Photo of the Week
Another view of the Centre Pompidou. Photo © Darren Palmer of Paris by Photo.
Wednesday, 30 May 2012 00:00
Paris Update What's New in Paris
RESTAURANT/CLUB/CAFE
Wanderlust: Finally, part of Les Docks, Cité de la Mode et Design will open to the public on June 6. Brunch on the terrace, take a yoga class, take in a concert or dance all night. 34, quai d'Austerlitz, 75013 Paris.
SHOPS
Stella Cadente: The designer of very feminine clothing and accessories has a new Paris store that's like a gold-lined tunnel. 102 boulevard Beaumarchais, 75011 Paris.
Ecolo-Chic: Pop-up store in the Marais selling ethically resourced products, from toys and design to organic wine. 90, rue des Archives, 75003 Paris.
SMOKING
A new organization, L'Union pour les Droits des Fumeurs Adultes, has been formed to lobby for the rights of French smokers
JUSTIN ON THE ROOFTOPS
Keep your eyes peeled: Justin Bieber will be filming for the Web TV program live@home in an undisclosed location on the rooftops of Paris on the evening of May 31. Click here to win a pass to the taping.
Wednesday, 30 May 2012 00:00
Paris Update Flash News
CAKE THE WAY WE LIKE IT
Goodies on display at Merce and the Muse.
Nowadays, American expatriates in Paris can easily satisfy almost all their nostalgic food cravings, from hamburgers to Reese’s peanut-butter cups or Oreo cookies. Until Merce and the Muse opened in the Upper Marais, however, it wasn’t easy to find good homemade, American-style cakes. The desserts at this homey, flea-market-furnished café are not just good, they are scrumptious and original, made from owner Merce Muse’s own recipes. The other day I shared a slice of chocolate layer cake with vanilla icing and another of pistachio cake with rose icing with a friend, but in truth I wanted to eat all of both of them. 1 bis, rue Dupuis, 75003 Paris. Tel.: 09 53 14 53 04. Open Tues.-Sun. for breakfast, lunch and coffee; brunch on Sunday. Heidi Ellison
Paris Update This Week's Events
For full details about an event, click on its name to visit the official Web site (in English when available).
 Art Saint-Germain-des-Prés
>Left Bank gallery walk. Collective opening, May 31, 6pm. May 31-June 3.
Carré Rive Gauche
>Another Left Bank gallery walk, with 120 participating galleries. June 1-June 3.
Champs-Elysées Film Festival
>A new Franco-American film festival, presided over by Lambert Wilson and Michael Madsen. Various locations, Paris, June 6-12.
Chartre en Lumières
> The town of Chartres illuminates its monuments and the cathedral with colorful light installations. Through Sept. 15.
Designer's Days
>Design shops, galleries, schools and more participate in a city-wide design event. Various locations, Paris, May 31-June 4.
Festival de l'Imaginaire
> Performances by troupes from around the world, Maison des Cultures du Monde, Paris, through June 17.
Festival de Saint Denis
> Music festival featuring both stars like Sir Colin Davis and young talents; ends with a dawn performance by horse whisperer Bartabas and oud player Mehdi Haddab, Cathedral and Legion of Honor, Saint Denis, through June 30.
Festival Extensions
> Concerts, dance, films and more, various locations, Paris and Val de Marne, through May 31.
Festival International des Jardins de Chaumont-sur-Loire
>"Gardens of delights, gardens of delirium" is the theme of this year's garden festival, Chaumont-sur-Loire, through Oct. 21.
Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés
>Jazz acts ranging from amateur to big names like Ahmad Jamal and Yusef Lateef (together). Various locations, Paris, Through June 3.
Le Court en Dit Long
>Festival of short films. Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris, June 4-9.
Nomades
>Cultural festival in the third arrondissement; art, poetry, concerts and more. Various locations, Paris, May 31-June 3.
Quinzaine des Réalisateurs
>The features and short subjects entered in this category at the Cannes Film Festival shown in Paris, Forum des Images, Paris, May 31-June 10
Salon du Vin de La Revue du Vin de France
>Annual wine fair. Palais Brongniart, Paris, June 2-3
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Ceux qui Restent
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Film
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/ Drama
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Created on Tuesday, 11 September 2007 23:00
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Published on Sunday, 22 February 2009 21:45
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Written by Heidi Ellison
Behind Closed Doors
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Bertrand (Vincent Lindon) gets some much-needed household help from his sister (director Anne Le Ny).
The talented actress Anne Le Ny has made a promising start with Ceux qui Restent (Those Who Remain), her first film as a director and screenwriter, for which she has chosen an unusual subject and point of view.
The film tells the story of Bertrand (Vincent Lindon) and Lorraine (Emmanuelle Devos), who meet in a hospital while visiting their respective partners, both of whom are suffering from cancer. The two patients remain behind the closed doors of their rooms, never to be seen on camera. This deliberate omission allows the story to focus on Bertrand and Lorraine’s everyday lives and the relationship between them, but is a rather manipulative way of keeping the viewer from taking the side of the sick partners, who would normally retain our sympathy as the friendship between the two main characters inevitably develops.
Le Ny uses a number of subtle touches to illustrate the nature of her characters. The film opens with Bertrand at home serving up an unappetizing meal of fried frozen food for two: potato puffs and an unidentifiable rectangle (fish stick?). He eats his portion alone and goes out, leaving the audience wondering who the absent person is. It turns out not to be his partner, Cécile, but her resentful 16-year-old stepdaughter Valentine (Yeelem Jappain), whose hostile presence at home further complicates Bertrand’s sad life as an unwilling bachelor. In another nice indication of Bertrand’s very masculine obliviousness to his surroundings, he leaves a phone number written in lipstick on his bathroom mirror by his sister (played with great naturalness by Le Ny) for weeks, not even noticing it when shaving in front of it.
Lorraine is the opposite of the brooding Bertrand. She is lighthearted, even frivolous, to the point where she seems almost cruel in her apparent lack of compassion for her ailing boyfriend. Devos, a formidable actress herself, is once again impressive but irritating in the way she seems to be letting you know she’s a great actress. Lindon mutters his way through his role as the tight-assed, depressive Bertrand, leaving us to wonder why Lorraine is even attracted to him (must be because he is handsome and sexy).
The film avoids cliché but leaves us wondering why Bertrand makes the choice he does. It’s almost uncomfortably like real life – we are often left wondering why – but in our fiction we sometimes like a little tidiness.
Heidi Ellison
© 2007 Paris Update
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