years ago, I was taking a class at the Alliance Française and while our teacher graded our tests, she put a film on for us. It was a hilarious spy send-up called OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies and starred two captivating actors named Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo. The film was directed by Michel Hazanavicius and was clever, sexy and hilarious.

Now, of course, everyone knows this brilliant team from their beautiful Academy Award winning film, The Artist. But the OSS 117 films (there are two of them by this team – Cairo and Rio) were my introduction and if you haven’t seen these films, I recommend them highly.

Based on the series of novels, OSS 117, by French author Jean Bruce (incidentally, also the inspiration for James Bond), Dujardin plays the suave Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, alias OSS 117 who, of course, ends up relying heavily on the beautiful Larmina El Akmar Betouche (Bejo) to solve the crime which takes place at a poultry farm in 1955 Cairo.

This year’s Fifth Annual Films on the Green Festival, featuring French films on the big screen for FREE at various Manhattan parks throughout the summer, will kick off with OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies on Friday June 1st at 8:30 pm in Central Park (Cedar Hill at 79th St and 5th Ave). The films are all subtitled in English and are a great free evening out – so turn off you cell phones, pull together a picnic basket and some friends and come watch Dujardin and Bejo in action!

2012 Films on the Green Festival Schedule:

June 1: OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies, Central Park–Cedar Hill (at 79th)
June 8: The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Washington Square Park
June 15: War of the Buttons, Washington Square Park
June 22: The Axe, Tompkins Square Park
June 29: Donkey Skin, Tompkins Square Park
July 6: Tell No One, Riverside Park – Pier I (at 70th St)
July 13: Persepolis, Riverside Park – Pier I (at 70th St)
Sept 6: Jules and Jim, Columbia University – Low Library Steps*

*All films at 8:30 pm except September 6th screening at Columbia University, 7:30 pm.

For more detailed information: FrenchCulture.org

By Jackie Sanders

Harlem is a world famous neighborhood that has recently acquired a new face. Few years ago, it was still an economically depressed neighborhood with a rising crime rate. However, this past reality is now only a myth some tourists still believe in order to spice up their stay in New York City. Now, Harlem is one of the most attractive neighborhoods where a lot of European ex-pats are actually moving with their families. It’s a cozy district surrounded by parks and playgrounds. The more famous attractions for visitors are the campus of Columbia University and the Gospel churches, but there are actually more spots to discover such as one of the oldest theater in the city, the legendary Apollo Theatre.

This historical site was built in 1914. You can see the mark of the past in the architecture of the theatre. Inside, the Apollo has a classical design with its red velvet seats and its titanic luster. These days, however, your return to the past lasts only a few seconds since a few minutes after the opening of the doors, a DJ comes on stage and makes the walls of the theatre resonate with the most current songs. However, the modern sounds do provide a promising start to kick off an evening there.

Indeed, the Apollo theatre has a large range of shows, but among them is the famous Amateur Night. Held on Wednesday, this special night is open to the public. In other words, it’s a major showcase for many young, talented, new performers who can have the opportunity to face a real audience. They own the stage for one performance to convince the audience of their talent. This event started in 1934, and since then, a huge number of artists have been discovered including Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.

The originality of this show is the role the public plays in deciding the future of the candidates. They choose the winners and can participate in the birth of a new star. No pressure… right? That said, the Apollo’s slogan is still “sit back, relax, and enjoy the party.”

To put everybody in the mood, the host invites some people from the audience and challenges them to dance on stage. Thanks to the support of the public, the most successful ones win great gifts. This step puts everybody in the mood, directs their focus on the stage and gets them ready for the contest.

The first sequence showcased kids and teens. There were four performances by children aged nine to thirteen years old. They presented three solos and one rock band. It was impressive to see such young kids facing the stage courageously while sharing their passion. They mostly showed their vocal talents, but each of them had a different musical style.

Finally, the biggest part of the show started. The instructions were clear; you have to cheer or to boo as loud as you can. The audience had full power and must use it to clarify their opinion. They were the only judges! That night, ten performers came on stage to defend their positions and hoped to win the chance to be a big part of the big finale in October. Most of them were singers, but there were also a musician and a stand-up comedian. It was a very good night where not a lot of performers were booed. The level was very high with jaw-dropping performances. The only person who faced boos was the comedian. This young guy from Long Island preferred to leave the stage after a few boos. Certainly panicked and embarrassed, he decided to end his performance after only a few jokes.

At the end of the series of performances, all the candidates came back on stage to face their destiny represented by the applause barometer. Three of them won that night and among them the young stand-up guy. His win was completely unexpected. His victory was proof of the power the audience had. They can support or ruin a whole career in one random decision. When you think it’s finished, it’s actually only the start.

By Kenza Yahrfouri

New York is undoubtedly an international city thanks to the different people who live here and to the various celebrations of cultures from around the globe. Did you know that this year marks the centennial of a long friendship between Japan and the United States? Indeed, in 1912 Japan started sending cherry trees to the U.S. as a gift symbolizing their common respect for each other.

This special anniversary was celebrated during the 6th Annual Japan Day commemoration in Central Park. In addition to the usual celebration of Japanese culture, this year they also took the occasion to organize a cherry blossom art contest. It was the first time Japan Day has organized an open official competition. Among the 45 submissions, it was hard for the jury to choose their favorite, but they had to make a decision. The winner was Aaron Porter, who apart from the personal gifts he received, will have his artwork featured on the Japan Day poster, flyer, and most importantly, the charity t-shirt.

During the event, participants of the event were kindly encouraged to visit the charity tent and purchase one of the four t-shirts for only $20. Other than this, the whole event was free.

The location was ideal in the heart of Central Park where curious people joined the celebration throughout the day. It started at 8:00 am with a four-mile race. After that, the event kicked off at 10:00 am with a series of musical and martial arts performances on stage. Different clubs and associations in New York City showed their savoir-faire while they were highlighting a specific aspect of Japanese culture. Soh Daiko was the first group to perform. It was an interesting performance where you could see and hear the members playing mainly drums. They used the instrument to communicate with God and celebrate the spirit and the beauty of nature while also bringing new energy. The stage was also an opportunity to launch a revival of the samurai (and they weren’t speaking about the TV series Power Rangers Samurai, like a mother explained to her son). They were real fighters wearing the traditional outfit and giving a real demonstration of their ancestral methods. The arts of karate was also presented by the World Seido Karate association. The demonstrations were done by members of the club from different levels, from the cute but fearless kids to adult masters; the audience had a lot of fun watching the different simulations or just cheering their friends or family on stage.

Different booths were displayed to give visitors the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture. They were open all day, and participants could enjoy different activities including calligraphy, Kabuki face painting, robot sumo battle, the art of origami, the chopsticks game, and others. One of the most famous Japanese figures, Hello Kitty, was personally present, giving autographs and taking pictures with her fans as the official mascot of the Japanese Board of Tourism. Of course, what’s a celebration without food, or culture without traditional gastronomy? Japan Day opened different stands at lunchtime offering the most traditional food and pastries. New Yorkers had the wide selection including okonomiyaki (a type of Japanese pancake), gyosa (dumplings), gyudon (rice topped with beef), mazemen (a stew-like ramen) or udon (your basic noodles). It wasn’t unusual to see some people wearing traditional clothes like the kimono or dressing as their favorite Anime character.

One thing is sure: the event offered a complete roundtrip to Japan during one of the most beautiful and sunniest day of the year.

By Kenza Yahrfouri

Mik Jégou was born in 1971. Native of Quimper, he began participating in traditional Breton dance at six years of age and compiled his first choreography in 1991. At the same time, he  pursued degrees in graphic design  and communications where the consideration and function of color holds a prominent place. His strong urge to paint accompanied him since his childhood and has subsequently woven into the themes of dance and performance that have been omnipresent in his life.

His work, created in his studio where inspiration springs from spontaneity, appeals to the memory of the gestural sensations and summer camp rées remembered as dancer and choreographer. Acrylics, his favorite technique, indicate the narrow links between the pictorial representation and the direction of the dances.

For Mik Jégou, choreographic or pictorial writing is a similar work of notation to the movement of the dancer associated with a consideration of musical, rhythm, and emotional and clothing elements. This notation materializes either on stage or in a space. However, when the visual realization of what was thought is not possible, painting intervenes as visible demonstration  of this supposed impossibility. The improbable drape, the contradictory movement, and the unthinkable color open the imagination.

His work joins deeply with the will to develop a contemporary and popular imaging where the movement takes shape physically. He draws from his knowledge of the traditions of painting, the vast colored pallet, and the often fearless nature of the former fineries splendidly listed in XIX Century by F.H Lalaisse.

Sometimes representational, sometimes abstract, the movement  and the color compete in boldness to propose a personal but authentic vision on culture anchored in its time, but still very much alive.

America is frequently criticized on the world stage for being home to some of the most staunchly conservative and anti-progressive people. We’re the home of the Tea Party – a movement that has yet to cease embarrassing the American people at every opportunity it gets. It’s the party of Sarah Palin, a political figure widely dismissed as a joke even amongst the most conservative of political minds the world over.

And yet, even France, a country widely perceived in the U.S. as leftist, has its political parallel. Le Front national, or the National Front, is a nationalist political party founded in 1972 that composes much of the far-right constituency in France. Jean-Marie Le Pen, a highly controversial figure in French politics, was the party’s first leader and undeniable symbol of the French far right until his resignation in 2011. Although the party was definitively marginal for the majority of its political tenure, it has recently risen as the third largest political party in France, after the conservative centrist UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) – the party of Sarkozy – and the Socialists, led by recent president-elect François Hollande.

The Front is quite similar in its political aims to the American Tea Party, as both compose much of their respective country’s extreme right element, and have enjoyed a recent bout of political celebrity. Like the “Tea Baggers,” supporters of the Front tote policies that include economic protectionism (limiting international trade and outsourcing in favor of domestic production), strong opposition to immigration, and extreme cultural preservationism. That said, the parties differ hugely on economics, other than protectionism, that is. While American far-right conservatives are ruthlessly defensive of free market capitalism, the National Front is openly critical of the globalizing aspects of unregulated industry. This is rooted primarily in their support of domestic production and consumerism.

While the current head of the party, Marine Le Pen (daughter of Jean-Marie), might be compared to our Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann, in reality, she is quite different. Although she, like them, is a committed social conservative (anti-immigration, anti-multiculturalism, anti-same-sex marriage), she could not be politically further from Palin or Bachmann’s fiscal ideologies. While the darlings of the American right are inarguably against the use of taxation to support public services, Le Pen has made it public that she supports the government’s endeavors to provide health care, education, transportation, energy, and even banking.

While the American Tea Party hypocritically supports a physically smaller government with less powers of taxation, yet one that also has the power to intrude on the lives and choices of its citizens in a social regard, Le Pen might actually qualify as a more undeviating conservative. Although most (if not all) of her social policies would entail the government savagely intruding on the lives of its citizens, she accordingly supports that it provide basic amenities in return. In short, the Front may be abhorrent, but at least they’re consistent.

By Jake Flanagin

François Gérard Georges Hollande is the newly elected president of la République française. The former President of the Corrèze General Council defeated the incumbent, Nicolas Sarkozy, on May 6, 2012, and he is France’s first socialist president in seventeen years.

Hollande’s election is unsurprising of late, considering his resounding defeat of Sarkozy in the nation’s primary round of elections. Yet “just one year ago, the idea that François Hollande would become France’s next president would have been laughed at,” according to an Associated Press article published on the day of his election.

While Sarkozy is arguably one of the most recognized foreign heads of state in America (with Britain’s David Cameron, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and Germany’s Angela Merkel), little is known on this side of the Atlantic of whom the French call “Monsieur Normal.” So, for inquiring American minds, the French Culture Guide has compiled some quick facts about France’s president-elect.

-  Although Hollande has never held office in France’s national government, he’s no political rookie. He served as an economic adviser under François Mitterand (France’s last socialist president), was elected to parliament, and led the French socialist party for over a decade.

-  Hollande is a permanent bachelor. He enjoyed a 30+ year-long relationship with a fellow socialist politician and former presidential candidate, Segolene Royal. The pair had four children, but never married. Hollande’s current femme is Valerie Trierweiler, a political journalist for Paris Match.

-  Just as we do in the United States, the French love to poke fun at their politicians. While, for some reason, we have a fetishistic fascination with presidential ears (namely George W.’s and Obama’s), the French are equally as amused with Hollande’s “portliness.” In another article by the Associated Press, it was reported that he was called “a marshmallow… a flan custard…”

-  Hollande is staunchly anti-war. One of his campaign pledges was to bring French soldiers home earlier than NATO’s planned 2014 withdrawal from Afghanistan, aiming for the end of 2012.

-  It is rumored Hollande’s relationship with German chancellor Angela Merkel is frostier than that between her and Sarkozy. He aims to draw up a new contract of Franco-German relations that will protect French public services that German-led E.U. austerity measures aim to cut.

-  Hollande supports same-sex marriage and adoption for LGBT couples in France.

-  Hollande, like Barack Obama, is an academic at heart. He is the author of a vast number of books and academic papers on socialist economics and the political nature of France.

Does anyone remember Dominique Strauss-Kahn – the Frenchman placed under house arrest here in New York City for allegedly assaulting a hotel maid? Well, Hollande is, for all intents and purposes, his political replacement!

By Jake Flanagin

Baseball is an American tradition, and when you come to New York City, you unequivocally have to support the Knicks for basketball, the Rangers for Hockey, and Yankees or the Mets for baseball. Fans head to the games, and for more than five months each year, Yankee Stadium welcomes thousands of people, mostly supporters, to watch their team go for the championship.

The baseball season launches in the spring and gives not only the opportunity to get familiar with a deeply American custom, also a chance to visit the colossal Yankee Stadium. Once you penetrate this mythic sanctuary, everybody has the same expression of amazement: the stadium is a lot to take. You feel so small once you are inside and it makes you feel intimidated. Every time I had the chance to attend a game, I chose to be part of the crowd in the bleachers. It’s the best deal ever: the cheapest and with the most amazing experience. The seats face the umpire and you sit among the real fans. An incredible energy comes from the supporters who mark their presence by wearing different sponsored accessories and cheering tirelessly. Despite the chilly weather, people were present and even brought Yankee blankets to protect them from the cold. Being in the bleachers allows you to have the chance to share special moments with everybody around you. Some of them will even explain the rules to you and give you the best tips.

As soon as the game starts, you can notice the rhythm of the play. On average, a baseball game lasts around three hours, but in terms of the game itself, there are nine innings, and you can split each inning in two – the top and the bottom halves. If you are used to an NBA game where you barely have time to follow the ball, in baseball, it won’t be an issue. You have all the time you need. Actually, the Yankees game is not just about the players on the field. The whole stadium is performing different roles: some are playing the game – the players, themselves; others are consuming the different products on sale in the stadium, while others are cheering on the team and observing the age-old traditions.

The game itself is kind of hard to understand and follow. It’s not because the rules are complicated as in American football, which is still a mystery to me; it’s because there are too many rules and so many distractions that finally you don’t really focus on the details.

I still remember my first game last summer where I figured out the result the day after in the newspaper!

In this huge stadium, there is a huge screen airing different games for participating fans to entertain the public during the breaks. All of them are Yankees-related, and you can play to win different prizes offered by the official sponsors. Among the suggested games, you can guess whose baby picture is on the big screen or identify the voice of one of the players. You can also be a star for the day if you are lucky enough to be chosen by the camera and your image projected on the screen.  Cheering the Yankees on is a mandatory duty, especially if you are in the bleachers. You can even find a “battle” between the different sections to determine which ones are more fervent supporters. “Let’s go Yankees,” followed by the appropriate number of claps is reproduced by everybody and resonates in the whole stadium.

Three key moments during each game bring everyone together. The first one is standing up and singing the “Star Spangled Banner” proudly and solemnly in unison. Then comes the common choreography where everyone carefully follows the steps for “YMCA.” Finally, the last but most intense moment, “New York, New York” by Sinatra who makes the walls of the stadium vibrate while people dance, sing and take pictures.

By Kenza Yahrfouri