Bulletin Culturel January 2010

focus

NOUVELLE VAGUE

WINTERCITY INVITES LES PASSAGERS

Holidays. Seasonal greetings. In case you left home, you did not care for the Contents bare bike racks, deserted malls and dull joints: after frost, snow takes time to powder surfaces. May Peace be with you, whatever your journey is. PAGE 3 - Festival Take those two diaries to check yours out: PAGE 4 - Exhibitions

“I wrote a pamphlet “F.A. de Chateaubriand, on his way back from the holy PAGE 6 - Music land, is castaway on the Lampedousa Island, December the 28th of 1806. Into PAGE 7 - Cinema an empty bottle, in order to throw it away at the last minute, I slipped this PAGE 8 - Television note in.” (*) PAGE 9 - Speakings “January the 1rst, 1908. We are quite close to Madagascar. We just entered PAGE 10 - DVDs rains season. Comoros emerge like moutains. Sharks follow the boat. » Jean Paulhan’s letter (**)

Joël Savary, Attaché Culturel (*) « Itinéraire de Paris à Jérusalem » by M. le Vicomte de Chateaubriand, Li- brairie de Firmin Didot, Paris, 1863, p 148 (**) « Lettres de Madagascar 1907-1910» by Jean Paulhan, edited by Laurence Ink, Editions Claire Paulhan, Paris, 2007, p 63 January 2010

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 123 News editor: Joël Savary Creative writer: Martin Colomer-Diez Audiovisual: Marie Hérault-Delanoë Book: Léa Deshusses Music: Simon Grignon

45678910 APOSTROPHES ON LE CLÉZIO

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 TOWARDS A CULTURE OF NON-VIOLENCE

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 MARIE JAGER OPENING RECEPTION

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NOUVELLE VAGUE LES LES LES MEMORY AND PASSAGERS PASSAGERS PASSAGERS MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD

2 Festival

WINTERCITY FESTIVAL IN TORONTO INVITES LES PASSAGERS

Three spectacular aerial produc- tions by Compagnie Les Passagers combine theatre, dance and acrobat- ics, all performed to original musical scores on a massive vertical stage.

TIME IS Inspired by the seasons and passing of time, this poetic show transposes an astounding vision of traditional and contemporary China onto a verti- cal world of dragons, lanterns, kites, the Lion and Fan dance, and Kung Fu choreography featuring 14 synchro- nized performers. Friday, January 29 / 8 pm Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West

COSMOGONIA In a succession of 12 scenes, the book of Genesis is recounted, played, and danced on a background of pro- jected images portraying the Ele- ments, cascading water and fire. Saturday, January 30 / 8 pm Sunday, January 31 / 7 pm Saturday, February 6 / 8 pm Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West

NAMASTEY This extravagant Bollywood-style performance brings to life the melo- drama, humour, colour and of course, the fabulous music and dance of the Indian movie industry. Friday, February 5 / 8 pm Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West

3 TORONTO UNIVERSITY LIBRARY (ROBARTS LIBRARY) Exhibitions 130 SAINT GEORGE STREET TORONTO, ON (416) 971-3131 FROM JANUARY 4 2010 CARL KÖHLER - FRENCH AUTHORPORTRAITS JUSQU’À FIN MARS

CARL KÖHLER EXHIBITS AT painting and collage, experimenting THE ROBERTS LIBRARY IN freely with different expressions, TORONTO techniques and subjects, which he found in the worlds of theatre, music, dance and literature. Using oil, acrylic, drawings and graphics, he

Alfred Jarry Cocteau, Günter Grass, Henry Miller, Franz Kafka, Joyce Carol Oates, Vir- ginia Woolf and others. Antonin Artaud Carl Kohler worked mainly with Guillaume Appolinaire Carl Köhler painted many special and unique author portraits that appeal to worked in the neo modernist tradi- those interested in both art and liter- tion. ature. (Henry & Frida Kohler) Carl Köhler displayed his work “Each face possesses a certain exag- throughout Sweden. He received sev- geration - want to live on at the be- eral cultural and art scholarships dur- holder. Perhaps, I look for a specific ing his life, the last of which was face, the poetic dimension.” (Carl awarded from the Swedish Painters Köhler) Society when he was 85, with the mo- tivation. View a retrospective on author por- traits in oil and ink by the late Carl Köhler (1919 – 2006). The artwork of this Swedish artist and sculptor, who was inspired by art and literature, features James Joyce, Brendan Behan, Samuel Beckett, Jean François Mauriac 4 MARIE JAGER EXHIBITS AT MERCER UNION

Marie Jager (b.1975, Copenhagen DK, French citizen) lives and works in Paris and Los Angeles. Jager studied at the University of Southern Califor- nia, completing her MFA in 2004. Marie Jager uses fiction as a way to engage with landscape and space. Producing work out of novels and es- says, Jager’s practice explores the in- terrelations between fiction, time and the landscape. Jager adapts and translates books into paintings, films, prints and sculptural objects, investi- gating the relationship between the written word and the image, a piece of writing and a specific landscape, an imaginary space and an existing site. California Biennial and her work was Eclipse” opening Friday 22 January, Her work has been presented in such recently part of the DVD “compiler 2” 7 pm (free and open to the public) at venues as Artists Space (NY), China curated by Daniel Bauman and Mercer Union. Art Objects (LA), the MAK Center screened at the Swiss Institute in New (LA), Croy Nielsen (Berlin), and Jef- York, her work has been written 1286 BLOOR STREET WEST, frey Charles Gallery (London) Mu- about recently in Flash Art and Artfo- TORONTO, ON M6H 1N9, seum of Contemporary Art (MOCA, rum. CANADA LA) and the Henry Art Gallery (Seat- Some of her works will be part of (416) 536-1519 tle). She was included in the 2006 the group show titled “Days of the MERCERUNION.ORG

KARINE BARRAS’ PHOTOS EXHIBITION

ÉVASION… MONDE DU CIEL ET Born in France in 1972, Karine Bar- images. DES SONGES rass has worked as a professional pho- [ESCAPE... A WORLD OF SKIES tographer for 15 years, in the fields FROM JANUARY 15 TO FEBRU- AND DREAMS] of sports, news and fashion. She has ARY 13 criss-crossed the world with her ar- AFT SPADINA It is a project which has evolved gentic camera, in her quest for a GALERIE PIERRE-LÉON over the years. Connecting dreams communion and resonance through 24 SPADINA ROAD and reality, her work is an invitation images. MONDAY TO THURSDAY : 9AM- to take flight on the back of volup- Her training in the field of infogra- 9PM tuous giants, and discover another di- phy and her desire to innovate have FRIDAY : 9AM-4PM mension. Karine Barrass soars above led her to experiment with different FREE ENTRANCE the world we live in, allowing us to lab techniques, a quest which ac- see it through her eyes. counts for the distinct quality of her 5 Music

NOUVELLE VAGUE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 TH

NOUVELLE VAGUE PERFORMS NV3 differs from its predecessors is in WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27TH AT the arrangements of the songs. Aside THE OPERA HOUSE from the reggae and bossa nova inter- pretations, the songs are also inspired by country music and bluegrass. For this is what they do best; they take the songs that you adore and make you fall in love with them all over again.

http://www.myspace.com/nouvelle vague

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27TH OPERA HOUSE 735 QUEEN ST. EAST TORONTO DOORS: 8PM +19 $24.50 WWW.TICKETMASTER.CA

The French band that conquered the world with bossa nova covers of punk and new wave classics, return in time for summer with their third album “3”. Led by producer/arrangers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux and sung by a revolving cast of chanteuses, the group’s first two albums, Nouvelle Vague (2004) and Bande A Part (2006) have sold well over half-a-million copies. Not wishing to tinker with this winning formula, but evolving all the same, Nouvelle Vague “3” picks up where Bande A Part left off, and this time they’re performing duets with the original singers. The other way

6 Cinema

BAY OF ANGELS BY JACQUES DEMY

As part of Universciné, screening of tions, but mostly on the man- the movie: dolin. It's a movie that sweeps Tuesday, January 19 you along, just as fast and unpre- AFT Spadina BAY OF ANGELS BY JACQUES dictable as a spin on the roulette 24 Spadina Road DEMY wheel. This is a film in which At 7:30 pm Jacques Demy's second feature is "black-and-white" becomes a daz- Monday, January 25 an amazingly fluid, vibrant com- zling metaphor, so that the sun- AFT Mississauga edy about love and luck, starring drenched exteriors of the south of 4261 Sherwoodtown Blvd Jeanne Moreau at her (dazzling) France are contrasted with the Mississauga ON L4Z 1Y5 best. And she is literally dazzling, various interiors of hotel rooms At 7pm in resplendent costumes (mostly and casinos. Bay of Angels is one Monday, January 25 by Pierre Cardin) and radiantly of the most passionate state- AFT North York blonde. The music by Michel ments on love and faith in the 95 Sheppard Avenue W. Legrand is one of his best scores modern cinema, and it's a work of North York, M2N 1M4 ever, as it sweeps through the true enchantment. At 7:30 pm film, carrying everything along With Jeanne Moreau and Claude with two basic themes, one furi- Mann Free entrance ously accelerated piano theme, English subtitles the other a softer, more lilting theme played in different varia-

APOSTROPHE ON JEAN-MARIE LE CLÉZIO

Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio. established his reputation as a poet, JMG Le Clézio’s first published translator and essayist in his home- novel, Le Procès-verbal (1963), was land of Argentina. With Pierre Mé- an instant hit. Until the 1970’s, his nard, auteur du Quichotte and Le style bore the imprint of the French Jardin aux sentiers qui bifurquent Nouveau Roman. He was later influ- (The Garden of Forking Paths), he enced by his family roots, constant gradually moved away from poetry to travels and native cultures, and his focus on the genre which made him novels (such as Désert and Le famous throughout the world : narra- Chercheur d'or) became vehicles for tive fiction. The range, variety and the explorations of dreams and quality of his output earned him mythology. He has written over 40 many distinctions throughout the works of fiction (novels, tales and world. short stories) as well as essays. JMG On the occasion of their 250th show, Le Clézio was awarded the Nobel Original broadcast: September 19, Bernard Pivot brought the Apostro- Prize for literature in 2008. 1980 phes audience into the homes of two Jorge Luis Borges is a major figure Duration: 66 minutes master writers, Jorge Luis Borges and of the literary avant-garde. He first 7 THE CULTURAL OFFICE OF THE FRENCH CONSULATE IN Television TORONTO PRESENT OUR SELECTION OF TFO FRENCH CINEMA PROGRAM

TFO presents four François Ozon GOUTTES D’EAU SUR PIERRES France, 1998. 85 mins. With Evelyne movies who has been recently in- BRÛLANTES BY FRANÇOIS OZON Dandry, François Marthouret, Marina vited to the Toronto International Germany in the 70s. Léopold, a 50 De Van. Film Festival with his last movie: year old businessman, meets Franz, Tuesday, January 19th, 9pm Le Refuge. Huit Femmes, Sous le who is 20. He invites him back to his Wednesday, January 20th, sable, Gouttes d’eau sur pierres place. A love affair begins. One day, 12:30pm brûlantes et Sitcom will be the four something of little importance leads Monday, February 1st, 12:30pm movies presented. to a difference of opinion. And from this moment on, there's no such thing SOUS LE SABLE BY FRANÇOIS HUIT FEMMES BYFRANÇOIS OZON as "we" anymore. OZON One morning the industrialist Marcel France, 1999. 90 mins. With Marie, a professor of English litera- is found stabbed in his room. Eight Bernard Giraudeau, Malik Zidi, ture in a Paris university, has been women are his potential murderers: Ludivine Sagnier happily married to Jean for 25 years, his wife Gaby, his daughters Suzon Tuesday, January 19th, 9pm although they have no children. Dur- and Catherine, his mother-in-law Wednesday, January 20th, ing their summer vacations in the Mamy, his sister-in-law Augustine, his 12:30pm southwest of France, Jean leaves sister Pierette, the cook Chanel and Monday, January 25th, 12:30pm Marie sunbathing on the beach and the maid Louise. The house is isolated in a snowstorm, the phone is dead and one of them has to be the culprit. Mutual suspicions reveal the various secrets in their lives. France, 2001. 101 mins. With Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Béart. Tuesday, January 5th, 9pm Wednesday, January 6th, 12:30pm Monday, January 11th, 12:30pm

goes to swim in the sea. When Marie SITCOM BY FRANÇOIS OZON turns back, she cannot find Jean. Has The adventures of an upper-class he left her? commited suicide? suburban family abruptly con- drowned? With no clue and no body fronted with the younger to mourn over, Marie acts as her hus- brother's discovery of his homo- band was still alive. sexuality, the elder sister's sui- France, 2001. 95 mins. With Charlotte cide attempt and sado-masochist Rampling, Bruno Cremer, Jacques Nolot. tendencies, and the intrusion of a Tuesday, January 12th, 9pm very free-spirited maid and her Wednesday, January 13th, 12:30pm husband... And it all started with Monday, January 18th, 12:30pm the arrival in the family of an in- nocent looking rat... 8 Speakings

TOWARDS A CULTURE OF NON-VIOLENCE BY RAMIN JAHANBEGLOO

non-violence and the strategy of non- violent action. These occupy registers that must be considered distinct, al- though not necessarily separate. One who engages on the path of non-vio- lence is an ethical being, who WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 negates violence, both from himself AFT SPADINA and others. As with all ethical imper- GALERIE PIERRE-LÉON atives, non-violence presents a de- 24 SPADINA ROAD mand: to work for truth and justice. AT 6:30PM The non-violent option is not rooted FREE ENTRANCE in the ideal of a perfectly non-violent IN FRENCH society which must be applied to re- ality. In fact, the opposite is true: Ramin Jahanbegloo is a Canadian non-violence is founded in the aware- philosopher and political scientist of ness of the reality of the various Iranian descent. forms of violence that plague our so- In his conference, Ramin Jahange- ciety, and in the willingness to trans- gloo stresses the crucial distinction form this reality to the extent that is between the spiritual imperative of possible.

MEMORY AND MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD BY DANIÈLE CALOZ

As part of its cycle of conferences, we start collecting lasting memories. following practical questions: How to la Société d’Histoire de Toronto pres- But can one really trust one’s memo- increase the quality and reliability of ents: ries? How does a child construct these our memories? How to help our chil- memories? How do we remember dren gather good memories? We all have childhood memories. them as adults? And why does our They are as precious as they are memory betray us far more often unique. They are the cornerstone of than we think? WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 our identity, our personality and our This is the theme of a discussion AFT SPADINA abilities. They ensure we have a seat that will engage the audience in dia- GALERIE PIERRE-LÉON at the forum of history. logue around the idea of the nature, 24 SPADINA ROAD After only three weeks, the fetus is durability and reliability of our child- AT 7 PM already able to remember. However, hood memories. FREE ENTRANCE it is at the age of two or three that The conference will close with the IN FRENCH

9 DVDs

SANS RANCUNE! BY YVES HANCHAR While attending boarding school in post-war Belgium, 17-year-old Lau- rent searches for his father, who dis- appeared during an air raid. He feels as though he has found him in the SANS RANCUNE! BY charismatic French teacher, Vapour, an eccentric figure who inspires Lau- YVES HANCHAR rent to become a writer. Laurent’s AVAILABLE IN DVD quest to find his father becomes en- tangled in the plot of his first novel, and as he investigates his uncertain past, he will be forced to confront the truth of his present.

LA FILLE DU RER BY ANDRÉ TÉCH- INÉ

Jeanne (Émilie Dequenne) is a young woman living in the suburbs of Paris with her widowed mother Louise (Catherine Deneuve). Her slacker lifestyle is disrupted when she sparks LA FILLE DU RER an online courtship with Franck, an aspiring wrestler. When their real- BY ANDRÉ THÉCHINÉ life romance becomes destructive, AVAILABLE IN DVD Jeanne responds by going public with a story of being attacked on the train, casting herself as a mistaken victim of a hate crime.

10 PLAY WITH US TO WIN A DVD OF SANS RANCUNE!

Offered by Mongrel Media Be among th first to correctly answer the question:

Which movie directed by André Téchiné is taken from a famous English nineteenth century family of writers ?

Send your answer at: [email protected] Don’t forget to mention your address

STUDYING IN FRANCE MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH

11