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Why is French "Baguette" so famous in France?

Dear readers,

In France bread is an integral part of our routine meals. 

French "baguette"
If you have the chance to go there don't be surprise if you see French bread laid on tables for breakfast, lunch or dinner in restaurants! 
The most common one is the "French baguette". If you go to France you will probably see some baguettes tops peeping from underneath peoples' arm. 


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"Let's go to Larzac" The story of brave people who love their land


Larzac plateau


Tous au Larzac is a French documentary by Christian Rouaud. The story revolves around the none-violent conflict between the farmers of the Larzac and the French Army. Everything begins in 1971 when M Michel Debre minister for defence decided to expand the military camp of Larzac, an extension from 3000 to 17000 hectares. The farmers lived there. A hundred and seven farmers were threatened of eviction. 
Marizette Tarlier, one of the farmer living on the plateau Larzac
 These farmers learnt it while they were watching television. Their first reaction was : "We have guns, if they dare to come here we will defend ourselves but there will be victims." Then on second thought they realized they would be no match for the army. Consequently they decided to do a none-violent protest. Then they made a vow of resistance and promised they would always stand by each other against  the army and never let them take their lands whatever the tricks they were going to use. The protest would be none-violent up to the end of the conflict. They knew they would never be able to do it on their own. As a result they made an appeal. Eventually the 68s generation will answer the call and go to the Larzac (around 100000 people). Most people in France supported the cause despite the government's will to discredit the inhabitants of Larzac as well as it's supporters (hippies).

About 100000 people came to support the Larzac cause.
What is striking is that the farmers did not talk to each other at all before the beginning of the conflict. All these people were living on their own. Some were local farmers who had lived there for generations, others just settled and had taken heavy mortgage to buy their land. Then the hippies came to support the cause. One of the Larzac's farmer recalled : "They had long hair and were scantily dressed, they did not know nothing about how to work the land but they had the will and it was good enough!".
Beginning of the march
As the fight went on for 10 years, an invisible bond appeared between them. Some people even thought at the end of the conflict : "What are we going to do now? I mean I loved the moments when we were all together at the town center, sharing thoughts and having dinner alltogether. I will feel empty after this."
March on Paris
Several times they made a march on Paris. The conflict had lasted almost 10 years, they tried everything. For the march they decided to walk in silence as they thought it would be more efficient than shouting out slogans. People could only hear the sound of the farmers' stick on the pavement as they walk on the streets of Paris. Most people in Paris supported their cause and were impressed by the silent walk.
Green field, Larzac
The good news is that they finally won. In may 1981, the French presidential election was coming. François Miterrand (Left Wing) who was candidate knew that a huge amount of people were against the expansion of the military camp. He then promised to stop the project if he was elected. The farmers were nervous. Most of them could not vote as the government put pressure on them and removed most of their rights. Some of them heard the news by urban friends and workers who gave them a call! Not everybody had a television at the time. 
Sunset in Larzac
The story is amazing. Up to now the landscape has been protected thanks to hundred thousand people who rolled up their sleeves for a cause.

Apart from the story, the film is way too slow, you will probably be yawning many times if you decide to watch it. I still wanted to share it as I truly think it is a good reminder for the younger generations.  Marizette Tarlier was invited on a TV show to talk about the Larzac conflict. At the end the interviewer asked her if she had a message to pass on. Then she said : "One should not accept everything the government wants to impose to him. One should have the courage to stand up and say no. People have to stand by each other."

BobbyManhattan
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Written by Bobby in ,


Christa Theret Interview

Christa Theret, French Beauty
Christa Theret : Interview
Here is an unique interview of Christa Theret the movie "La Brindille" (= The Twig). Enjoy!
What did you like in the script of "La Brindille" ?
I reckon the topic is taboo and difficult to deal with. What I enjoy is the way the character was created. I think there is no self-pity or pathos that one can find in some French films. The film has a sort of sunny  with a good pace. One neither feel sorry for the main character nor judge him. 

 How would you describe your character Sarah?
She is is quite of a lonewolf who is engrossed into art. One can imagine she did not know her father and that her mother was not there in her life, maybe because she worked until late at night. She learned how to get by in life quickly. She became independent  and determined. Sarah has been pregnant for 6 months but she is still slim. She is going through a denial of her pregnancy. Even when she becomes aware of it, she rejects the child. She is a self-driven woman who will not be influenced by others in her choice not to keep the baby.

When you play the character, what was the most difficult aspect of iher you have to deal with?
Sarah internalizes things a lot. I do it too but I'm more lively and I talk faster. Sarah is more into contemplation, internalization when Christa is more into internalizing first before she speaks. The challenge for me was to stay calm.

Christa Théret with Emmanuelle Millet

When you say Christa, it looks like you also play a character as an actor...
As a human being especially. Yes I do because people are characters at the end. Everyday life is made of little roles.

 How did you prepare yourself for the character ? Did you meet women who gave birth to their babies anonymously?
I went with Emmanuelle Millet (ndlr director) to see a woman who went through a pregnancy denial. I had a very intuitive and spontaneous approach to the character. Sarah is astonished when she heard that she was pregnant. I had to keep this spontaneity and avoid to intellectualize it above all. I have liberty for the part in a way as everything was already written down in the script. I did not want to overplay the part.

In "Lol" and "Et toi, t'es sur qui?"(=And you, who are you into?), you played teenagers. Since 2010 in "Le Bruit des glaçons" (with Jean Dujardin), "Mike" and "La Brindille" (=The twig), you play characters who make their first steps in the grown ups world.
Yes because after "Lol" I wanted to go into more mature characters with more sorrow and pain. I really like "sad" parts and the dramatic side of events. It is a category of role I enjoy playing.

 So Comedy is over ?
No but the future roles that I will play will remain dramatic. For now I did not read any comedy that I really like. There may be one actually but as it is not certain I will not talk about it.

 How do see the future of you career?
I can't imagine it because I don't really think about it. I'm sailing from a trip to the other. I will have two film shoots with great parts. Then I want to go abroad very far, alone for 3 or 4 months to avoid to put on hold my career. The 19th of September I will start the shooting of a film by Gilles Bourdos with C.Bouquer et V.Rottiers about the last days of the Painter Renoir. We will play the the main characters. I will have to dance in the film so I am training everyday to get ready.
How would you describe French movies?
When you watch movies like "La  guerre est déclarée" (=Was has been declared) I think we do very beautiful stuff that can be remarkable. In general I enjoy French movies. However it may lack some cynicism and irony. On the other hand, every film is different and I have good surprises.

 Do you feel some pressure being considered "a French movie young hope"
My parents don't belong to the cinema world neither do my friends. I don't hang out to the mundane party. But yes I still feel the pressure. On the other hand, I never ask anybody for anything. Somebody discovered me and I like what I do. Eventually I enjoy what I have. 

Interviewed by Clément Sautet
Translated by
BobbyManhattan


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