April 2022 - My Review : What I’ve seen, What I’ve read, What I’ve written about, What I’ve listened to, etc.
What I’ve seen …
FILM | The French Dispatch (2021), by Wes Anderson
Synopsis :
“ Faced with the impending dissolution of The French Dispatch, a factual weekly report on various subjects, old-school editor-in-chief Arthur Howitzer Jr. assembles the crème de la crème of the magazine's loyal expatriate journalists for one final issue. Against the backdrop of picturesque Ennui-sur-Blasé, Paris, France, three main articles unfold, pivoting around tormented genius artists, statuesque prison officers, flamboyant critics, moody idealists, conflicted ace reporters, legendary chefs, and, of course, the police.” — Nick Riganas
Main casting :
Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Jeffrey Wright, Léa Seydoux, Thimothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri.
Music by :
Alexandre Desplat
Country : USA
Languages : English, French
Official trailer
FILM | " I love America " (2022), by Lisa Azuelos
Synopsis :
A single woman decides to try love again by catapulting her life from Paris to Los Angeles. From awkward dates to touching surprise encounters, she understands that the journey to love is a journey to herself.
Main casting :
Sophie Marceau, Djanis Bouzyani, Colin Woodell
Country : France
Languages : French, English
FILM | " Larry Crowne " (2022), by Tom Hanks
Synopsis :
Freshly fired from a position he had held for years, Larry Crowne decides to enroll in the University to start over with studies. Having been told that he was fired because of not having studied. This change in his professional life and journey takes a more personal turn when he falls under the spell of his oral expression teacher, Ms. Tainot. Beautiful, cynical, disillusioned by the distressing level of her students and disappointed by her marriage, she is also at a turning point in her life... Will they be entitled to a second chance?
Main casting :
Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Rami Malek, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Cedric The Entertainer.
Country : USA
Languages : English, French
MINI-SERIES | " A Very British Scandal " (2021), by Sarah Phelps
Synopsis :
The story of events surrounding the notorious divorce of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll during the 1960s.
Main casting :
Claire Foy, Paul Bettany.
Country : UK
Languages : English, French
What I’ve listened to …
MUSICS : My April Playlist
Each month, I collect and share in a playlist, all the songs and musics that I have been able to listen to during that period. Among these songs and musics, there may be some that are unconditional and timeless tunes for me, and that I may have been listening to for years often. Or if not that have quickly become part of my emotional and musical heritage. Others are songs and musics, which I listen to more periodically, but which remain regular listenings, although spaced out in time. Finally, there are songs and musics that I discover or (re-)discover. For example, in my playlist of the month, I like to include songs and musics that I have discovered or rediscovered thanks to the use of my Shazam application, which I can brandish at any time, as soon as I hear a few notes of music that I appreciate, that speak to me, which touch me too in any way. This can happen when I'm watching a movie, a series, an advertisement, when I'm on the street, in a taxi and that the radio is on, for example.
PODCAST | “ Biblioscapes in Discussion ” - Episode : “ In Discussion With Matt Parker ”
“ I have become fascinated by the forms and shapes of certain elements and the thoughts and emotions that they inspire within me. It is my personal response to the way I see my environment.”
PS : I take the opportunity of evoking here the artistic work of Matt, to thank him again here, for having also inspired me this structure of article (What I’ve seen, What I’ve listened to, What I’ve read about, etc.) , which he uses too, in particular for writing and sharing his monthly newsletters.
PODCAST | “ Expansion ” by Eric Flag
- Episode : “ Partir seul travailler depuis le bout du monde ” (In French)
Eric Flag is a young man, Franco-Swiss, in his thirties. Known by some, for being today, for a few years already, the creator of a Youtube channel with his name, but also of a company and an online store, with his name too. As well known for being considered as a "fitness influencer" shall we say. His passion: bodybuilding. In particular, the discipline called "street workout ".
For my part, not being an athletic woman, practicing even less bodybuilding and street workout, it may seem surprising that I follow someone like Eric Flag.
I am a woman (where probably mostly men follow him), and not athletic. Not practicing bodybuilding, not being either for my part passionate about bodybuilding or muscular men.
However, I have been following Eric Flag since his debut, and I have no regrets.
Without knowing him personally, I am very happy for him with all the path he has done, and grown through. All of that, within a few years, and with this wish he had, and of course, he is not the only one, especially in our current era and societies : the wish not to follow a traditional professional and life path, as he could have or could still, but to try to follow a path more in the image of what fascinated him and still fascinates him.
In this podcast episode, Eric Flag reflects on his recent 3-week life experience, in Bali, Indonesia. Eric Flag also recalls about his introverted nature. And yet, to listen to him, as like with many introverts who nevertheless expose themselves somewhat, his voice is always warm and playful.
Eric Flag's podcast can be found every Thursday at 5 p.m (in French, but he understands and speaks English too)., where he discusses, alone or accompanied about personal development, creation, entrepreneurship, sport and nutrition!
What I have read about …
NEWSLETTER | The World of Matt Parker
Matt Parker mentions in particular the podcast episode of which he was the guest recently, in the Biblioscapes podcast, and that I’ve mentioned upper in this article.
NEWSLETTER | Merrygraph, la “ Lettre créative ” (in French)
About Magali and Merrygraph :
Magali is a creative. Magali, owns and interacts via: a Youtube Channel , a website, a weekly creative letter and online workshops.
The positive vibes and word of Magali alias Merrygraph :
Inspirational words, phrases and reminders such as:
"If you want to express yourself, if you have a feeling to share, an experience to bring, then above all, express yourself."
"There is no single way of seeing the world. There are multiple prisms, multiple nuances, multiple perceptions."
"YOUR way of seeing the world can be an opportunity for someone to recognize themselves in what you say or do."
At the end of each creative letter, we even have the right to a small "creative prescription".
Like the following for example:
"Creative prescription: Take 5 minutes to stroll, scribble, scramble, and tell yourself this little word: Yes, I allow myself to express myself."
My additive personal note :
I discovered Merrygraph's Youtube channel (in French) in April.
I had to start assembling a new piece of furniture for my interior, and as often, at the same time as I'm already doing something, I needed and I need to be able to do something else, at least intellectually. This also furnishes. And that's how, somewhat by chance, my browser made me discover Merrygraph's Youtube channel.
It was followed by the viewing of several Youtube videos of Merrygraph. I was immediately captivated by: her way of being, her way of expressing herself, confiding, wanting to share, wanting to advise. I was also extremely fascinated and admiring the evidence of her great abilities and sensitivities to know how to edit videos, provide narration, etc. Also her videos and their narration always bring something that overall remains soothing. Even when she evokes, clearly, or half-words, less easy various things.
Merrygraph understands and speaks English. She even lived for a few years in Los Angeles in the USA. Today, she lives in France.
Where I’ve been to …
FOOD | Chez … “ Yummy Asian Food ”
“ Yummy Asian Food ” : a relaxed style Japanese restaurant offering classic dishes (pokés, tempuras, ramens, etc.) to eat in or take away in Paris, in one of its popular districts, not far from the Gare de l'Est.
I had a great time there with my sister, and two of our male friends. A relaxed afternoon. An afternoon also of escape in a very dreamlike Asian atmosphere. I was fascinated by the parasols hanging from part of the ceiling of the restaurant, and the creative that I am could only feel inspired to take a series of photos, trying to transcribe this atmosphere and this joy.
EXPO | Rendez-vous à … La Galerie Dior,
Avenue Montaigne, Paris
On March 9, 2022, the Dior Gallery opened its doors … at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, the iconic and historic address of the haute couture house Dior, named after its creator Christian Dior (1905-1957).
Within this Gallery, built and fitted out like a veritable almost endless temple : a magnificent and fascinating exhibition has been built.
At the beginning of April, my sister and I, accompanied by two of our male friends, went there and we were and remain all agree : a magnificent, fascinating and grandiose exhibition!
Whether you are a fan of fashion or not, a fan of Dior or not, of dresses, hats, bags and others, or not, this exhibition reflects a work of reflection, construction and organization, impressive, consequent, fine and meticulous.
All of this offers to the visitor, for sure : a memorable and fascinating experience.
Of course I took pictures. Many, many, many photos and I certainly can't share them all, but certainly here, and afterwards, I wanted to share a certain number of them, to share a bit of this experience with you.